The First Week Read Free Page A

contents of her handbag onto the bench. Pressing the address book open with one hand she dialled with the other.
    â€˜Brian?’
    Her voice sounded tight. Clipped, no emotion. She had to hold herself together.
    After she’d hung up she felt her way along the bench to the sink, picked up the tea towel and dried a wineglass, seeing as though for the first time the object in her hands. A beautifully shaped glass from the set that her bridesmaid had given her.
    Evie.
    If only she was here.
    Evie always knew what to do.
    Marian pulled out a chair and sat down, still holding the tea towel in one hand.
    There were footsteps on the verandah, and voices. Marian jumped. How long had she been sitting there? There were things to do.
    â€˜Marian?’
    Damn. Michelle and Tara. There’d been no sound of a car. They must have walked. Michelle would want to go over and over it, a family conference. She was a great one for talking things over, always dragging Brian off to classes and marriage guidance sessions. Relationship skills.
    â€˜I’m in the kitchen.’
    The screen door squeaked.
    Michelle’s hair was ruffled, her face streaky from crying.
    Marian was irritated and turned away. Making a fuss. It was better to keep quiet and wait. There might still be some explanation. Perhaps it wasn’t as serious as it seemed.
    Tara shuffled up to the table, eyes big in her wide soft face. ‘Gramma?’
    Marian swallowed and tried to speak. ‘Hello …’
    She cleared her throat and tried again. ‘Hello, darling.’
    Michelle pushed the little girl gently towards the door. ‘Go and play outside, sweetie. I need to talk to Grandma.’
    Tara backed out of the door, then stood with her face against the fly wire as her mother spoke to Marian.
    â€˜Brian told me. But it must be a mistake. Mustn’t it?’
    â€˜I don’t know.’ Marian shifted wearily. ‘Maybe.’ It’s not a mistake. It’s true.
    â€˜Jesus. I can’t believe it. I heard it on the news you know, after I dropped Todd off. But I didn’t take any notice. I didn’t think … well you don’t.’ She perched on a chair. ‘What are we going to do?’
    Marian shrugged.
    â€˜Brian says you’re going up to the city?’
    â€˜Yes.’ Marian ran her hands over her hair. Had she brushed it that morning?
    â€˜Will you be all right?’
    â€˜I suppose so.’ She must clean her hairbrush before she packed it.
    â€˜Maybe Brian should go? Haynes rang him to do that job, but he could finish early if you want. He said to ask you again.’
    â€˜No. Someone has to stay here.’
    â€˜It’s unreal.’ Michelle picked up a vase in the shape of a log with a woodpecker at one end. She frowned and put it down. ‘What’s everybody going to say?’
    â€˜Who’s everybody?’
    â€˜Like at work. What am I going to tell them at work?’
    Marian stared at her. Michelle’s face reddened. ‘Well it matters,’ she said. ‘And what am I going to tell Mum and Dad?’
    â€˜Oh don’t be ridiculous,’ said Marian. ‘Is that all you can think about?’
    â€˜It’s okay for you. You don’t care what people say.’
    Marian took a breath to speak. But what was the point?
    Michelle was crying again. ‘Mum was right. I should have thought twice before I married Brian.’
    â€˜What do you mean?’ A needle of anger disturbed Marian’s lethargy.
    Michelle paled but was carried into speech by her tears. ‘Well, you know.’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Everything that’s gone wrong. Not just this. Money. The farm … always struggling. And Tara. Being like she is.’
    â€˜Are you saying that’s Brian’s fault?’
    â€˜Mum says there’s never been anything like that in our family.’
    Marian was filled with such rage that she could barely see Michelle.