A Changing Land(82)

‘Dad,’ Sarah touched his arm gently, ‘you do recall two years ago the doctors said that her mind had basically shut down, so why –’

‘Why bother?’ Ronald snapped. He began tidying the papers, heaping them into a neat pile at his feet. ‘Maybe it makes me feel better.’

There was a bald patch, round and smooth on the crown of his head. The brown of the skin contrasted sharply with the grey-streaked brown hair, yet he still looked younger than his wife. Sarah looked across the small space to where her mother lay. Her father was wasting his life through some strange aberration of guilt. It wasn’t as if he’d been driving a car that led to her mother’s condition, nor could her mother claim a morally unblemished record.

‘Jim Macken has arrived in Australia. He wants to meet you and is claiming his inheritance.’ Having planned on a more subtle revelation, Sarah found herself delivering the news like a corner shop spruiker.

Ronald rearranged the pile of papers. ‘So you didn’t come to visit your mother?’

‘Dad, you know we never had a normal relationship when I was young. There’s no point pretending now.’

He walked over to Sue and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

‘You did hear what I said, Dad?’

‘The doctor gives her a week. She’s stopped eating and, well, I can’t see the point of putting her on a drip.’ He turned to her. ‘Can you? Anyway some of her organs are beginning to shut down, something to do with all the medication she’s been on over the years. Did you know that she used to down painkillers with her martinis, like they were a side plate of olives? Well, anyway, she doesn’t exactly rate for the transplant list.’ He pulled the bed jacket a little more snugly about Sue’s shoulders. ‘She hasn’t spoken to me for over a year, although the night nurses say that sometimes she’s quite lucid.’

‘I’m sorry, Dad.’

‘Well, you two never did get on.’

Sarah’s eyes widened. ‘That’s unfair. I have had to live with the repercussions of your extra-marital affairs: both yours and Mum’s. Both of you playing favourites with Cameron was one thing, but being relegated to the role of second-class citizen, being the recipient of all Mum’s angst, was truly unfair. You’re my father, you should have supported me.’

Her father’s shoulders slumped just a little. ‘I tried to, but no one gave me a manual, Sarah. After Cameron’s death, I’d had enough. I’d battled your grandfather all my life, married a woman with a weak mind and tried to see you safe from harm’s way with a new life in Sydney. I’ve failed in nearly everything I’ve done, including you. You never should have gone back to Wangallon, Sarah. The property should have been sold.’

‘Well now it might have to be,’ Sarah replied.

Ronald turned slowly from his wife and looked from Sarah to the window. His face was unreadable. Then gradually, as if his emotions were rising upwards to fill a blank canvas, his features tightened, reddened and then settled. ‘What is he like?’

‘Stubborn and selfish – all he wants is his share, in cash. He feels no attachment to the property, doesn’t appreciate what has gone into its creation and was angry when he didn’t get the welcoming party he believed he deserved.’

Ronald looked directly at her. ‘He’s been to Wangallon?’

‘Been and gone.’

‘I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have been left with that mess.’

It took some time for Sarah to explain to her father all that had occurred over the last week. Occasionally the furrow between his eyes deepened to a thick crevice, yet he never interrupted her. For once in her life Sarah had her father’s attention. Then the nurse arrived on rounds and there was a checking of Sue’s pulse, blood pressure and temperature.

‘No change,’ the nurse said brightly, tucking the sheets in and adjusting pillows. She nodded in their direction, her gaze resting on Sarah a touch longer than necessary, before leaving the room.

‘Your mother hasn’t had many visitors since she was moved into this ward. She’s more comfortable here though, I think. The nurses are very caring.’

‘What do you think we should do, Dad?’

‘Well, I’m not surprised Frank Michaels advised to sell. But …’

Sarah perched forward in her chair. At last someone was prepared to fight.

‘Better to sell another parcel.’ Ronald scratched above his ear where his hair was thinning.