The Mimosa Tree (19 page)

‘Bullshit,' he says pushing back from the table. ‘Your problem is that everything is too easy. I had brothers die on the frontline. I saw friends torn to pieces by bombs that looked like discarded toys. I listened to my mother crying every night because she had nothing to feed us.
That
is war, Mira. They are the memories that keep me awake at night, and I work my fingers to the bone so that my family will never be hungry and poor like I was. Then you spit it back in my face.' He turns away from me, stares down at his feet silently and I am suddenly terrified he might cry. But then he huffs and looks back at me dry-eyed and stony-faced. ‘Clean up this mess,' he says. ‘Don't wait for your mother to do it. It's
your
job now.' He pours himself a glass of wine and goes back to the lounge room. From where I am standing all I can see of him are his grotty feet on the footstool.

I kick the table so that the plates rattle but he doesn't notice. Raging and in need of comfort I head to my mother's room. From the hallway I hear her deep, throaty snores, and I stop at the doorway, lean against it and just watch her for a while. I want to go in and curl up beside her but I know this will only make her feel sick.

‘Good night, Mum,' I say, blowing her a kiss, and she catches her breath just at that moment as though she heard what I said. Good night darling, I answer for her, and I creep down the hallway to my room.

I think Mum and Via are more excited about my dinner with Felicia and Guido and the mystery-weirdo than I am. Maybe it's the fact that it's dinner that has them feeling all warm and fuzzy. An event that has the consumption of food as its primary focus is something they can clearly relate to.

Unlike the party, there is no force-feeding before I go; in fact they have embarked on a kind of guarding-of-the-fridge to ensure I arrive at the table ready to gorge on whatever is presented.

‘I think I should take some money,' I say heaping sugar into my coffee, hoping it will ward off some of the hunger pangs. ‘I can't just assume they are going to feed me for free. What if they ask me to pay?'

Via snorts then pops another chocolate. ‘They can't invite you then make you pay! What kind of people are they? Besides, it's your date that should be paying.'

‘The only person having a date here is Felicia,' I say shuddering. ‘I'm just going along as a friend.'

‘Will you wear your pretty dress?' says Mum. And I smile
at her. She has made quite an effort to get up and join us at the table. Her cheek is red and creased from too much time attached to a cushion, and her hair is stuck down flat on one side while at the top it sticks up like a cockatoo crest. Over her nightie she has pulled on the first thing she could grab from the wardrobe which is her best black cardigan with the gold beading. She's also wearing knee-high, rainbow-striped socks that I think used to belong to me but have somehow ended up in her bedroom. She looks motley and garish, like an ancient punk mother.

‘I think I'll wear my jeans.'

The fact is, that while Mum and Via see tonight as a husband finding exercise, I am really just looking at it as a favour to Felicia. Jeans, loose jumper and boots is my dress code for the evening. I am not out to impress anybody.

Mum smiles, goes into her dreamy state and pats my hand across the table. ‘I met your father at a restaurant,' she says.

‘You said you met him at a New Year's Eve party.'

She looks to the side, bites her bottom lip as she thinks about this. ‘You're right. That was someone else.'

‘What?'
says Via. ‘You never told me there was someone else!'

Mum goes all shy and red as she realises she might be forced to tell us something she never wanted us to know.

‘Don't you dare go all secretive now,' I say leaning forward and swiping a chocolate while they are both distracted. ‘Tell us everything, Mother.'

‘What do you think? You are going to hear some smutty story? I am just getting your father mixed up with a man I met at a dinner with some friends, that's all.'

‘But you remembered him.' Another chocolate! How long can I keep this going? ‘You remembered him as your potential husband. It must have been more than that?'

She places both hands on the table and sighs. ‘We got on very well. He
wanted
to be my boyfriend, but of course I said no.'

‘You didn't like him?'

‘I was with your
father.
'

‘But you liked him?' I say. To be honest I'm not expecting much from this story. Knowing Mum, it's not likely to get much juicier than some illicit handholding or across the table eye contact, but in the meantime, the chocolate bowl remains unguarded.

‘He was a nice man. Good-looking and very smart. He had a beautiful suit, I remember.' She runs her fingers down the seam of her own cardigan as she remembers it. ‘I complimented it and he told me he was a tailor.'

‘Are you talking about
Gianni?
' says Via, smacking the table in excitement. ‘Gianni
Russo?
'

Mum nods. ‘I met him the night I went to dinner with Lara and her friends. You couldn't come, remember?'

Via drops back into her seat, jaw open. She must be really shocked because her eyes are so wide they look like they might fall out of their sockets. ‘You had a chance with Gianni Russo, the most beautiful, richest Italian man in this town, and you stayed with that buffoon of a husband of yours? Are you mad?'

‘What could I do? Benito and I had spoken of marriage. I wasn't going to leave him because I enjoyed a conversation with someone else. I'm not
that
kind of girl.'

We keep staring at her, and she tugs her jumper closer around her, sits up straight and pulls her knees in together like she's been caught naked. Rich, smart and with a developed sense of hygiene. That was her alternative? If being a nice girl means having to settle for cracked heels and halitosis then I vow always to be bad. I reach for another chocolate but they finally catch on and my hand gets slapped from both sides. I am about to launch into a lengthy protest when there's a knock on the door. We all turn to see Siena standing there, hands on hips and smiling like a Halloween pumpkin. It's so odd for her to knock instead of just coming in that it takes us all a moment to realise that even stranger is the fact that she has turned up here without the aid of Via and Bambi.

‘Come in stupid,' shouts Via.

Still grinning, she slides open the door. ‘Isn't anyone going to ask me how I got here?'

‘Broom?' says Via. And Siena laughs spiritedly.

‘That's very funny, Via. But last time I looked, a broom didn't need one of these to start it.' And she whips out a set of keys on a big fluffy dice key ring.

‘You bought a car?' I say getting up so quickly that I bang my knees hard on the table. Mum also tries to jump up, but with her nausea and pain it's more like a stiff shuffle forward then a strained push up from the table. Only Via stays seated, sliding another cigarette from its packet and looking completely disinterested.

Siena stands aside and I rush outside to take a look. There in the driveway is a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser.

‘So what do you think?'

‘What on earth are you going to do with such a huge car?' I say. Siena with a Land Cruiser is like a toddler with a great dane.

‘I'm going to need it when I start my business. I'm going to be expanding into catering work so I need a big car to carry all the stuff.'

‘Now I know you have completely lost your mind,' says Via appearing at the door, cigarette in hand.

‘What do you think, Sofia?'

‘Is it really yours?' she says, eyeing the street as though the real owner is going to run up and claim it.

‘Technically, it's Robert's. He bought it for me.'

‘Have you checked the brake cable?' says Via. And Siena laughs loudly again.

‘I know what you're thinking, Via, but Robert is really very supportive of my new business. He's agreed to help me out in any way he can.'

‘You're going to ask
him
for advice?'

‘He made a mistake, that's true, but before that he was very successful in his business dealings.'

‘I thought Robert's
things
made you unhappy?' she says sucking deeply on her cigarette. ‘Isn't that why you left with only a handbag?'

‘I was pretty upset then, but I'm not stupid enough to let my pride get in the way of an excellent business opportunity. That would be crazy.'

‘Oh you're crazy all right,' says Via.

‘Can we go for a drive?' I say.

‘I was hoping I could give you a lift to dinner tonight?'

‘
I
am driving Mira tonight,' says Via, interrupting what was going to be a resounding yes from me. ‘I
always
drive Mira.'

‘I'm not trying to step on your toes,' says Siena. ‘You work so hard looking after us all, I thought you'd like a nice, quiet night home with Zito.'

‘Why would I want to stay home with my
husband?
I'm not an old lady yet, you know!'

‘Okay, whatever,' says Siena. ‘Look, I'm going out to visit a friend tonight and they live right around the corner from the restaurant. Seems silly for both of us to drive all that way, don't you think?'

‘It does seem silly to take two cars,' says Mum.

‘Well that's sorted then,' I say, ignoring Via's sulky silence. What's she got to be so upset about anyway? She's always complaining about driving me everywhere. She should be happy someone else is offering to do it for once.

‘I'll pick you up at eight, okay?'

‘Great!'

‘Well, I have to go,' says Siena slipping on her sunglasses. ‘There's a lot to organise. Can I get you something while I'm out Sofia? I'm doing some shopping later anyway.'

Mum opens her mouth like she can think of a few things to get, but when she sees the look on Via's face she shuts it again. ‘No I don't need anything. There is nothing I need, nothing at all. Via takes good care of me.'

Via shakes her head in disgust and heads inside. ‘Don't run anyone over,' she says slamming the door behind her.

‘Be careful,' says Mum eyeing the Land Cruiser nervously.

Siena reassures her with a kiss on the forehead then skips
out to the car. She opens the door and uses both hands to hoist herself up the step and into the driver's seat. She smiles and waves, head barely above the steering wheel, then looks down at the gears as she backs down the driveway. She drives into the garden bed and only narrowly misses the letterbox before reversing onto the road. She honks the horn and takes off with a grinding gear crunch. Mum looks anxiously at the squashed daisy bush she has left behind.

‘I think your father has a helmet in the garage. It will look lovely with your boots.'

‘I'm sure I'll be fine,' I say, taking her by the shoulders and leading her back inside. ‘She's got all afternoon to practise.'

It's strange. I don't think there has ever been an important occasion in my life that Via has not been a part of. Not that this dinner is important to me, but usually, on such occasions, I am grinding my teeth through the scrutiny, defending myself against barbs and holding fort on points of fashion, but tonight, with Siena and Mum presiding, the atmosphere is relaxed and happy.

‘Is this okay?' I say, twirling around them, intrigued that neither seems interested in what I am wearing.

‘You look good,' says Siena, and Mum nods.

‘Beautiful,' she says.

‘You guys are pretty easy to please.'

‘You always look beautiful,' says Mum smiling.

‘Like your mother' says Siena, smoothing down a crest of
loose hair for her. Mum blushes and turns away.

‘
You
were always the beauty of the family,' she says. ‘We had to keep the boys away with a stick.'

‘She's lying,' says Siena laughing. ‘I always felt awkward and shy around other kids, especially guys.'

‘I can't believe that,' I say. ‘I think Mum is right and you're just being modest.'

‘I wish that were true. Maybe my life would have turned out different if I felt like I had more choices.'

‘There were
plenty
of choices,' says Mum flicking her lightly on the hand. ‘You just never knew it. Everyone could see how beautiful you were except you, that was the problem. I remember how it really was.'

‘All I remember is crying a lot. Around about the time I turned fifteen, I reckon. Anyway,' she says, smoothing out her dress and brushing a hand through her hair. ‘That's the old days. Tonight we look to the future. You ready to go, Mira?'

‘Yup,' I say, shoving fifty dollars into my jeans pocket and giving my hair a final shake. ‘Let's get this over with.'

‘Which friend you seeing tonight?' Mum asks Siena. ‘Do I know her?'

‘Alistair? I don't think so. I only met him a couple of weeks ago.'

‘You're seeing a
man?
You're going to his
house?
' Mum looks around like she's trying to find something to tie Siena down with.

‘Relax, Sofia. This isn't a date, it's a business meeting. Alistair's an old friend of Robert's. He's interested in investing in a restaurant. We are going to talk and see if maybe it's
something we could be partners in.'

Mum takes Siena's face in her palms. ‘Oh Siena,' she says looking miserable. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?'

‘I'm very sure.'

‘Maybe Via is right. What if something goes wrong? What if you lose all your money again?'

‘I've never been happier in my life,' says Siena taking Mum's hands in her own and holding them tightly in her lap. ‘If I lose all the money it will have been worth it just to know what that feels like.'

‘Come on,' I say pulling them apart as I realise they are in danger of descending rapidly into a hugging tear-fest. ‘Let's get going.'

‘Great,' says Siena, holding her belly as she walks out of the room. ‘Because I'm starving. I think I could eat a horse.'

As she bounces out of the room, Mum and I look at each other, knowing we are both thinking the same thing. Mum makes a zipping motion at her lips as she pushes me out of the room.

‘Don't say
anything,
' she says. ‘Whatever is happening to Siena, I don't want to jinx it.' She looks to our ceiling god and makes the sign of the cross before pulling my face to her lips and smothering me in wet kisses. She holds my face in her hands and looks deeply at me for a while before giving me a final squeeze. ‘You be a good girl tonight,' she says.

‘Sure Mum.'

She wags her finger at me warningly. ‘Don't have
sex.
'

‘MUM!' I say, pulling away.

‘I see the TV,' she says looking wide-eyed and innocent.
‘Teenagers these days have no morals. I don't want you coming home
pregnant.
' She grabs me by my collar and pulls my face closer to hers. ‘Or a
drug addict,
' she hisses.

‘You understand I'm just going out to dinner don't you?'

‘Give me your word, Mira,' she says eyeing me seriously. I put my hand up to take my oath.