Unnaturals (34 page)

`Renee's right. Ease Sally into meeting everyone,' Ruth said, patting his arm. `I'll talk to Lilly as well. Just to let her know Sally's not aware just yet. And to tell her to stop making those big blue eyes at you.'

`Mum!'

`Well, she does, Wil,' she said. `The last thing I need is two girls competing for you under the one roof.'

There. Renee's face hardened as her green eyes flashed at Ruth. Wilson caught it. Christ!

`Come on, Renee. Let's go. I don't want to make Sally wait.' He grabbed Renee by the arm. `We've got to move. She's on the boat already.'

`Right.' Renee resisted for a second but finally looked away from Ruth and he breathed. Conflict he did not want. Not now.

`Back soon, Mum,' he said, jogging downstairs, Renee's arm still in his grip.

`You're squeezing me,' she said as he opened the garage access door. He didn't let her go, not yet.

`What's going on?' He faced her, ignoring the look she gave him. `I saw you do that thing with your eyes at Mum.' He grabbed a set of car keys while she studied him.

`Nothing.'

`Bullshit.' He unlocked a black SUV and tossed her the keys. `Let's go.'

She touched her arm where he had held her. `I don't like this side of you, Wilson,' she said, getting in and starting the SUV.

`And I don't like it when you and Mum do the death stare on each other. Things are weird enough as it is.' He snapped the seatbelt on as the garage door opened behind them. The big motor rumbled as Renee backed the SUV out.

`It's between me and your mother.'

`It's not, though, is it?' Wilson sat back as Renee accelerated down the driveway. `Everything we do affects each other. If you and Mum are fighting, I notice. I feel it.' He ran fingers through his hair. `Look, I'm not used to this. I just want everyone to calm down. Even you have to agree everything is still crazy. `

Renee drove while he stared out of the windscreen, trying to calm the turmoil within. Happy families.

`Which way?' she asked, not looking at him as they came to the crossroads.

`Right. We go through town and along the beachfront around to the harbour.' The countryside changed into suburbia as Renee drove in silence. They passed through the small township and Renee followed the signs to the harbour. She pulled over not far from the harbour turnoff. Wilson frowned, looking at her.

`Do you love her?' She turned in her seat, watching him.

`You mean Sally?'

`Yes. Do you love her?'

The lump he always got when he thought about this filled his throat. Why couldn't he just say it?

`If someone tried to hurt her, what would you do?'

Anger flashed in his heart and he felt its heat on his face.

`There's your answer.' Renee pulled back onto the road. `If the thought of not having someone hurts so much, then it is love.'

`Why ask?'

`So I know you know how I feel,' she said, glancing at him. `I'm new at this as well, Wil. I've never had someone that I love like I love Mason. Ruth and I are very different. I have trouble controlling my jealousy and she isn't used to having someone like me around.'

`Someone like you?'

`Someone involved with Mason.'

`So you don't hate her, then?'

`What? No, of course not.' Renee slowed the SUV as they reached the harbour turnoff. `It's more getting to know our boundaries, as such.'

`I have to ask,' he said, taking a deep breath, sure she was going to attack him. `Are you and Mum, you know, together?'

He was surprised by her laughter. Not a giggle, but full-throated laughter.

She thumped the steering wheel with her hand. `No.'

He swore there was a tear in her eye.

`We share a bed, Wilson, but there's no attraction like that. Your mother only has eyes for Nikki, not the tomboy sister.'

`I wouldn't say you're a tomboy,' he said, relieved the conversation hadn't ended in him being belted behind the ear.

`I am. Where to now?' She had stopped at a roundabout dividing the road in.

`To the right,' he said, looking for the ferry. It was just docking. `Good timing.'

`So we're sweet then, Wil?' she asked, pulling up outside the terminal. `You and me?'

`Yeah, just dial it down around Sally, please.' He unclipped the seatbelt, looking for her.

She reached over and took his arm. `Okay. Take a breath, Wil. It'll be fine.'

`Maybe, but Sally's gunna be stressed already. And when she meets the rest of the family—'

`Interesting.'

They stepped out of the SUV. Renee joined him looking for Sally. She nudged him. `What's my cover then?'

`Cover?' What was she on about?

`Wil,' she whispered as people walked past. `I might
be
a lot older but I look a lot younger than your parents and you're about to introduce me to your girl.'

`Christ!' He stopped. Renee had never seemed to be like that for him, but he saw people glancing at them. Or rather at her. She was gorgeous, if he looked at her that way. The long red hair he had become used to was like a neon sign in public. `And you're still wearing that.' He thumbed at her sarong and bikini top; more skin showed than clothing. `Hell, she's gunna kill me.'

`Think quickly, Wil. Who am I? She knows you and your family.'

He walked towards the wharf, thinking. Men he recognised as Fund security appeared. She must be close. One nodded to him and touched his earpiece.

`Here she comes.' A glimpse of long blonde hair moving through the crowd made his chest tighten.

`This is her?' Renee didn't move, but stood arms crossed as he nodded back to the security staff.

He raced forward. Sally's face was wet with tears as she hugged him. `Wil, I've missed you so much. What happened?'

Wilson held her, not caring who looked on. To hold her again made his heart pound. Her scent made him breathe hard.

`It's okay. Come on, let's go.' He managed to say, peeling her off, taking her hand as Renee moved past, taking Sally's bag from her bodyguards.

He watched Sally's pupils contract as her skin tightened. Renee put her bag in the SUV. `Who's this? Wil?'

`Hey, I'm Renee.'

Sally took her hand but didn't shake it. His stomach lurched. She had tensed up under his hand. Had she seen something on the island?

`She works for Mason?'

`Ah, no,' he said, sweating. What the hell was he going to say? Renee wasn't going to help either. She was smiling

`So,' Sally squeezed his hand, `this is who you've been with down in Sydney?'

`Yes and no,' he said, swallowing. `It's not like you think.'

`No?' She let him go. `After the fire I was so worried when you disappeared. When you called the next day, I thought something was wrong; you sounded guilty.'

`Sal, no.' He tried to pull her towards the SUV, away from the crowd walking past.

`Don't!' Sally pulled away, her anger showing. `Tell me the truth! Tell me because I'm sick of all the secrets.'

`She's right, Wilson,' Renee said, tone casual as she leaned against the SUV. `Better for her to find out now than later.' She raised her eyebrows and Wilson took a deep breath. Damn it. This was hard.

`Sally, I'm not with Renee.' He reached for her and she let him take her hand. `Dad is.'

`What?' Sally's anger faded; her eyes widened.

`That's right, Sally.' Renee flashed a brilliant smile and tilted her head. `I'm Mason's girlfriend.'

Ruth stuck her head into the bedroom. Mason lay motionless on the bed but she was sure she had heard his voice. Ruth moved onto the bed beside him, touching his face.

`Cold, so cold,' she whispered, leaning over to kiss his lips. `Come back. We have to talk.'

She sat up, watching his chest move to the rhythm of his slow breathing. `Wherever you are, hear me. Come back. We have a surprise for you.'

He didn't respond and she sighed, lying back beside him on their bed. `Nikki thinks this is what happens when you cross over between worlds. She's never actually done it, but after Darla possessed her she felt sort of the same. Mason,' Ruth took his cool hand in hers. `I'm excited and terrified at the same time. I need you back. Something I did has changed everything.'

He didn't respond. She sat up, letting him go, but continued to talk. `Sally's coming here as well. Wilson wanted her here so she can meet everyone. It might be time for her to see who we are. Wil is so worried. I need you here, with us.' She rubbed her forehead. She needed him so much. `Okay, then, I will do my best but you're the one who's good at this. The family thing. Making everything work. Not me.'

Ruth kissed his forehead and waited for a second, hoping he'd wake. `I've got to go now. Sounds like Wil is back with Sally. I might have to wrestle with Lilly to make her keep her distance. Plus, I'm sure Renee has some serious jealousy issues with me. Not looking forward to arguing with her, Mason. She listens better to you.'

Voices drifted up from downstairs, Wilson's voice high, showing his nerves. She had to go.

`Hope you're awake by nightfall,' she said, poking his ribs. `It's our first night back home with everyone. You brought us here. You should be here to celebrate with us.'

`Mum!'

She winced at Wilson's pitch. He was definitely stressed.

`Don't be too long, Mason. And Darla, if you can hear me, send him back. Please.' Ruth stood up and checked herself in the mirror, wishing she'd changed earlier. What would Sally think of Nikki's short skirt and top?

She spun around and left the room, looking for Wilson, hoping Mason would come back to them soon.

 

Mason inhaled lemon-scented gum trees, their fragrance making him stir.

Home.

Weight pressed down on him.

Home.

Grit grated under his eyelids. He caught a splinter of sound. Voices, muffled but recognisable; among them, Ruth's.

His arms were so heavy, his legs refusing to move.

`Not yet, my Hunter. Rest.'

`Why?'
A blanket of cool darkness settled over him. He barely noticed the reply as he faded into it.

`It's too soon. They need more time to accept each other.'

 

The drive back home felt like the longest drive ever. A smiling Renee had driven without speaking. Sally had sat with him, but her eyes had been on Renee and his attempts at small talk had been futile. He wanted to tell her everything, but fear of what she'd say held him back. When the garage door closed behind them he took a serious breath.

`Sal,' he said, unclipping his seatbelt. `Let's go see Mum.'

`She's here too?' Sally glanced at Renee.

Wilson heard her incredulity, and caught Renee's smile in the rear-view mirror. `Yeah, she's here.'

`We're one big happy family,' Renee said. He glared back at her back in the mirror and she raised an eyebrow. I'm glad
she's
enjoying herself
,
he thought.

`Okay, this is now weird. Even more than usual, Wil.' Sally stepped out behind him.

`Let's just go find Mum.' His stomach fluttered. Had he been wrong to bring Sally home?

`I'll be in with her bag.' Renee said. `You go on in.'

`Thanks.' He grabbed Sally and headed inside. `Mum!' he said, knowing she'd recognise the stress in his voice. He immediately felt sorry that he was expecting her to sort this out. But he couldn't bring himself to do it.

`Wil, what's going on? Why was
she
with us?' Sally whispered.

`Um, it's complicated,' he said holding her hands and hoping his mum would make an appearance. `There are some things I haven't told you about us.'

`Like Mason having a girlfriend?'

`Um, yeah.'

`A girlfriend who looks our age?'

`Renee is twenty-five.'

Wilson sagged with relief at his mother's voice above them on the stairs. `And she is here because we have decided to all live together as a family now.'

`Oh,' Sally said, suspicion fading from her tone. Wilson struggled to breathe normally as Sally hugged Ruth. `So, you're like Mormons?'

`I guess so, but very different really.' Ruth hugged her but when she let go, Sally didn't, clinging to Ruth's hand.

`I was a bit freaked when I saw Renee.' Sally looked at him. `I couldn't work out who she was and I suddenly thought, well, I thought it was Wilson's way of saying we weren't—'

`No. Sal.'

`Not at all, Sally. Wilson spent most of his time with Lilly.'

`Mum!' Wilson nearly exploded. What was she doing? `Sal, it's not like that, either.'

`What are you telling me, Mrs D?'

`Sweetie, come sit down,' Ruth put her arm around Sally and led her towards the dining room table.

Wilson stood frozen, wondering if his mother was insane.

`Wil, chill out. Sally, sit down.'

Ruth pulled a chair out and Sally sat. Wilson didn't move. He wanted to scream.

`So which room is Sally in?'

Wilson started. Renee had appeared beside him, Sally's bag in hand. He couldn't speak, his mind chaotic.

`Sally's in with Wilson,' Ruth said, her voice firm.

Wilson blinked. What?

`Get Lilly and Nikki to come down and meet Sally. It's about lunchtime anyway.'

`Good idea.'

Wilson stared at Renee's back as she calmly walked away. This wasn't what he had imagined. It was worse.

`Mrs D, what's going on?' Tears filled Sally's eyes and pain threaded her voice.

`I am not with anyone else, Sally.' He sat beside her. `I'm not like — uh!'

`His parents,' Ruth continued his thought with a soft smile. `Mason and I have other people in our lives. Renee is with him and Nikki is my girlfriend.'

`Oh, you have another girlfriend?'

Wilson heard himself make a weird choking noise. Sally looked at him and he felt his ears burn. She knew about Mum?

`You knew?' he managed to say. Sally nudged his leg.

`Yeah, for a while now. Your mum didn't need to hide it from me.'

Words failed again. Sally knew. Well, she knew that part of it, and was fine with it.

She rested a hand on his knee. `Is this all you're worried about? That your parents live in an open marriage?'

`Um, no.' He hoped Lilly would take her time coming downstairs, then heard what Sally had said. `Wait, what do you know about open marriages?'