Broken Chains by Demelza Carlton

Author:Demelza Carlton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lost Plot Press
Published: 2022-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-FIVE

It being Sunday, the day of Catena's customary visit to her godmother, it only seemed fitting that she start her shoe research at the source: Maria, whose family had owned the building since the first stone was laid. She'd told her the story once, of the family matriarch, who'd come to the Swan River Colony on a sailing ship with her children, summoned by a husband who was nowhere to be found when she'd arrived. She became an established businesswoman in her own right, in order to provide for her children, and Maria was her last surviving descendant, so when she'd wanted to go into archaeology instead of getting married or getting a proper job, her parents hadn't been able to object, though they'd certainly grumbled. They'd died before Catena was born, so she'd never met them.

"She's having a good day today," one of the nurses told her outside Maria's room.

That could mean anything, so Catena didn't get her hopes up that Maria might recognise her today. She'd given up on that when Maria had entered the nursing home.

"Hi, Maria. I brought Tim Tams this week, a new flavour. Would you believe they made tiramisu ones?"

"The original ones are the best," Maria grumbled.

"Oh, that's not true! My favourite are the caramel ones, and occasionally the white chocolate ones, when they bring out a special edition for Christmas."

"My goddaughter liked the caramel ones. But you had to put them in the fridge overnight, so the caramel would get all hard and chewy, like toffee."

Maria smiled. Yes, Maria had never forgotten to chill them first.

The tea trolley appeared then, and the lady wheeling it wouldn't rest until she'd made both of them a cup of coffee, plus handed over a bunch of biscuits. Heaven help any of the residents who were diabetic, or maybe that's why Maria got so many – she was the only resident who wasn't.

Catena blew on her coffee to cool it. "I have a funny story to tell you today, about the neighbours in the apartment next door to yours."

Maria's face clouded, and Catena knew she had to capture her interest fast, or she'd ask the inevitable question of when she could go home, forcing Catena to say, "When you're better," which really meant never.

"There was a really bad storm the other night, wind blowing the rain in sideways. So water got into the roof, pooled at the lowest point, as it does, until the ceiling collapsed under its weight. Whoosh! An indoor storm of water and plaster."

Maria chuckled. "I bet that gave everyone a surprise."

"It did! The lady who lived there screamed so loud, she gave me a fright, and there was such a mess. The bathtub was full of plaster, and that's a big bathtub."

Maria grinned. "Big enough for two. That's why I bought it, though I never did get to christen it myself. Pity."

Catena was willing to bet a week's pay there was a story there, but she couldn't pursue it now – she had to ask about the shoes.

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