Montana by Fiona McArthur

Author:Fiona McArthur [McArthur, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780648718123
Publisher: Fiona McArthur

Chapter 13

Montana

Emma’s parents lived opposite the lake in a rambling old farmhouse with wide verandas. The garden in the front yard exploded with roses and they passed under a bloom-laden arch spanning the path and bush after bush of colour amongst lush greenery and rocks.

‘How beautiful. I love roses.’ She turned back to Andy.

‘I must show you Clare’s Blue Moon. Palest lavender blue rose. Clare has them round the back.’

It seemed a strange thing to say, she thought. ‘Why that one?’

‘I saw a web page on rose meanings once,’ he said cryptically, then changed the subject. ‘Clare is an avid gardener, though she says even that isn’t giving her pleasure at the moment.’

He frowned and Montana could see his thoughts had shifted to his patient. Emma opened the door at his knock and Montana noted how the young girl’s stomach showed roundness more noticeably now.

Emma blinked when she saw Montana.

Andy loomed behind her. ‘Hi, Emma. Montana and I were together when you called. I hope you don’t mind that I brought her.’

Emma shook her head. ‘Of course not. Come in, both of you. Mum’s in the lounge. She’s still cross I called you.’

Andy patted her shoulder. ‘You did the right thing. What happened?’

Emma brushed her hair out of her eyes. ‘She was tying trellis in the back yard and she got tangled up in the ladder when she was coming down. She’s getting worse. Her balance is off and she’s so clumsy. Now I think she’s got a twitch.’

Montana could see that Emma instinctively knew there was something seriously not right with her mother and Andy frowned at Emma’s description as if something had triggered a thought.

He led the way to the lounge, where Clare was busy dusting the mantelpiece. As they came into the room a photo frame went flying off the mantelpiece and landed on the floor, where it cracked in two on the floor.

Clare said, ‘Blast!’

Emma looked at Andy and Montana as if to say, See!

Andy paused and studied Clare for a moment and Montana saw the instant when the diagnosis suggested itself to him. He stiffened and then his shoulders slumped slightly before he pulled himself together.

He turned and met Montana’s eyes and the shock she saw there made her draw a quick breath.

‘What’s wrong?’ Emma was no slouch and she knew something significant had happened. She crossed to Andy and tugged at his sleeve. ‘What is it? What’s wrong with her?’

Clare turned, finally registering their presence, and Montana could see the tears in her eyes. ‘Oh. Hello. Excuse me.’

She picked up the broken frame. ‘I hate this. I was never an uncoordinated person.’

She saw Montana and tried to smile. Andy repeated what he’d said to Emma about them being together. ‘And I wanted to introduce you to Montana as she’s helping Emma with her antenatal information.’

‘Yes. I think Emma said something about that.’ Clare made a visible effort to remember and held out her hand. Her fingers twitched a little as she put her hand in Montana’s and smiled perfunctorily.

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