Stella Makes Good by Lisa Heidke

Author:Lisa Heidke [Lisa Heidke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781742695419
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd
Published: 2012-01-28T13:00:00+00:00

ouisa freaked out when she heard a thud—presumably Jesse falling. The rational part of her hoped she’d only fainted, but what if she’d hit her head on a table corner or had a heart attack? Ever worse scenarios clamoured for her attention as she dialled her mother’s number. Jesse would hate her for getting Dot involved but she didn’t know who else to call. She certainly wasn’t going to ring Steve.

Dot called half an hour later to say that Jesse was okay. Thank God.

‘I’d like to know what brought this on,’ she said to Louisa. ‘Jesse says she didn’t eat much breakfast—’

‘So, there’s a simple explanation,’ Louisa reassured her. ‘Can I talk to her?’

Dot huffed before handing the phone over to Jesse.

‘I’m sorry,’ Louisa started, knowing how much she’d hurt her sister.

‘We’ll talk about this later,’ Jesse replied, her voice barely audible.

‘Are you okay?’

Dumb question. How could Jesse be okay given what she’d just found out? Plus, Louisa had involved their mother who’d no doubt interrogate Jesse for hours once Louisa was off the phone.

‘I’m fine,’ Jesse said gruffly and hung up.

So now Jesse knew. She knew about Louisa, about Steve . . . Louisa almost felt relieved. She’d meant what she said about telling Jesse anything she wanted to know. She’d be honest. It was time. What did she have to lose?

Louisa thought about that question some more. A lot, actually. She’d already lost her father, and was now on the brink of losing Jesse if she didn’t deal with this situation carefully. Dot was oblivious and Louisa hoped that could continue. Eventually, Louisa would have to face her father again and that would be torture. Six years ago, she’d explained as little as she could get away with.

It had been an unfortunate coincidence that her dad’s friend had seen Louisa with Tom. He’d assumed Louisa was on the job and had bowled up to them with a sly wink and nod. Tom, of course, had had no idea what was going on. When Louisa had been forced to explain it to him, he’d listened in a silent daze, not knowing where to look or what to say. Could it have been more embarrassing? Well, yes actually, but Louisa didn’t want to think about that possible scenario. She never wanted to see her father look at her like that ever again. Humiliation, disappointment and despair in his face.

‘Why, Louisa?’ he’d said. ‘We would have given you money.’

He’d begged her not to tell Dot and Jesse, and of course she didn’t. Why would she choose to shame herself further? But not telling them had meant she continued to protect Steve. At least she wouldn’t have to do that anymore.

Six years was a long time to be away from her family, but disappearing had seemed the only answer. Life in Sydney, the revelations . . . it had spun out of control. And Steve? He’d been beyond smug, telling Jesse that Louisa was a bad influence on the kids. Like he

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