Waiting for the Thunder: A vivid Australian saga of strength and survival by Patricia Shaw

Author:Patricia Shaw [Shaw, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780755389544
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2011-10-26T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

William had been gone for weeks and Harriet made almost daily calls on Leo for someone to talk to, since life had become very boring. She hadn’t realised until now how much she relied on her husband. In his absence, invitations had dried up, and she pondered what it must be like to be widowed, remembering Anna, her mother’s friend, complaining that women without partners were socially unacceptable. Except, of course, at the dear Cunningham household.

Time and again, though, people stopped her in the street to enquire after Pop Oatley, but she was only able to say that he was still poorly, pneumonia having set in while he was still struggling to recover from the heart attack, which had been serious.

Leo was worried about Myles, because he still hadn’t been able to locate him. When there was no response to the cable, or to a second one he’d sent, Leo cabled the London bank for information as to Mr Oatley’s present address, only to hear that Myles had closed his account.

‘He’s probably on the Continent somewhere,’ Leo said, ‘but he should have left a forwarding address. William is very angry with him. He was only supposed to stay away a year. At this rate, whatever happens, he’ll be lucky to be home before the wet season.’

‘Oh well. He’s not to know that Pop is ill. Obviously he didn’t receive the cables. Is he needed in the business … here?’

‘No. And fortunately it’s a quiet time for us. William doesn’t need to be here. I keep him informed by mail of our proceedings, even if he does get several of my letters at the same time.’

William wrote to Harriet every few days also, though his letters contained little in the way of news. But she wasn’t impressed by Leo’s remark that William wasn’t needed here. What about his wife? Didn’t she count?

She still went to tennis, the only break in long, dull weeks, but was beginning to tire of that too. It wasn’t much fun listening to the others talk about functions that didn’t include her.

Then she had a bright idea. She would have a dinner party. Just a small one. But who to invite? William’s business friends – bankers, stock and station agents, government officials – were older and really only acquaintances as far as Harriet was concerned, so she looked about for people of her own age and her eyes landed on the Cochranes. Maybe they’d like to come.

To her surprise, when approached at the tennis club, Amy Cochrane was delighted.

‘Why, Harriet! We’d love to come. When?’

‘Next Saturday night. Nothing formal really, just a meal and a chat. About seven, it’s cooler then.’

While they were talking, Christy joined them. ‘What are you ladies plotting this fine day?’

Harriet was pleased with herself. Normally it was William who issued the invitations. ‘A dinner party,’ she said gaily. ‘At my place next Saturday night. Would you like to join us?’

As soon as those words spilled out, Harriet knew it was a mistake, but too late now …

He bowed.

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