The Other Bill Shakespeare

24. Madeline - Peacock Home, Easter Monday 1969

At the Maconochie homestead, Sadie and I share a room. We've become accustomed to one another's habits, so it seemed practical for us to continue the arrangement when she visited home.

Interesting word, home. I've spent a similar amount of time with the Maconochies now, as I have with the Peacocks. I do love it there, but it isn't home.

Now I think I understand what the adults mean when they say, home is where the heart is. It's clichéd, but true. The moment our car pulled into the driveway, Aunt Odette and Edith were at the door, to greet us with hugs and kisses.

We've spent the past four days catching up on one another's triumphs and tribulations, attending church, and enjoying the most magnificent food together, as a family.

Sadie's uncle brought us a platter of ma'amoul, a sweet treat traditionally eaten in Lebanon on Easter Sunday. It was truly delicious, made with love by the sweet old lady that he rents his house from; who also happens to be Lebanese.

As decadent as Jason Sturrock's gourmet chocolates are, they can't compete with that. Not that his gifts aren't appreciated. Tickets to the Royal Easter Show do not come cheap!

We have something similar in Brisbane - the Exhibition, or EKKA as we call it. But I've only ever been a couple of times. It was just too expensive for Dad and I, to go every year.

I wonder how an eighteen year old has that much money to splurge? Senator Sturrock must be paying Jason a very good wage!

Money isn't an issue for Uncle Stirling though. Since today is a public holiday, he decided to invite Bex, Joe and Sadie to come with us, his treat.

Sadie and I were both getting ready, when we heard muffled crying in the bathroom.

I tapped on the door lightly. "Didi, are you okay in there?"

No response.

"Oh, dear." Sadie sighed. "I think today is going to be hard for Didi. I'm really proud of her though. It can't have been easy for her to forgive Jason."

The three of us are becoming closer every day. We write to each other pretty much every week, and Edith has visited the farm twice in the last six weeks, so I wasn't surprised to learn that Sadie also knows about her history with Jason.

The toilet had a separate door with a lock, but after Edith's rooftop drama, Uncle Stirling removed the lock on the main door to the basin and shower area.

"Um... D'you think we should go in?" I asked.

"Tch, honestly!" Sadie pushed past me impatiently. I followed.

Edith was slumped over the basin. She was trying so hard to be quiet, that she ended up with the hiccups.

"Didi?" I approached her tentatively.

Didi hiccupped. Looking up, she took a deep breath and held it. Sadie fetched her a glass of water. Edith tried to drink it while tilting her head to the side - Aunt Odette's preferred cure for the hiccups. It didn't work.

A particularly strong spasm resulted in her spilling the contents of the glass all over her front. However the shock seemed to do the trick. Edith's hiccups stopped.

Her usual peaches and cream complexion was ashen. Two verticle lines of mascara ran from her eyes to her chin. This, together with her red lipstick and damp front, made her look like a melting clown.

Sadie put an arm around her, which seemed to calm her down a bit.

"Please don't leave me alone with Jason," she begged.

I hadn't forgotten that Edith had once described Jason as dangerous. I must admit, he still gives me the creeps. I heard myself ask, "Didi, has Jason ever hurt you?"