O, Fortuna

Chapter 29

Grace was not entirely certain how it came about but they managed to separate their bodies long enough for Liam to get in the four-wheel drive and on his way to Hervey Bay. She had not wanted him to go anymore than he wished to leave and he had reiterated his request that she join the family for lunch and return to Faridah later that day. She liked the idea enormously and had to admit going for Deanna's benefit, to support her openly and by ensuring Liam was suitably distracted from anything his brother-in-law might have to say, had its appeal but she had promised Thomas she would remain at the property.

Liam had said nothing more on the subject of Faridah changing hands in the New Year but Grace knew him well enough to understand he was not overjoyed by the prospect but whatever he might have thought or had to say on the subject, if Thomas still wished to take on the property, she would be signing it over to him. For all the lack of certainty and direction in her life in the last few months, it was one of the few things that did make sense. Like working with Alistair on their property project. Just as being with Liam did, even if she had no idea how their relationship was meant to work just now.

She closed the curtains over in the living room and spent the sultry Queensland afternoon under the air-conditioner, watching old movies from June's enormous library; Rear Window then Roman Holiday, before digging into the TV section for a taste of Pride & Prejudice, pausing proceedings to perform the mandatory checks around the property before taking a drive into Monteny shortly before sunset to check the PO box. There were several utilities bills, private correspondence for Thomas and Deanna and a letter for June, addressed with a particularly elegant handwritten script, postmarked from the United Arab Emirates.

Grace stood before the post office, the open door of the box flapping in the stiff breeze coursing down the main street of Monteny, staring down at the envelope in her hands. She had at long last put to rest any possibility of knowing the truth of what had transpired in June's past and there was a part of Grace that believed it would be for the best to simply dispose of the correspondence now in her hands and let the past lay undisturbed. She distractedly returned to Faridah and rather than immediately returning inside, took a seat on the topmost step at the rear of the house and carefully opened the envelope. Inside, three pages of thick cream writing paper had been filled on both sides with that graceful handwriting and Grace, expectation being matched by apprehension, took a deep breath before settling in to read it.

My Darling June,

It is unlike you at all to be remiss in correspondence but perhaps you are journeying abroad once again. How sweet my thoughts are at once when I consider you jetting about the globe, exploring and marvelling as you always have. Too quickly though, I am reminded that I am not there by your side to share any journey with you, those abroad, those in life. The despondency I feel at such realisation has not diminished with the years.

Grace sat back from the letter, looking out to the dark peaks of the mountains, filled with an overwhelming sense of intruding on the most private of matters. In one paragraph, any doubt of the nature of the relationship her aunt had shared with Raif Aadil el Naseer had been erased and Grace hastily folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope, swallowing hard as she stared at it once again. Whatever had occurred in the past, they had remained in contact and the correspondent had no idea at all that the woman he had addressed such loving sentiments to was dead. Neither the letter nor the envelope provided a return address, leaving Grace to rub her eyes in fatigue, recalling the letter she had composed to Raif three months earlier but had relented on sending at the last minute. It was still in her handbag, now hanging on the doorknob of her room here at Faridah, addressed to his family's corporate headquarters,.