The Scent of Rain Page 7

  “Then you’re not going.”

  “But Mum –”

  “If there’s a group of you going, that would be fine, but if it’s just the two of you then the answer’s no.” Madi turned back to the sink and started chopping into the onion.

  “But I want to see the movie and I told Clayton yes.”

  “Well, you’ll have to tell him no. And if you want to see the movie, ask your friends to go with you.”

  “It’s not fair.” Jaena threw down the magazine she’d been flicking through when she first entered the kitchen. “I’m sixteen and all my friends are dating. Just because you made a mess of your love life doesn’t mean I’m going to do the same.”

  “Jaena –”

  “I’m not a baby and it’s time you stopped treating me like one.”

  “Jaena –” Madi said again but Jaena had fled the room.

  *********

  Jaena’s anger was short-lived and, after talking it over with Uncle Marcus, she was willing to concede that her mother was right. She had agreed not to date until she left school and had even signed a contract with her mother to that effect. She also wasn’t interested in Clayton in that way and was prepared to admit that perhaps he had had an ulterior motive when it came to the movie. In the end, they had found another group of friends going a few nights later and had joined with them and had had a good time, even if Clayton had seemed a little sullen. Strange, how someone you had known since childhood could suddenly turn all weird on you. And weird was definitely how Clayton was acting lately.

  Jaena tried to turn her attention back to her history lesson, but within seconds her thoughts were wandering again.

  Come to think of it, Marcus was also acting strange lately. Or perhaps it was just that she’d never noticed it before. A few times she’d caught him watching her mother when he thought no one was watching. And often times a kind of sadness would settle on his face for a few moments when they were in the midst of having a happy time together – just the three of them. Once or twice she thought he had been close to saying something, but then it would be like he’d clammed up and usually within a few minutes he’d be finding an excuse to leave.

  He’d never been like that before and she didn’t know what to make of it. Having been brought up in an all-female household, and having heard some of the jokes her friends made about the males in their families, she wondered if it was perhaps just the way men were.

  Jaena shrugged and picked up a pen and idly began drawing in the homework column of her school diary. Even if he was acting funny, Uncle Marcus was still the same caring father figure he’d always been. Perhaps it was something that was happening at work: he rarely talked about his work and they would have no way of knowing what he was involved in. She hoped it wasn’t dangerous.

  Jaena turned her attention to shading in the letters for each day of the week. Would this lesson never finish?

  She was going to miss Uncle Marcus when she went off to university. She wondered if he would come around as often when she wasn’t around. There’d be no more father-daughter dates. No hockey games to coach or watch. Perhaps he’d find other interests … perhaps even find himself someone to date once he had more time and didn’t have to be bothered with them.

  For some reason the thought left her feeling strangely disturbed.

  Mitchell

  Chapter Five

  Jaena bent down and pulled at the grass beside her. “So that’s it. Basically.”

  Mitch was thoughtful. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight. Your father was abusive to your mother; she left him to protect you – to protect both of you; she agreed to the divorce only after he had abducted you; and yet she remained faithful to him until he died?”

  “That’s about it.”

  “Why did my grandfather not know this? I mean, if our grandfathers were friends, wouldn’t he have known? Yet, I’m sure he didn’t. I don’t think he would’ve judged your mother the way he did had he known the truth.”

  “He didn’t know. My mother had to be protected and the less that knew the better.”

  “But they were friends.”

  “I know. But no one outside the family knew. In fact, my mother’s grandmother who was still living at the time didn’t know. Not until years afterwards.”

  “I’m sorry, Jaena.”

  “Sorry? Why?”

  “That my family judged your family the way we did. That we didn’t even suspect that perhaps there was a good reason why your mother left your father.”

  Jaena shrugged. “Actually, you wouldn’t be the first to blame her and you probably won’t be the last. We never know what goes on behind closed doors so we should be careful not to jump to conclusions.”

  He nodded and was silent for a few moments. “So, did you ever date Clayton?”

  “What? No.”

  “Good.”

  “Good?” Jaena stood up and brushed herself down. She could see her friend heading in their direction and realised it was later than she had realised.

  “Just sussing out the competition.”

  Jaena blushed, but tried to hide it by greeting her friend who was now eyeing the two of them curiously.

  “Can I give you girls a lift somewhere?” Mitch was the perfect gentleman and Jaena saw her friend eye him appreciatively.

  “No thanks. We’re going to walk home.”

  “Okay.” Mitch looked uncertain and Jaena realised that she had misjudged him badly. He was neither as obnoxious or over-confident as he had at first appeared. “Guess I’ll see you around some time then.”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  He walked off and Holly nudged Jaena. “Who was that?” she asked in a voice that left Jaena in no doubt that Holly was also aware of Mitchell’s attractiveness.

  “Mitchell Gallagher.”

  “You two an item?”

  “Not yet.” Now why did she put it like that? Why hadn’t she just answered “no”? She hadn’t meant to announce her interest just yet. She wasn’t even sure if she knew herself how she was feeling and it hadn’t yet been shown to her satisfaction that Mitch was not the obnoxious, opinionated bigot that she had first supposed him.

  “So he’s single, eh? Fair game?”

  “I guess so.”

  Holly smiled and then began chattering about her day. Jaena paid her minimal attention. Holly would talk non-stop all the way home if Jaena didn’t stop her and right now Jaena didn’t feel like stopping her. She suddenly felt down and she knew it had nothing to do with retelling her mother’s story and everything to do with Holly’s careless comments. Why should it matter to her if Holly found Mitch attractive and “fair game”? It was true – wasn’t it? She had no claim on him. And yet … Jaena knew why the comments bothered her, but as yet she wasn’t ready to admit it – even to herself. It would be months before she would be ready.

  *********

  “Mitch? Are you still there?”

  Mitch held the phone closer to his ear. “Yes, I’m here.”

  It was his mother on the other end and she had just informed him that his beloved grandfather had had a stroke and was in Hospital. He was still trying to take it in.

  “Mitch?” His mother’s voice softened and he realised that she was worried for him. He made an effort to reassure her.

  “I’m okay. It’s just a shock. I thought after the heart attack last year that he was improving.”

  “Well, he was. He had. This isn’t related – well in a way it is because of his diabetes – but like his heart attack last year the stroke was only mild. The doctors think he’ll make a full recovery.”

  “Good.” He paused and tried to clear his head. His grandmother had passed away when he was a little boy – he barely remembered her – and his grandfather had lived with them since he’d been forced to retire due to ill health. He loved his grandfather and they had become close friends over the years.

  Mitch glanced down at his timetable spread on the bed beside him. He had a class tomorrow
morning that he needed to attend but otherwise he was free.

  “I can come home after my class tomorrow morning. I could come earlier if I could get someone to take the notes for me.” Jaena! She was in that class. Perhaps she’d get the notes for him. He could ask.

  Now it was his mother’s turn to be silent.

  “Mum?”

  “If you could. Your dad’s away – I haven’t been able to get in touch with him yet.”

  His father had taken over his father’s ministry and was often away from home – busy preaching in different cities – often different countries. Mitch couldn’t even remember where his father was meant to be this week.

  “Lincoln and Wade?”

  His brothers. Lincoln had joined the Air Force and was still in the middle of his three-month initial training. The family hadn’t been able to have any contact with him nor he with his family. Wade was the youngest and had left school and taken a job down south on a dairy farm. It hadn’t been his family’s first choice for him, but he was happy. It would take a day or so for him to get home since he didn’t have his own car and probably didn’t have the money for airfares either.

  “I can’t get onto Lincoln – not until he’s finished this twelve-week stint. And I left a message with Wade’s boss.”

  “Okay.” Mitch brushed a hand through his hair. “Let me see what I can do.” He’d sensed the desperation in his mother’s voice. She’d had a lot to cope with over the years on her own and now it was time for someone else to support her. “I’ll make a few phone calls and perhaps I can leave tonight.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. It will be fine. See you soon.”

  He hung up and then searched for Jaena’s number. She hadn’t given it to him: it had been in the church newsletter one Sunday and he’d copied it into his cell phone. At least he had a legitimate reason for using it now, he reflected ruefully.

  Jaena answered on the third ring and he found himself stumbling over his words as he tried to explain the situation to her.

  “Oh, Mitch, I’m so sorry. That’s dreadful. Of course I’ll take notes for you tomorrow. I wish there was more that I could do. Is he going to be okay?”

  “It was just a mild stroke. But he has diabetes so he has other health issues.”

  “My grandfather had a stroke last year. It was scary. But he’s pretty much recovered now. I’ll pray that your grandfather will recover.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  Silence and he sought to break it somehow. “I’d like you to meet him one day.”

  “Okay.”

  He couldn’t tell from her voice if she was agreeing or just being polite.

  He hesitated then plunged in with his request, hoping she would understand and be agreeable. “Do you think it would be all right if I told him your mother’s story? Just enough to show him that we’ve been wrong all these years? I know he regrets the loss of your grandfather’s friendship deeply.”

  “If you think it will help. Mitch, I’m sorry but I’ve got to run. My lift has just turned up for music practice. Let me know how it goes, okay? I’ll be praying for you.”

  “Yeah. Okay. Thanks. ’Bye.”

  It was funny, but he felt worse about Jaena having to hang up on him than he had when he’d heard the news about his grandfather. Perhaps it was delayed shock. He sighed and reached for his bag. He wouldn’t be able to stay home long, but he would need some clothes and some books. Time to get packing.

  *********

  “Hi, Pop.” Mitch entered his grandfather’s room. “You doing okay?” he asked when his grandfather opened his eyes and showed that he knew he was there. He wasn’t sure, but he thought his grandfather attempted a nod.

  “Got your Bible here. I thought I could read it to you. I also brought your favourite sugarless sweets but they said at the desk that you’re not to have any yet so I’ll take them home with me.” Mitch lowered himself into the chair beside his grandfather’s bed. “Sorry about that, but we’ll enjoy them together later.”

  He studied his grandfather. “You’re looking good. Better than I expected. The doctor said you should make a full recovery. That’s good. Jaena told me her grandfather –” he stopped. “You don’t know who Jaena is. Shall I tell you about her?”

  What looked like a grimace creased his grandfather’s face. Perhaps he was trying to smile. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.” Mitch rearranged himself in the hospital chair, which he assumed had been put there for the express purpose of discouraging visitors. It was without doubt the most uncomfortable chair he’d ever sat in.

  “Where do I start? Jaena is the most incredible, most beautiful, most amazing girl I have ever met in my life. I’ve heard her friends call her ‘Jae’ or ‘Jaeney’ for short but I prefer ‘Jaena’. I looked up the meaning one day and it means, ‘God is gracious.’ Isn’t that cool? I met her at Uni, Pop. We share a class and we attend the same church. And yes, she’s a Christian if you’re wondering. We sorted that out the first time we met.”

  He gave a self-deprecating smile. “I’m afraid we didn’t get off to a great start, Pop. We – well we saw some things differently. But it’s funny: I’d rather argue with her than have a friendly conversation with anyone else. And when she gets really angry her eyes turn almost black and she’s gorgeous. I haven’t told her that, though. I’m not that much of an idiot.”

  He glanced over at his grandfather and saw that he was paying close attention.

  “You want to know more? Okay, I can tell you more. Jaena was raised by a single mother. She told me her story – it’s quite sad really. Her mother left her husband because he was abusive, but she didn’t divorce him until some time after he had abducted Jaena. She was returned to her mother, but she grew up without knowing her father. He’s dead now so she won’t ever get that chance.”

  Mitch decided that he wouldn’t tell his Pop that Jaena also happened to be the granddaughter of his former friend and partner, Stephen Johnstone. Time enough for that later. He doubted that the name “Jaena” would ring a bell – as unusual as it was. He had grown up with an intimate knowledge of the Johnstone family, but had never heard of Madeline Hamilton having had a daughter. He doubted his grandfather knew – or if he did – that he remembered. Much had happened since the friendship with Stephen Johnstone had ended.

  “That’s about all I know so far but I hope I get to learn more about her. As I said, we didn’t get off to a good start and we’ve not had many opportunities to talk. I do know though that I’ve never met anyone like her in my life before and I’ve never felt like this about any other girl.”

  He paused. “Pray for me will you, Pop? I know you will anyway, but could you pray that I’ll know whether or not this is the girl God has for me? I don’t want to get ahead of His plans for me, but – well, I’m really thinking that I’ve met my future wife.”

  He saw that grimace again. “You understand, Pop, I can see you understand. When you’re better you’ll have to meet her. I’m sure you’ll get on like a house on fire. I hope so, anyway.”

  He reached over to the bedside cabinet and picked up the Bible that he’d placed there when he first entered the room.

  “Shall I read to you, Pop? Your favourite passage perhaps?”

  Another grimace was the only answer Mitch received, but it was obviously affirmative. Opening the Bible he began reading from the book of James.

  *********

  Jaena’s notes were thorough and well-written; her handwriting small and neat. She’d asked him how his grandfather was when she’d handed him the notes before class and had seemed relieved to hear that he was doing okay. She’d then asked how he was and seemed to really care about the answer.

  The professor had entered the lecture room then, so all he could do was mumble something about being fine and having some work to catch up on. Jaena had nodded understandingly at that before turning her attention to the front of the room.

  He’d observed her a little while
longer. She was attractive – incredibly so and he was surprised that there weren’t other young men beating a path to her door. Clayton – or whoever he was – had probably wanted to be more than just friends – but thankfully Jaena hadn’t been interested. But were there others that had captured her attention?

  It was a question that he would torture himself with for days.

  *********

  Jaena sighed and closed her books. She had exams coming up, but she was finding it difficult to concentrate. Nearby, Marcus was lighting the fire and she moved closer to warm herself. It was unseasonably cold for this time of year. She usually loved the winter and the chance to bundle up and get outside, but she wasn’t quite ready for it to be upon them so soon.

  “Done for the day?”

  She shook her head. “Not really. I can’t seem to concentrate.”

  Marcus gave her a piercing look. “What is it?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Well, yes I do. I’ve been thinking about Mum’s story lately, and well, now I’m curious about my father’s story.”

  “You want to know about your father?”

  “Yes. But not Damien. You.”

  “Me?” The fire roared into life and Marcus moved the flame guard in front of it. “Why me?”

  “Because you’re my real father. And I don’t know that much about your story. I know you loved Mum all those years, but I don’t know what it was like for you.”

  “There’s not much to tell.” He stood and moved over to the kitchen where he poured two cups of coffee from the plunger that he’d filled before lighting the fire. He added milk to one and carried them into the living room.

  “Yes, there is,” she insisted. She took the cup he held out to her. “You were there all my growing up years. Tell me how that happened.”

  Marcus sat down in his favourite chair and gazed into the fire. “To tell you that, I’d have to start at the beginning.”

  Jaena sat down on the floor and drew her knees up to her chest. “Start at the beginning then – I’m listening.”

  “What about your study?”

  “It can wait. This is more important.”