Henry’s Daughter by Joy Dettman Read Free Book Online

that one, but she pats Mavis’s hand. ‘You don’t know what this means to me. You’ll never know, darling.’
    â€˜I’ve got a fair idea. However,’ Mavis says. She likes howevers, and everyone in this houseknows that when she gets started into her howevers, some good fiction is getting ready to come out of her mouth. Henry should know it too but he’s sitting there, nodding, smiling, letting his wives talk. ‘However, Henry and I both feel it could be detrimental to the twins’ future wellbeing for them to grow to adulthood not knowing that they have brothers. We want them to know their family, don’twe, Henry?’
    Then Vinnie sneezes, and when he sneezes, half of Willama knows it. The listeners skedaddle down behind the old laundry where they wait a while before creeping back. But it’s all over bar the shouting. Eva is mock-crying, like dabbing at her eyes with a proper handkerchief and saying a lot of junk about how many years have been lost.
    Then Mavis does it again. ‘However,’ she says.‘The papers will have to be signed up here, Eva. As you can no doubt see, there’s no way I can get to a solicitor’s office.’
    â€˜Yes, darling.’ Eva nods, attempts to look concerned. ‘Mr Watts could drive up in the morning and bring the papers,’ she says, dabbing her eyes again, just so no one will see what is going on behind those eyes.
    â€˜Get him to bring the twins with him, Eva, and bring themaround for dinner tomorrow. We’re having a birthday party for Lorraine. It would be the ideal opportunity for them to meet everyone in a social situation.’
    Eva pushes her cup of tea back, stands. ‘It’s such a long trip for them, darling. You know that they are still not well boys.’
    â€˜Those two are going to know they’ve got brothers. It’s our one stipulation, isn’t it, Henry?’
    â€˜Certainly betterfor them, Eva,’ Henry says.
    â€˜Then I dare say we will have to arrange it.’
    Arrange what? Those twins are already in Willama. She’s a cool liar.
    She’s got a mobile phone in her purse. She uses it to call a taxi. Mavis’s eyes want that mobile. She can’t have it. Henry won’t let her have the phone reconnected; he won’t even let Martin and Donny have mobile phones – for various reasons, such aspizza shops that do home deliveries and taxi drivers who will buy takeaway then taxi it to the house. Anyway, eventually Eva drives off and Mavis turns on the television and starts looking in the fridge. Lori and Jamesy walk in and lie on the floor to watch the movie.
    â€˜You kids get to bed now,’ she says. They don’t move. ‘Henry! Henry!’
    â€˜I’m in bed.’
    She’s getting niggly. There is nothing muchin that fridge except green stuff; there are eggs but no more milk to make custard. ‘You’re like a bloody old chook,’ she yells, slamming the fridge door. ‘You stick your head under your wing and snore. I want to talk to you.’
    â€˜Keep your voice down. You’ll wake the baby.’
    â€˜Wake the baby? He’ll be awake again in five minutes, the bawling little bugger. Greg!’ She walks to the back door, sticksher head out. ‘Greg, love. Greggie! Where are you?’ She’s not going to find him, and maybe she knows it. Her tone alters when she calls Vinnie’s name. ‘Vinnie. Where the bloody hell are you?’
    â€˜He’s gone to find Greg, and Martin went to Nelly’s to call Karen and tell her he can’t come out tonight because something came up,’ Lori says. ‘Me and Jamesy will go to the shop for you.’
    â€˜It’s too latefor you to be wandering around, and I told you to get to bed. Get your shower and go. Now!’ She walks off to her bedroom to talk to Henry.
    Lori and Jamesy have got the television to themselves until the bawler starts