The Opal Desert by Di Morrissey Read Free Book Online

in different directions. Some were still at university and saving to travel overseas, some had jobs and they all found that they now had little in common. They all wondered at Kerrie’s decision to marry an older man, even if he was famous, but when they met Milton and saw how attractive, sophisticated and attentive he was, some were impressed. What none of them envied was the responsibility of a relationship in which Kerrie had acquired three stepdaughters.
    Kerrie’s school friends struck up a conversation with Sam, probing him with questions, and Sam was all too pleased to show off his knowledge of Milton Faranisi.
    â€˜Is he really a famous sculptor?’ asked one.
    Sam lowered his voice conspiratorially. ‘He has buckets of money partly because his first wife was very rich but mainly because he is very good at what he does and people pay loads to get one of his works. But he’s really ambitious and wants to make an even bigger international name for himself as a sculptor.’
    â€˜I heard they have three houses or something. And they’re going to live in Europe. Lucky Kerrie.’
    â€˜Is she still going to art school?’ one of the girls asked.
    â€˜No, I think she’ll be doing a lot of travelling. Anyway, she can always have private lessons from her husband!’ said Sam. ‘Personally, I can’t see Kerrie having much time to paint after she’s married,’ he continued with unusual prescience.
    Kerrie often thought that if they hadn’t gone to Holland straight after the wedding for Milton’s commission, she might have been able to bond with Milton’s three daughters early in the marriage. But when they came back from Holland so pleased and buoyed by Milton’s success, the girls felt left out, and they blamed Kerrie.
    As time went on relations between Kerrie and the girls did not improve. They all lived together in the Rose Bay house, and Kerrie devoted herself to working on the administration of Milton’s art projects – publicity, promotions, exhibitions and lectures – and dealing with the growing interest from overseas in his work, for Milton refused to trust anyone else. Wendy organised the day-to-day household routine and supervised the girls, while Kerrie juggled Milton’s time at Rose Bay, at his studio, the annual trip to the villa in Italy and family skiing holidays with the girls.
    In addition to the time she devoted to Milton’s career, Kerrie tried to involve herself with the girls, who had very demanding schedules. She attended school events, drove them to and from endless extracurricular activities and functions, took Luisa – who was horse mad – to pony club and drove the horse float to gymkhanas. She helped out at fundraising barbecues and attended school plays and eisteddfods, dragging Milton along whenever she could.
    Milton was pleased with the effort that Kerrie was making to spend time with his girls, but there was little true warmth in their relationships. While they chatted with Kerrie about their friends and school, they never shared anything too personal or got too close to her.
    Kerrie discovered that Renata often visited her father at his studio on the way home from school, when she had led Kerrie to believe that she had an extracurricular class, and Kerrie was quite hurt.
    But Milton laughed it off. ‘She wants to have a little time with her father, weasel a few bucks out of me, and see what I’m working on. Actually, I think she visits me because she’s keen on one of my assistants.’
    â€˜But why keep it a secret?’ asked Kerrie. ‘It makes me feel as though she still doesn’t trust me.’
    As Milton’s success grew, Kerrie became busier. When her mother asked her if she had any time to herself, Kerrie shrugged. ‘I don’t know where the time goes, Mum. Wendy’s a treasure, but we seem to entertain a lot more than we did. And Milton relies on