The Scattering by Jaki McCarrick Read Free Book Online Page A

think the child is traumatised. Quite seriously. She assumed a lot of responsibility.’
    Jessica mowed in: ‘Has she been abused is what I’m asking you?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ the doctor replied. ‘It takes time to find out.’
    Jessica called the hospital the following day for the result of Ashleigh’s scan: all clear. Then she made an appointment for the following week for the commencement of Ashleigh’s counselling. The evening Jessica got the news that there was no sign of damage or concussion, or any nascent tumours in Ashleigh’s brain, Jules came home from Miami.
    *
    She had begun to organise excursions for the girls so they would see less of her unshaven son slouching around the house. Jules had been unusually quiet since he’d come home, broke, in debt, and deeper into the end of his bottle than ever. He didn’t join them at mealtimes, and worked mostly alone in the yard.
    One evening, Jessica asked Ashleigh and Olivia if they’d like to go to the theatre. The Bellevue players were to stage Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean at the Martin Theatre, in which her friend Doreen was playing a waitress.
    â€˜Who’s Jimmy Dean?’ asked Ashleigh.
    â€˜A famous actor who died tragically in a car accident,’ Jessica replied. As soon as she uttered the words she saw Ashleigh’s face light up with understanding. She realised then that Ashleigh had somehow heard the story about Tina’s car being left open with the radio on by the dunes and the lack of any body, or sign of it, for the best part of seventeen years. Before the girls had come, and before Ashleigh had stirred people up with her claims of divinity, Tina’s disappearance had been the only story of note ever attached to the Lawsons.
    After the play, Jessica brought the girls into Panama Java for hot chocolate. She looked at the two girls so joyous in the busy café with the fan swirling crankily above their heads like some kind of predatory bird. She knew that soon she would lose them both.
    That night, Jessica heard screams and thought Olivia was having a seizure. She ran quickly to the girls’ room and opened the door. Olivia sat bolt upright, frightened, white as a sheet.
    â€˜Where’s Ashleigh?’ Jessica asked.
    â€˜She ain’t here,’ said Olivia. The moans and cries continued as Jessica walked along the corridor. She saw a light on in Tina’s room. She opened the door and saw her son standing by the window, smoking. Ashleigh lay on the bed. There was blood all around the girl’s groin, and Tina’s sheets were stained. Jessica put on the main light. So dazed was she by the scene before her she could barely make out a word Jules was saying. All she could focus on was the blood, and Jules’ foul smoke-breath filling up her daughter’s room. Suddenly Jessica’s voice seemed to take on a life of its own and she began to shout. She continued until she felt her son shake her violently by her shoulders.
    â€˜Are you listening to me?’ he said. ‘I said, I heard crying. I thought it was Tina.’
    Jessica broke free and went to the bed. She covered Ashleigh with her robe.
    â€˜It came just like a flood,’ Ashleigh said. ‘I got so scared I came in here so as not to frighten Olivia. I’m sorry about the blood, Jessica. But Jules never touched me, not like you’re saying.’
    â€˜Why you just didn’t let her have her own room, this room, I don’t know. It’s obvious what’s happening to her!’ Jules screamed.
    â€˜This is Tina’s room. And you know I don’t let anyone sleep here.’
    â€˜Well, why’s that I wonder?’
    â€˜You know damn well why. Now shut up and get me some towels.’
    â€˜Tina’s dead and she isn’t ever coming back. And you know it.’
    â€˜How in hell do I know that, huh? Am I psychic or something? Are you?