Page 110 of Queenslander
Sunset. A line of solid-looking grey clouds rose behind black mountains like a higher horizon. In some places Nev saw four,five horizons, and in those places clouds and mountains became indistinguishable. Above the fierce yellow cloud-outline the sky glowed orange. She stared through binoculars at the ribbon of light where warm wet currents met cold dry air, blinking and breathing for the Sarus she hoped to see fly into breeding grounds for the night.
When they pierced the clouds they were so small she barely recognized them.
Standing six feet tall, the world's largest flying bird emerged delicately through marsh grasses, blood-orange red crown leading a graceful straight neck, light grey body and cautious pink legs. With its rope-thin white neck and sleek teardrop body, it looked like something the Queen of Hearts would have used as a mallet in a deadly croquet match.
Thewhoop whoopsounded like what would happen if you cut an old tire into a thin strip and then spun it around above your head as fast as you could like a helicopter.
Rainbow said it sounded like the lake was laughing.
“More cranes than last year,” Reg said, smiling, visibly relieved.
Rainbow snuggled in her mother’s oversized sweatshirt on her mother’s lap. Ron looked like she didn’t feel the cold.
Nev’s phone vibrated. New voicemail. Missed call from an unknown number. Most likely spam. She got up and walked to the top of a low hill where she wouldn’t disturb the Madonnas.
The voicemail was soft and breathy, high-pitched.
“The background check came back. Call me.”
Nev swore.
How had that woman gotten her phone number? Was it still on the farm website? She thought she had taken it off. Ron wouldn’t have given it to Maude, neither would the lawyer. Thefact that Ron’s ex had a direct line to her pocket made her squirm. This didn’t feel like the kind of call she could put off until the lawyer’s office reopened on Monday.
She pressed call.
Maude answered. “You’re an alcoholic.”
She couldn’t let Maude use her as an excuse to sabotage the custody hearing in three days. If it fell through, Ron would be devastated.
“Nah, yeah. That was a long time ago. I assume you’re talking about those DUIs.”
“You lost your license.”
“I got it back.”
“Some of these are from twenty years ago and others are from ten years ago.”
None after the night Ron appeared. She had been better since then. She had to watch what she said. A little flame burned in her chest, warming her cheeks. She wasn’t drunk, but she wasn’t sober, either.
“Every ten years is a pattern. You’re due.”
Nev swallowed.
“Does Ronnie know you’re an alcoholic?”
The silence lengthened. She didn’t trust herself to speak.
“She deserves to know,” Maude said. “If you’re in recovery, you shouldn’t have enough liquor in the kitchen to open your own pub. Your recycling bin had too many bottles in it, even with two people. Ronnie doesn’t drink. She doesn’t like the taste. I’m not trying to scare you. I’m not threatening to blackmail you. She’s not observant enough to notice. How do I say this? She’s the moth to every flame. She doesn’t know when to stay and when to run. She stays when she should run and runs when she should stay. You’re enabling each other.”
“Maybe.”
“If you’ve got a dark side, she’ll strap a turbo engine to it. She’s an adrenaline junkie. I can’t believe I’m about to say this… She can’t you-know-what unless someone hits her. Mentally, she’s still in the van, waiting for MJ.”
Nausea in the pit of Nev’s stomach. “Is that all?”
“I take back what I said about you.”
Nev covered her eyes with her hand. “What was that?”
