Page 35 of The Mother-in-Law

We go back and forth for a few minutes before Ollie agrees, out of exhaustion more than anything else. Almost immediately afterward he slides down in the bed, his breathing becoming steady and rhythmic. I stay awake a few minutes longer, patting and rocking Archie into a deep sleep. I’ve just placed him into the portacot when I hear a whimper, a gentle muffled sob. But it’s not coming from Archie. It’s coming from somewhere nearby—across the hall.

Nettie’s room.

17

LUCY

The present . . .

Something is niggling at me.

I lie on the sofa with my feet in Ollie’s lap. The kids are in bed and I am nursing a glass of pinot noir. Ollie is nursing his own glass—usually it’s my favourite part of the day. But today, something is niggling at me. And I have a feeling I know what it is.

Guilt.

When Ollie’s mobile starts to vibrate, we both spring to life as though we are expecting it.

‘Who is it?’ I ask.

‘Don’t recognise the number . . .’ he says.

‘Why don’t I get it?’ I ask. ‘It could be the funeral home or . . . I don’t know . . . something important. Maybe the police?’

He shakes his head ‘I’ll get it,’ he says, then presses the phone to his ear. ‘Oliver Goodwin speaking.’

He frowns, cocks his head. Then he meets my eye. ‘It’s Jones,’ he mouths after a second.

‘Put it on speakerphone,’ I mouth back and he does. Jones’s cool, efficient voice fills the room.

‘We’ve received your mother’s autopsy report. We’d like to talk to you about it down at the station, if possible.’

‘The station?’ Ollie blinks. ‘Can’t you tell me over the phone?’

‘It’s easier if you come here. Your sister and her husband are coming down too.’

Ollie looks at me. I shrug. ‘If that’s what we need to do. I’ll be right there—’

‘Actually, we’d appreciate it if both you and Lucy came down. We’d like to talk to both of you.’

‘Both of us? Together?’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s eight-thirty at night. Our children are in bed!’

‘Then I suggest you find a babysitter,’ Jones says. ‘Because this is important. And we’d like to see you both tonight.’

18

DIANA

The past . . .

‘Have you heard the news?’ Tom says, his face a shiny beacon of cheer.

I glance around in surprise. The entire family is gathered in the good room—Tom, Nettie, Patrick, Ollie, Lucy, even Archie. Tom’s face is a shiny round beacon of cheer. Though I’ve seen everyone individually over the past year, we haven’t all been together as a family since the baby monitor fiasco at Sorrento when Lucy and Ollie scurried back to Melbourne after one day (a dreadful overreaction, in my opinion, even if I did overstep). In any case, I’m pleased to see everyone together again.

‘What is it?’ I say, glancing at Nettie. I can’t help it. Lucy is eight months pregnant with baby number two, ithasto be Nettie’s turn. But she just shrugs as if to say:Don’t look at me.