Evergreen Shade: Book Three 1990s

Evergreen Shade

By Amelia Keldan

Copyright 2017 Amelia Keldan

Smashwords Edition

Cover Art Design - www.apriltwentydesigns.com

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Whilst being set in a non-fictional town, this is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidences are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Prologue

Adelaide Hills, South Australia – Circa 1980s

Helen Green looked up into the sky and felt her mind fragment into sharply refined pieces. One piece was focused on staying alive; the concerted effort to control her breathing, coupled with the determination to remain calm and still, was proving extremely difficult. She knew the importance of preserving her energy. If she let herself give in to the sense of panic, she would pass out from the shock and then her mind, the only real tool she had left at her disposal, would be of no use to her.

Within her mind’s eye, her Father’s face floated peripherally to the right, her eyes choosing instead to focus on her niece, Tildy McVee. If she could just channel her thoughts across the bumpy range of the Adelaide Hills for a split second longer, she knew her cherished Tildy would receive her signal eventually. Each of them shared this gift – this gift of which Helen took years to embrace. Without it, she would be left here alone to die…her swollen ankle leaving her stuck high up away from the small town below.

Tildy – it’s urgent…I’m hurt! I need your help! Helen cried out silently.

Russell stumbled over rocks and various fallen branches as he clumsily followed his youngest daughter up into the hills. He knew he should feel ridiculous. He had no real idea why Tildy so urgently needed him to follow her on what seemed to be a fool’s errand. A sister? Russell had no siblings; he was an only child.

In light of his recent discoveries however, his adoption and unknown Grandmother, it was not necessarily so unbelievable that he had other relatives out there that he was unaware of.

Are we getting closer Tilds? Russell panted as he felt himself growing tired.

Almost there Dad. I can feel her and she knows we’re getting close. I told her we were on our way.

You told her? Russell responded silently. Once again feeling confused but understanding that his daughter was speaking the truth, he took a deep breath and ploughed on.

As they came upon a particularly rough area of terrain, Russell was surprised to see what looked like a person curled up on the ground.

Aunt Helen! Tildy cried out in relief. Pulling water from her backpack, she lifted the spout up to her Aunt’s parched lips and nodded encouragingly for her to swallow.

Only small sips there love, Russell spoke up soothingly, staring at the stranger’s face that looked so much like his daughters’.

Peering at him over the drink bottle, Helen wondered briefly what this meant.

What was her brother doing here? Had Tildy finally told her family about her existence? Was she in trouble? Feeling panicked and forgetting about her ankle, Helen made a move to stand. Screaming in agony and dropping to the ground once again, Helen started to cry.

You can’t use that ankle! Stay still and let me carry you.

Feeling bolstered by his stern but caring tone, Helen let Russell lift her up onto her good leg.

I can probably hop if you hold me up…I tried to make my way further down on one leg earlier but the ground is too unsteady and I was afraid of hurting myself more.

It’ll be a lot quicker if I just give you a piggy back. You can’t weigh more than a twelve-year-old.

Feeling ludicrous but reassured by his tall and strong build, Helen, with Tildy’s assistance, found herself being carried down the hill like a koala taking a ride on her Mother’s back. Giggling at the image, Helen surprised both Tildy and Russell by her jovial mood.

Are you sure you didn’t hit your head when you fell Aunt Helen? Tildy joked, as she deftly matched her Father’s stride, navigating their way back carefully toward Evergreen Avenue.

What a way to meet the family! Helen crowed as she held on tight. Russell shook his head ruefully and concentrated on getting them all back home to safety.

Simone tapped her foot anxiously as she waited for her sister and Father to return. Initially she had wanted to join them on the hunt for Helen. Helena was telling the truth! she’d thought in wonder, when her baby sister had suddenly seemed to tune in as she does, on a woman Simone was not entirely convinced had even existed.

Her Father however, seeing that his eldest daughter was intent on coming along, had nervously glanced upstairs and asked Simone to stay and keep an eye on her Mother. Penny, who had lapsed back into the habit of having one too many drinks of late was currently passed out in the master bedroom and Russell did not want her waking up and finding herself alone. Simone went to check on her Mum with a soothing cup of tea in one hand.

Meanwhile, over the other side of the city, Dr Green impatiently waited for the other slow moving passengers to make their way out of the aeroplane. He had had to take whatever flight was available at the last minute, resulting in him travelling in a way he had previously been unaccustomed. Enduring the annoyance of being squashed up beside these loud and frustrating people had his nerves jangling with anxiety.

C’mon Billy, no use looking out the window – let’s go see it up close, a young Mother implored, as her small child dilly dallied, making his way slowly down the aisle.

Muttering under his breath, Liam held his temper in check as he waited for young Billy to get his ass in gear.

Finally making his way inside of the airport terminal, he blissfully ignored the baggage claim area, hoisting his small carry-on bag higher up onto one shoulder as he headed for the hire car window.

Satisfied that her Mother seemed to be peacefully asleep, Simone headed quietly back downstairs. Jumping at the sound of a knock on the door, she opened it quickly to ensure that another loud whack did not wake up her Mum.

Um…Hello? Can I help you with something? Simone asked nervously. She had expected to see a familiar face at the door and instead found herself looking at an older man, aged somewhere in the mid-sixties.

Yes Hello – I’m after…well that is, I’m looking for somebody. Do you live here?

Well…not exactly. This is my parents’ place. Do you know them?

Not officially. It’s just, I need to speak to them if I may. It’s very important.

Simone heard a sound from behind and turned to see a pale and frightened looking young woman leaning against her Father. Having entered through the back door only moments ago, Tildy, Russell and Helen looked a right mess.

It’s okay Dad – you needn’t be so panicked. They know everything, Helen spoke tiredly.

We do? Russell asked as he looked back and forth between the two.

Well…you will soon enough – whether my Father wants you to or not. It was all going to come out sometime anyway… Helen’s voice trailed off as she felt herself needing to sit down. Waves of fear and regret seemed to emanating from her Father and it was exhausting her terribly.

Simone looked on in amazement as the man before her suddenly burst into tears. Tildy stepped forward and took his hand gently.

It’s okay – we’re pretty good at keeping secrets around here, she spoke kindly. Leading him inside and asking everyone to take a seat in the lounge room, Tildy and Helen began to share their story as Simone fussed about tending to Helen’s ankle.

Leaning back into the soft, plush lounge chair, Tildy accepted a glass of water from her Father and switched her mind’s focus to the other members of the household. Her Father’s initial awe and confusion had morphed into a mixture of acceptance and understanding. Helen seemed jubilant after the cleansing experience of unloading her long held secrets to a captive audience. Simone, exhausted by the days’ events, was asleep on the couch and Tildy was reassured that Helen’s Father, who at first seemed shifty and disturbed was now pumping out waves of defeat – a strange kind of closure had enveloped his being and although still shaken and out of his comfort zone, the old man seemed calm and content to stay put in the McVee household for a spell.

As Tildy reached her mind out to Penny, she realised her Mother’s energy was right there beside her. Instantly realising what this meant, she took hold of her Father’s hand and whispered to him quietly.

Dad…it’s Mum.

Seeing the look on his daughter’s face, Russell began to shake his head in denial. Quickly making his way upstairs, he paused for a split second as his hand reached for the brass doorknob. Already knowing what was waiting for him on the other side of the door, Russell began to weep as he made his way slowly inside.

Chapter One

Adelaide Hills, South Australia Circa 1990s

Joel anxiously changed lanes as Ella sat in the back seat with their daughter. He recalled her doing the same thing when they first brought their newborn baby home from the hospital four years ago. At least that time it’d made sense, Joel thought to himself, picturing Melody’s small, two-day old head wobbling about like a tennis ball lodged at the end of an old sock. He’d nervously avoided pot holes the whole twisty and windy drive home, whilst his nervous young wife had placed her hands protectively around the little girl’s vulnerable skull. Was that really that long ago? he marvelled, as he snuck a glance at his daughter’s strong and capable neck holding up her head with ease.

Nearing their destination and turning the volume down on the car stereo, Joel stopped singing along to Hootie and The Blowfish and squinted through the rain soaked windshield.

You two sitting in the back are making me feel like a taxi, Joel half joked, as he slowly made his way down Burbridge Road toward Adelaide airport.

Yeah well, if she throws up all over the seats, will we have to pay extra? Ella made eye contact with her husband via the rear-view mirror and smiled to show she was only kidding. Having rolled his eyes earlier when Ella opted to sit beside her child after stopping for petrol, Joel had mumbled something about his wife being over protective. She didn’t want to argue over every little thing however. They’d unfortunately been doing that quite a bit of late and she didn’t like to pass on any tension to her daughter.

I not make yuckies Mummy…MY tummy isn’t sick, Melody stated seriously.

But honey…you said you felt like you were going to vomit when we stopped at the BP.

‘Not ME Mummy. Can we get a treat on the way home Daddy?" she asked her Father eagerly, the subject of someone feeling unwell too boring for her to ponder on any longer.

Joel grinned at his offspring and offered up a non-committal ‘maybe’. Satisfied with that answer and returning to her favourite book, Melody flicked the pages to her favourite part and asked her Mother to read.

Not now Mel, we’re about to go inside the airport.

Okay, she sighed dramatically.

Tildy gripped the arms of her seat as the plane taxied down the runway. She hated flying. Not having travelled too much in her childhood, she hadn’t realised how terrifying it was to find yourself shuttling through the clouds in a massive chunk of metal, defying all the laws of physics (well, she had no idea about physics – but this sure didn’t feel lawful) as people jettisoned to one destination or another. It seemed rather reasonable to be afraid. Sure, she knew the odds of dying in a car crash were higher than plummeting to her death in a 747 but still…placing her hand on her mid-section, she fought off the nausea that always accompanied a long flight and took slow and steady breaths.

Tildy’s high school experience had gone from bad to worse after the passing of her Mother. Unable to keep her focus and bored by the demands an education requires, she’d coasted her way through to Year 12 and had totally blown it in her final year. Sure, she and her friend Enid Taylor had had a blast sneaking into underage clubs and running wild in the city but her Father was out of his mind with worry, scared he would lose another member of his family within the space of five years.

Contacting a relative in London, England, he’d arranged for his youngest daughter to get away from the place that held so many conflicting memories. The elderly Aunt of his adoptive Mother was entrusted with Tildy’s care. The poor woman had not been able to handle Tildy’s impulsive ways however and had reluctantly informed Russell, after only a few