The Vanishing Moment Read online

  ‘You’re just like little kids,’ Mrs Jackson scolds. ‘Aren’t they, Arrow?’

  ‘Absolute brats,’ Arrow agrees.

  Mrs Jackson gets up and hugs them goodbye. ‘My lovely boy. My lovely, lovely girls.’

  ‘Mu-u-u-m!’ Daisy complains, but Arrow can tell she is pleased.

  Waving, Mrs Jackson disappears into the house.

  ‘Your mother seems happy today,’ Arrow says.

  ‘She is,’ Daisy says. ‘As soon as Dad finishes at the garage, he’s taking her to Bunnings to choose paints. We’re going to have a yellow house.’

  ‘Oh, wow, that’s cheerful.’

  Fergus laughs. ‘Not too cheerful, we hope. Dad’s promised to be a restraining influence.’

  Arrow kisses Rose on her plum-soft cheek. ‘Happy birthday.’

  Rose has lost much of her baby fat, but as Arrow’s mother says, she’s as delectable as ever.

  ‘I’m thirteen! A teenager! I’m going to have so much fun!’

  Daisy grunts. ‘No wagging school. No meeting boys at the hot chips shop. I’ll be watching you.’

  Rose tosses back her hair, dances away.

  They follow, Arrow slipping her hand into Fergus’s.

  At the side of the restaurant, near the rubbish bins, is a huddle of thin grey blankets, topped by a shock of rough black hair.

  Keeping his voice low, Fergus says, ‘That’s Bob. My dad offered him a job when he got out of gaol, but he couldn’t stick at it.’

  ‘He must be freezing!’

  Arrow digs into her wallet, extracting a handful of notes.

  She crouches next to the man. His breath is sour. His clothes reek of sweat and tobacco. She presses the money into his hand.

  He nods. ‘I’m a bit down on my luck at the moment, as you can see.’

  ‘I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?’

  ‘Nothing, but thanks.’

  He fumbles around and swigs from a bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag.

  As they walk away, Arrow says, ‘We have to help him.’

  Fergus kisses her. ‘My sweet girl,’ he says.

  She loves the way he looks at her.

  Daisy is disapproving. ‘You shouldn’t have given him money. He’ll only spend it on drink.’

  Rose shakes her head. ‘I think he’ll get a good meal and a bed for the night.’

  Daisy rolls her eyes.

  Outside the restaurant, a little Silky Terrier is waiting, her lead tied round a pole. But she looks happy enough, snug in a tartan jacket, and is well supplied with a meaty bone and a bowl of water.

  Arrow stoops to pat her and the little dog yaps, squirming with delight.

  An elderly woman pops her head round the door. ‘Just checking she’s okay,’ she says, smiling at Arrow. ‘My husband insists we take Lucy with us everywhere, even on holiday.’

  Arrow and the others follow her in. The woman sits down at a table where a frail old man is watching anxiously. An aluminium walker is folded up against the wall.

  ‘Your dog’s enjoying the bone,’ Arrow says to him as they sit down nearby. ‘I can just see her from the window. I’ll keep an eye on her.’

  ‘Thank you,’ he says. ‘My wife thinks I fuss, don’t you, my dear?’

  She leans over and strokes him on the cheek. ‘Perhaps a little.’

  What a lovely old couple, Arrow thinks. If I had grandparents still living, I’d like them to be just like this.

  Near the end of the meal, when the cake has been served, Rose reaches into her bag. She pinches on her old pink bunny ears.

  Daisy is scandalised. ‘Rose! You can’t wear that here. People are looking!’

  Rose grins. ‘It’s my birthday and I’ll do what I want to.’

  She waggles the ears, and Arrow is filled with such a sense of well-being that she feels truly blessed to be living right now, in this place.