Part Eleven - Far Horizons

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over Patty’s living room as the book club gathered. Patty had spent the morning tidying up and preparing snacks, eager for the meeting to start, “Hello dears! It’s Patty! Today is going to be a special day. I am introducing Ruby to the ladies of book club,” Patty turned to her audience, “Do you think my girls are as progressive as me? I would hate for my good intentions to cause a kafuffle.”

Ruby arrived promptly, her presence immediately noticeable. Patty welcomed her warmly, leading her into the living room where the other women were already seated.

“Ladies, I’d like you to meet Ruby,” Patty announced with a bright smile.

Flo and Cindy, seated together on the couch, exchanged pleased glances.

“Welcome, Ruby!” Flo said warmly. “We’re so glad to have you.”

“Ruby is going to be an excellent asset,” Cindy nodded in agreement. “You should hear her talk at the library. Simply thought provoking.”

Myra, sitting in an armchair, looked Ruby up and down with a cautious smile, “It was you! Right! You cared for me after my lady problems?”

“I remember you! You took forever to release all that wind,” Ruby chuckled, finding a vacant seat beside her. “I thought I was going to have to poke you with a stick.” Myra blushed, “My girl! It was better out than in.”

Patty smiled, “I thought Ruby could join us.”

Lucy, who had been flipping through the pages of her book, frowned deeply. She put the book down and glared at Patty. “What do you mean she’s joining us?”

Patty stood her ground, meeting Lucy’s gaze steadily. “I think Ruby has a lot to offer.”

“Patty, you can’t be serious!” Lucy snapped, “This is a respectable group!”

Flo interjected with a grin, “Respectable? I never signed up for respectable. We’re here for the stories and the company, right?”

Ruby stood up quietly, her expression calm despite the hostility directed at her. She was used to this kind of situation. She believed in maintain her dignity as she exited a room.

Patty placed a hand upon her shoulder and push the woman back down into her seat, “Ruby, why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself?”

Ruby shrugged her shoulders, with a smirk planted on her face, thinking that Patty could be quite a determined woman. She liked that.

They heard about Ruby’s life on the mission where she met her husband. They were able to leave and start a new life until her husband died unexpectedly. She recently got a job at the hospital, loves a good mystery story and grows her own vegetables.

There was no mention of her children. Patty thought it must be a touchy subject so didn’t prompt her.

Myra suddenly found an interest in the conversation that appealed to her; gossip. “Have you got any juicy stories from the hospital?”

“Oh! Pet! Hospitals a petri dishes for gossip,” replied Ruby wanting so badly to change their intense gazes. “Matron is not the respectable woman you all think. Every Thursday night she is at the racetrack trying to back a winner…and now she is down to her last double Ds for collateral,” Ruby spoke lowering her voice, “Or the new doctor that seems to be always at Nurse Gillian’s room fixing her pipes…while her roommate is there.”

Flo’s eyes sparkled with mischief, “Oh. How delicious!” She nudged Patty, “Makes me want to get a urine infection just to see for myself.”

The room filled with laughter except for Lucy was looking pissed in the corner. Ruby felt a little more relaxed. Ruby began talking about her sessions at the library which Cindy was boasting about.

Lucy’s frown deepened but she remained silent, clearly unhappy. Patty felt a sense of accomplishment despite the tension. She glanced at Ruby, who was listening intently to Cindy discussing an article about Edith Piaf. Ruby’s presence would undoubtedly enrich their meetings, bringing a fresh and heartfelt perspective to their discussions.

*********

The kitchen smelt of fresh tea and scones as Patty sat across from Ruby, pouring another cup. Ruby had stayed behind after book club had ended. She was enjoying being amongst people that seemed to treat her with kindness. If she only knew what Lucy was thinking right now.

“I swear, Ruby, you make the best jam I’ve ever tasted,” Patty said, spreading a generous helping onto a slice of bread.

Ruby smirked, sipping her tea, “That’s because I use cane sugar. Less processing involved so you get a natural taste.”

“Well, you’ll have to show me all your tricks one day.” Patty rose the cup to her lips, “So what did you think of book club?”

“They’re a friendly bunch of girls. Though that Lucy looks like she has a broom firmly lodged up her backside,”

Patty laughed, shaking her head.

At that moment, the back door burst open, and the children tumbled inside, covered in mud and smelling like river water. Lizzy, Teddy, Angelo, Syd, and Gina stood there, breathless and grinning. Lizzy clutched a weathered pouched where tarnished gold coins winked at them.

Patty barely had time to process the chaos before Lizzy dramatically flopped onto the table, panting, “Mum! I almost died!”

Ruby raised an eyebrow, recognising Syd amongst the faces, “You didn’t tell me you had a brood of kiddies?”

Patty’s brow furrowed; she hadn’t told Ruby about her association with Syd. Now that cat was firmly out of the bag. She introduced Ruby to the children, pointing out that Teddy and Lizzy belong to her.

“Now tell me again what happened,” Patty folded her arms. “Lizzy, I swear, if those nasty boys have anything to do with it.”

“No. It wasn’t them,” Teddy cut in, taken one of the tarnished coins from Lizzy. “Look! We found treasure. Real treasure.”

Patty took the coin from Teddy’s outstretched hand, her eyes widening as she attempted to wipe the scum from the coin. It was old, weathered—but undeniably real.

“What... where did you find this?”

The children talked over each other, racing through the story—the old bushranger camp, the buried coins, and Lizzy nearly being swallowed by the sinking island.

By the time they finished, Ruby was no longer staring at Syd. Her attention had been distracted by the coin. She slowly reached out and took it from Patty, rubbing her thumb over its surface.

Ruby exhaled, setting the coin down on the table. “I know this story.” The children leaned in, rapt with attention. “This loot belonged to Riley Carrington—one of the last bushrangers in this part of the country,” Ruby said, her voice low, as if the walls themselves might be listening.

Lizzy’s eyes went wide, “A real bushranger?”

Ruby tapped the coin. “Back in the 1880s, Riley Carrington and his gang ambushed a gold transport heading south. They got away with thousands of pounds worth of gold coins. But when the police caught up with them, they ran—to the river, to that island.” The children exchanged glances. “They thought they could hide out there,” Ruby continued. “But the police surrounded them. There was a shootout. The next morning, they found Carrington dead—shot in the chest. The others had vanished. Some say they drowned trying to escape. Others say they buried the gold and headed to the hills. No one has ever been able to find their loot apart from a few gold coins here and there.”

Teddy gulped, “So we found... his gold?”

“Yes and no,” Ruby nodded slowly, “You've merely found the scraps.”

Patty looked at the children, her brows furrowing. “And this island... you said it was sinking?”

Lizzy nodded vigorously, “Yeah! I fell right through the ground. It’s turning into a swamp.”

Ruby mused, “Maybe that is why no one has ever found the rest of the treasure? The island’s been swallowing it up for years.”

As the conversation settled, Ruby’s gaze landed on Syd. He stood near the door, quietly watching her, his usual confidence suddenly subdued.

“And who’s this?” Ruby asked, nodding toward him.

“Oh! This is Syd,” Teddy said. “One of my best mates.”

Ruby studied the boy, something unspoken flickering across her face. Something familiar.

Syd met her gaze but didn’t speak. He wasn’t sure why, but something about this woman made his chest feel tight. It wasn’t like those moments when he was close to Teddy. This was a different kind of feeling.

Patty noticed the strange energy between them but said nothing.

Finally, Ruby smiled, holding out her hand, “Nice to meet you, Syd.”

“Hey missus! Haven’t I seen your around town?” Syd hesitated, his fingers curling around hers just for a moment. “You were at the movies…and the bookstore when I got Teddy’s comic.”

“Oh! The Phantom! You didn’t have enough coins…so I gave you the money.”

“Yeah! Missus!” Their hands parted, but something unspoken lingered between them—a connection that the boy could not name. “That was real nice of ya.”

As the children chattered excitedly, planning to take the gold to the historical society, Patty watched Ruby carefully.

“You alright?” Patty asked softly.

Ruby blinked, shaking off the feeling. “Yeah. Just... funny how life works, isn’t it?”

Patty nodded, “The world is surely a small place.”

As the children raced outside to search for more coins, Syd threw one grin over his shoulder at Ruby. He didn’t know why, but something about her felt... important.

Ruby sipped her tea, watching him go. Patty went back to staring at the gold coins. Freddie might be the best person to know what to do about them.

*********

Patty found Freddie at his desk, staring blankly at an open notebook, his cigarette smoldering untouched in the ashtray.

A stack of edited articles sat beside him, indecipherable squiggles here and there giving his thoughts on each piece. The only thing missing was the usual energy he carried when working. There wasn’t any enthusiasm for the stories he was reading. He was doing everything on muscle memory to get through the task.

Patty hovered in the doorway for a moment, watching him. She’d seen him like this before—distracted, restless, stuck inside his own head. Usually after one of his nightmares. She would give him space, and he’d come around. Maybe these gold coins would shake him out of it? She cleared her throat and stepped inside. “I’ve got something that might interest you.”

Freddie barely glanced up, his fingers tapping absently against his desk, “If it’s another bake sale, Pat, I—”

“It’s not,” she interrupted, pulling a small cloth bundle from her apron pocket. “This is actual news.”

Patty sat down across from him and carefully unwrapped the cloth, revealing two gold coins that glinted under the lamp’s glow.

Freddie blinked. Then he leaned forward, reaching for one of them, “What the heck?” His voice was sharper now, alive. He turned the coin over in his fingers, studying its weight, its worn edges. “Where did you get these?”

Patty smirked, grateful for the shift in his mood. “Lizzy, Teddy, and the gang found them on the island. Apparently, they stumbled onto an old bushranger camp.”

Freddie let out a low whistle, tilting the coin to the light, “This is real,” he muttered. “Late 1800s, maybe?”

“That’s what Ruby thinks,” Patty said, watching him closely. “She says it belonged to Riley Carrington’s gang.”

Freddie let out a slow breath, his fingers gripping the coin a little tighter. He reached for his notebook—and flipped to a fresh page.

“She’s probably right,” he said, already scrawling notes. “Carrington’s crew pulled off one of the last great gold heists. But no one ever found the stolen gold. If these are from that job...” He trailed off, already lost in thought.

Patty bit the inside of her cheek, relieved to see the fog around him clearing. She leaned back in her chair, pretending to adjust the coins on the desk, “Maybe Phil can help?”

Freddie froze, his hand pausing mid-scrawl. Patty kept her expression neutral, acting as though she had suggested it offhandedly. But she watched him closely, waiting for his reaction.

Freddie slowly set the pen down and reached for his cigarette instead, “Maybe,” he said, after a long moment. “His on leave at the moment…personal business or some such.”

Patty tilted her head, pretending not to pry, “Oh! I hope everything is okay?”

“I expect so,” He exhaled a thin stream of smoke, staring at nothing. “It’ll blow over…whatever is keeping him away from…work.”

Patty’s fingers brushed over the table, “I’m pleased it isn’t anything serious.” Patty didn’t push. Not yet. Instead, she nodded toward the coins. “Well, maybe this is the kind of mystery that would bring him back sooner.”

Freddie studied the coins for a long moment. Then he stubbed out his cigarette and reached for his pen again, “Maybe,” he said again, but this time, there was something different in his voice. “Maybe things are just too complicated for him to return to…work.”

“Well, you know him best,” Patty smiled faintly, standing up. “Let me know what you find out about the coins.”

Freddie was already flipping through old notes, scribbling the odd thought, coming back to life. Patty walked out of the room leaving her husband to his renewed zest.

********

Next day, Patty was in the kitchen, making apple pies thinking back to her conversation with Freddie. The air was scented with cinnamon and stewing apples. Whatever had come between those two men had quite the impact.

She briefly wondered if Phil had developed a crush on Betty Knight. It was usually a woman that had the potential to come between two men. Perhaps that was the disagreement?

She was mindlessly kneading some dough when she heard a knock on the door. She wiped her dough covered hands on her apron before opening the door to find Lucy standing there, her face flushed with anger.

“Lucy, come in,” Patty said, forcing a smile despite the knot forming in her stomach. She turned to face ger audience, “Oh! Dears! What does this woman want now? I love her dearly, but I am fighting an urge not to slap her.” She turned to face Lucy sensing this was not going to be a pleasant conversation. “Did you forget something?”

“I’ve slept on it! And I feel the same way,” Lucy stepped inside, barely acknowledging Patty’s greeting. She crossed her arms and turned to face her, her eyes flashing with indignation. “I can’t believe you, Patty. How could you invite that woman to our group?”

Patty took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Her right-hand twitching, “Lucy, Ruby is my friend. She has every right to be part of our group.”

Lucy shook her head, “But she’s... she doesn’t belong with us. Our book club has always been a place for us to discuss literature and share our lives. How do you think she fits into that?”

Patty felt a surge of anger at Lucy's blatant prejudice, “She fits in just fine, Lucy. Ruby loves books as much as any of us, and she has her own experiences and perspectives to share. Isn’t that the whole point of a book club? To broaden our horizons?”

Lucy huffed, clearly not convinced, “I just don’t see why you had to invite her. It’s going to make everyone uncomfortable.”

Patty stepped closer, “If anyone is uncomfortable, it’s because they’re not willing to open their minds. Ruby is a wonderful person, and she deserves to be treated with respect. If you can’t see that, then maybe you’re the one who doesn’t belong in the book club.”

Lucy’s eyes widened, a mix of shock and hurt crossing her face. “I can’t believe you’d say that to me, Patty. I am the one who started the wretched club in the first place.”

Patty sighed; her heart heavy, “Lucy, I value our friendship. But I can’t stand by and watch you exclude someone just because of the colour of their skin. That’s not the kind of person I want to be, and it’s not the kind of person I thought you were.”

Lucy looked away; her jaw clenched, “This isn’t just about Ruby. It’s like you’re trying to turn everything upside down.”

“What is so wrong with that? I’m capable of much more than the status quo.” Patty felt a pang of frustration, “No darn it! I want more for me and my family. And if you can’t support that than maybe I need to be around those who do.”

“Oh! Really!” Lucy’s face hardened. “Well, maybe I need some time to think about whether this is the right group for me.”

“Maybe you do,” Patty said softly. “But know this, Lucy, if you choose to walk away from our friendship over this, then that’s your decision. But I won’t apologize.”

Lucy turned and walked out. Patty closed the door and leaned against it, “I know she can be a pain in the backside some days, we’ve certainly had our fair share of verbal disagreements, but I have always valued our friendships.” Her eyes began to water, “It is always sad when something ends.”

She was feeling a mix of sadness and resolve. She struggled to find the energy to make apple pies. Yet Patty knew she had done the right thing, but it didn’t make losing a friend any easier.

*********

Patty had just finished putting away the groceries when she heard a knock at the door. Wondering who it could be this time? She wiped her hands on a dish towel and went to answer it.

To her surprise, standing on the doorstep with a wide grin was her sister Diana, adorned in a stylish coat and carrying a small suitcase.

Diana was a whirlwind of energy and charisma, with a taste for adventure that seemed to radiate from her very presence. Her tousled blond hair hinted at the carefree days spent under the Parisian sun, and her bright blue eyes sparkled with tales of spontaneous escapades.

Always impeccably dressed in the latest fashions, Diana carried herself with an air of sophistication mixed with a hint of mischief. Her laughter was infectious, and her gestures animated, as if each movement told a story of its own. Diana was the kind of woman who could light up a room with her magnetic personality.

“Patty, darling!” Diana exclaimed, sweeping her sister into a tight embrace. “Surprise! I missed you so much that I took some time off to visit.”

Patty hugged Diana back, “Diana! You’re supposed to be in the friendly skies right now.”

“Oh! Had a little bit of airplane belly so took a couple of days off,” Diana pulled back, holding Patty at arm’s length. “And just in time for Lizzy’s birthday.”

Patty glanced at her audience once more, “Lizzy has had ten others that have barely raised an interest. Birthdays weren’t mandatory to my sister. So why now?”

They stepped inside. Diana dragging her suitcase along with a dramatic flourish. Patty closed the door behind them, still trying to process her sister’s unexpected visit.

“I hope this isn’t a bad time,” Diana said, glancing around the cozy living room. “I figured you could use some help with party preparations.”

"Lizzy has that all in hand," Patty shook her head, a wide smile spreading across her face. “It is wonderful to see you.”

They settled at the kitchen table over a pot of tea and Diana’s adventures in Singapore, “I met this charming local guy named Wei. He offered to show me around, and before I knew it, we were on a rickshaw ride through the city.” Diana smiled wistfully, “We stopped at this tiny, hole-in-the-wall dim sum place. Oh Patty! There were steamed buns, shrimp dumplings, and the most amazing barbecue pork I’ve ever tasted.” She leaned in conspiratorially, “The next night, Wei pulled out a red paper lantern. He told me it was a tradition to make a wish and set the lantern afloat. So, we wrote our wishes and released the lantern into the sky, watching it drift higher and higher until it was just a speck of light. I think he wants to marry me.”

“And you?”

“Oh Patty! No! He was just a little fling,” she said.

Patty couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head in amusement. “You never change, do you, Di? Always living life to the fullest.”

Patty couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth and nostalgia. Having Diana around always brought an air of spontaneity and laughter that Patty secretly cherished, a reminder of their shared history and the bond that had endured despite their differences.

*********

The family dinner had been a whirlwind of laughter and stories, with Diana captivating everyone with tales of escapades in the Far East and her encounter with a Parisian artist. She had brought a little piece back with her, distributing beautifully wrapped presents to the family; Traditional Chinese tea set for Patty, a silk tie for Freddie, the children received carved wooden Opera Masks from Paris and postcards of temples and the Eiffel Tower.

Diana winked at Lizzy, "There is a little something extra for you...but that is for tomorrow. If I recall someone is having a birthday?"

Lizzy jumped up and down with glee, "You got me a present! Oh! You are the best!"

Lizzy almost tackled her to the ground in an ecstatic hug. Patty had to extract her child so her sister could breathe once more.

As the evening wound down, the sisters found themselves on the front porch, the cool night air a welcome respite from the warmth and chaos of the dining room. The porch light cast a soft glow over them, highlighting the contrast between Diana’s vibrant, world-travelled presence and Patty's more grounded, domestic aura.

Diana leaned back in the wicker chair, a glass of wine in hand, her eyes still twinkling with the excitement of the evening. “It’s so good to be back,” she sighed, a contented smile playing on her lips. “I’ve missed you.”

“I wouldn’t have thought you’d have time to miss me with one fling after the other,” Patty sneered, her hands wrapped around a wine glass. “I’ve missed you too, Diana. It’s always a little quieter when you leave.”

“So apart from building that extraordinary cubby house,” Diana chuckled, taking a sip of her wine. “What else has been happening? Any juicy gossip?”

Patty plucked a gold coin out of her pocket, “The spoils of bushrangers past.” Diana, excitedly, studied the coin, “The kids found it down at the river where they have been for much of the Summer.”

“Oh! My! You finally got Teddy away from those comics.”

“It’s a little more serious than wild abandon,” Patty took a deep breath. “I’m not sure how you will react…I was stunned at first. I walked in on Teddy and his friend, Sydney, in a... compromising situation.”

Diana’s eyes widened, “Oh, Patty. You never did!”

“Yes,” Patty continued, her voice soft. “It was a shock at first, but then it all started to make sense. Teddy has always been different, and this just confirmed it.” Patty lowered her gaze still feeling her own confusion about the whole situation, “I. even, visited one of those underground bars where men flirt with other men while the woman dance with each other.” Diana looked on astonished at her sister, a smile curling her lips, “I am trying to be supportive…but it’s just so new. And I am so terrified for him.”

Diana’s expression turned more serious. “You know, Patty, it’s not easy for boys like Teddy and Sydney. The world can be so cruel.” She paused for a moment remembering a lost boy that she knew, “You remember, Will, who lived next door to me in my apartment block?” Patty nodded, a smile forming on her face, “He was such a kind soul. Oh, and what a dancer! He took me to all these risqué clubs and happenings just to get me out of my own house after Frank died.” Her smile wilted, “Yet that smile of his was hiding so much pain. He faced so much persecution. The taunts, the threats, the violence.” Her eyes began to fill with tears, “I can still hear his mother’s screams when she found him. He hung himself, Patty. He couldn’t take it anymore.”

“Oh no! I’m so sorry,” she said. “I never even asked after him.”

Diana nodded, wiping a tear away, “No one should have to face that kind of pain alone.” She gripped her hand firmer once more as if about to make a point, “He’ll need all our support.” Diana smiled, putting on a brave face for her sister, “I’m here for you both. Honey! Who needs the Far East or Montmartre when you have all this drama going on.”

Patty wrapped her up in a hug, “It’s so good to have you back home.”

Diana leaned forward, “So what are the plans?”

“Up early to back a cake but everything else is in Lizzy’s control,” Patty sighed, wistfully, remembering how dependent she had once been on her. She was slowly but surely growing up. Needing her less and less. “Teddy and Lizzy have found this band of oddities as friends and are planning to have a camp out in the backyard. I expect telling ghost stories and generally planning to be a nuisance to me as much as possible.”

They sat in companionable silence for a while, the sounds of the night wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. Patty sighed, appreciate this moment with her sister. She didn’t have to watch her manners. She wasn’t required to put on a show. She got to be herself with the one person who understood because they both came from the same place.

********

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow in the kitchen as Lizzy’s cake baked in the oven while Patty prepared breakfast. Multi-tasking as usual. The hint of vanilla perfumed the air while bacon sizzled in the pan.

Suddenly, a sound from down the hallway caught her attention, a series of retching noises followed by a faint groan. Patty set down the spatula and hurried towards the source of the commotion.

Patty looked to her fictitious audience of her own show, “Sounds like someone had a little too much wine last night.”

She found Diana in the bathroom, leaning over the toilet, her face pale and strained. Patty’s heart clenched with worry, “Diana? Are you okay?”

Diana looked up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Her eyes were watery, and she looked both embarrassed and terrified, “No! I'm not! Patty. You’re not going to like it.”

Sitting beside Diana, Patty gently took her hand, “It’s not the wine, is it?” Patty asked softly, the pieces starting to fall into place in her mind.

Diana shook her head, “I’m pregnant!”

Patty reacted to the news by plucking the pill bottle from her pocket, “Well since you’re sharing,” The woman took one of the pills before handing the bottle over to her sister, “I feel you could use one of mummy’s little helpers.”

Diana didn’t stop at one. She needed more than a little pink pill to calm her anxieties.

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