Everything We Keep Read online

  EVERYTHING WE KEEP

  EVERYTHING WE KEEP

  Di Walker

  An Omnibus Book from Scholastic Australia

  Prologue

  ‘They’re here! They’re here!’ Agatha ran down the hallway to the front door and flung it wide open. Before her stood a small group of overly excited girls with their smiling mothers gathered behind.

  ‘Happy birthday!’ they cheered in an unexpected chorus. Agatha couldn’t contain herself. She jumped on the spot, clapping her hands together. As she made a sweeping gesture with her arm for everyone to enter, Agatha looked down the hall and saw Edith approach. Her mother, as always, looked beautiful; her hair neatly swept into an elegant updo, her dress, flowing around her with every step. ‘Welcome, welcome, everyone,’ Edith said. ‘We have everything set up out the back; Agatha will lead the way.’

  Agatha skipped her way back down the hall, the giggling girls following closely behind. ‘You can put the presents there,’ Agatha said, pointing to the coffee table, as they passed through the newly decorated sitting room.

  When they reached the back door, the young guests could see a long table of the required party treats already set up under the shade of a large plane tree. ‘Come and look at the cake! It’s a real one, from the bakery, not a homemade one!’ Agatha said, her eyes wide from the excitement that had been building for days.

  Taking pride of place in the centre of the table sat a tall round cake, its sides completely covered in hundreds and thousands with six extra tall colourful candles on top. Pink icing seemed to be running down the sides, as if it was melting from the candles. The small gathering oohed and aahed. ‘There’s a surprise inside it, when it’s cut open,’ Agatha said in a loud childish whisper.

  ‘What is it? What’s the surprise Agatha?’ one of the girls squealed.

  ‘You’ll see,’ Agatha replied, then quickly squeezing her lips together as if to hold back the secret making her face look as if it was going to burst.

  ‘Ahh, I see everyone’s here! Time for me to swing into action.’ Agatha’s father was standing next to a deflated jumping castle. He clapped his hands together and went into the garage. Within moments the pump started to push out the air and slowly the castle came to life.

  ‘Come on,’ Agatha said. The small troupe of giggling girls ran to the entrance of the jumping castle, flicking off their shoes in preparation, cheering as the castle went higher and higher.

  The mothers had gathered on the back veranda.

  ‘They’re going to have so much fun, Edith. What a great idea to have a jumping castle,’ one said.

  ‘And it is a perfect night for it, so balmy,’ said another.

  ‘Great way to start their summer holidays, a birthday party and then Christmas not far away,’ said the first.

  ‘Agatha has been so excited about it for weeks,’ Edith said. The other mothers all nodded and smiled, each knowing the over-excitement in the lead up to such events.

  ‘Every time I come here,’ another mother said, ‘you and Karl have done something more to the house. It’s looking great. I hope you’re not planning to sell?’

  ‘No, no. We wouldn’t move from here. Great neighbours and friends. Close to Karl’s work, Agatha loves her school. No. We aren’t moving. But we have finally finished the bathroom. Do you want to see it?’

  ‘If it’s anything like your kitchen renovation, it will be amazing. I should get you to design my kitchen. Goodness knows I need a new one.’

  ‘Edith, have you ever thought of interior design, you know, as a career? You have excellent taste.’ The others murmured in agreement.

  ‘It has crossed my mind. Maybe in a few years,’ Edith said as she led them back inside.

  Karl watched them move from the veranda back into the house. He smiled. Turing his attention back to the girls he said, ‘Rightio ladies, I do believe it’s ready. On you go.’ They did not need to be told twice.

  Agatha was first on, and from the middle of the castle, jumping as high as she could, looked over at him and said loudly, ‘This is the best party ever, isn’t it, Dad.’

  ‘It sure is.’

  Several few minutes later, having seen the mothers out, via the new bathroom, Edith appeared at his side. He put his arm around her shoulder. ‘Great idea, sweetheart. This will keep them busy and exhaust them at the same time.’

  ‘We have a few other games to play too. Isn’t it great to see her so happy? And she has such lovely little friends.’

  ‘Everything is just as we planned it would be, and I don’t just mean the party.’ Karl kissed the top of his wife’s head. She looked up at him as his gaze travelled from the jumping castle to the back of the house and around the garden. They had both worked hard for this, for all of this.

  ‘I better go and check inside. There’s a lot of squealing going on out here.’

  Karl watched her walk into the house and turned back to watch his daughter, the smile on her face wider than he had ever seen it before.

  ‘Happy birthday my darling,’ he said to her. Although Agatha couldn’t hear him, she understood every word.

  Eight years later . . .

  1

  Agatha was eating breakfast at the kitchen table when the phone rang. She watched Katherine, look at the caller id, glance towards Agatha and walk to the other room, before answering. ‘Are you sure, Nell? I mean, you said it was going to be longer. She’s happy here and . . . ’

  There was a long pause. Agatha waited. It wasn’t hard for her to imagine what Nell was saying on the other end of the conversation. ‘Yes. I’ll tell her. It’s not right you know. She shouldn’t have to . . . ’ Katherine stopped herself, or Nell interrupted her, either way Agatha knew what Katherine would have said, if she had a chance to finish that sentence.

  When she returned, Agatha was still eating her cereal.

  ‘That was Nell,’ Katherine said. ‘She’s going to come and pick you up at eleven hundred.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘I’m sorry Agatha. I thought you could stay here for a lot longer. I would like you to stay longer.’

  Agatha shrugged. She wanted to stay. She wanted to cry. But she had learnt a long time ago that it didn’t matter what she wanted; not anymore.

  Finishing the last spoonful, she picked up her bowl and walked to the sink. As she passed her Katherine’s gentle hand touched Agatha’s shoulder, a small tender gesture, Agatha would miss. ‘I’ll help you pack, sweetheart.’

  ‘It’s okay, Katherine, I can do it.’

  ‘We have plenty of time. Why don’t we go to The Vale and get you a few things to take home? Maybe some winter clothes? I know it’s still hot, but I saw the winter clothes are already out.’

  ‘I don’t need anything, Katherine. Thanks anyway.’

  Agatha rinsed her bowl and left it in the sink. She stood for a moment and watched the swirling water settle into a calm flatness in the bowl. Katherine stepped closer beside her. ‘Agatha, you know you can come here anytime. Anytime.’

  Agatha turned and stepped into the warm embrace Katherine always had waiting for her. She pressed her head hard into her chest, so she could hear her heart beating, feel her warmth on her ear. Katherine smoothed out Agatha’s long dark hair. ‘Shhhhh. . . ’ she cooed softly as Agatha let the tears well and fall from her eyes onto Katherine’s apron. Agatha took in everything from moments like this, always thinking this could be her last.

  When Agatha had first arrived at Kathrine’s home in late December, she didn’t say a word, not that it bothered Katherine. Years as a navy wife meant she was used to waiting, being patient, being surrounded by silence. She would wait.

  Agatha was the first foster child she had had into their home. After years of travelling for the na
vy and without children of their own, it was her husband, Lawson, who had suggested they try being foster parents, now that they were going to settle into one place.

  Despite her nursing background and having looked after nieces and nephews over the years, Katherine had been unsure if she could take on such a responsibility or that they would be too old to be considered. But Lawson had no doubts.

  ‘You know fifty-two is not considered old anymore, certainly not by us! You will be great, Katherine, a natural,’ he had said to her as they headed to their first information session. ‘And it won’t be long before I fully retire, and we will have plenty of time ahead of us – to do this together.’

  Then, just after Christmas, a couple of days after Lawson had left for his last deployment, Agatha arrived.

  Katherine had a well-established daily routine. Up at zero six hundred, a brisk morning walk with their small terrier, Chief, and her husband, if he was home. Next -breakfast the usual muesli with yoghurt and fruit, a shower and then on with a day’s activities. Agatha didn’t have any routine. At first Katherine didn’t want to leave her alone, however Nell advised her to ‘just be normal’, so Katherine left notes:

  Morning Agatha,

  Chief and I are out for a walk. We’ll be back at 0700.

  Katherine.

  Morning Agatha,

  I’ve gone to the garden shop to get strawberry plants. I’ll be back in an hour, at 1100. Maybe we could plant them together. Katherine.

  Morning Agatha,

  When you get up could you give Chief a biscuit? You will find them in the red tin on the laundry shelf – just one, even though he will beg you for more.

  Katherine.

  By the fifth day even Katherine had had enough. After her morning walk she delayed her breakfast until eight thirty and then approached the shut door of the guest room. Knocking gently, she waited. With no response she opened the door and took a step in. To her surprise, Agatha was sitting upright on the already made bed. Her suitcase beside her.

  ‘Good morning. You’re up. That’s good to see.’ Katherine’s voice was cheery and light. She moved over to the window, pulling on the cord to raise the blind, letting in the morning light.

  Agatha shrugged. Chief had rushed past Katherine and jumped up onto the bed. At first Agatha pulled back, but Chief was irresistible and soon enticed a pat from her. Katherine caught a glimpse of the small smile that passed over Agatha’s face.

  ‘Well,’ Katherine continued, ‘I’m about to make breakfast. Why don’t you join me?’

  She turned and without hesitating or looking back, walked towards the kitchen, hearing the patter of Chief’s small feet and the soft footsteps of Agatha behind her.

  All through January Katherine gave Agatha her normal life. Agatha soon fell into the same morning routine, proudly holding onto Chief’s lead when they walked, waving to their neighbour Rita, who was always out in her garden. Agatha learnt how to clean up after a delicious homemade breakfast putting everything away and wiping down the benches.

  It was on these morning walks that Katherine talked about the many places she and Lawson had lived, the challenges of finding herself alone, somewhere new while he was away and the joy of finally having a place they would keep for themselves.

  At the beginning Agatha just listened, but as the days passed, she too shared small things with Katherine, she understood what Katherine meant about loneliness about moving to new places, after all she had been in and out of foster homes all over Melbourne.

  Now, two months after she had first arrived, as they stood silently in the kitchen, waiting for Nell, Agatha thought about all the things she was about to lose. Katherine spoke, breaking the sad silence.

  ‘I have something for you.’

  Without letting her go, Katherine took a small step back from Agatha, stretched out her arm to a drawer and took out a small floral purse. ‘I know it looks a bit old fashioned, but it was my grandmothers, I’ve kept it all these years because she was such an important person in my life. I want you to have it.’

  Agatha looked at it, turning it over and over in her hands and undoing the small silver clasp.

  ‘Inside is my phone number,’ Katherine continued, ‘which I think you know already, but just in case, and directions on how to get from your house to here. I checked the fare and there’s a travel card, you just have to swipe it, like we did that day on the train to the city, and some money, just in case. You will need to take a bus and two trains. You can call me from the station. I’ll come and get you. It’s all written down here.’

  Agatha took the purse being held before her. She looked up to Katherine who wiped away the last tear with one gentle touch of her finger.

  ‘Let’s keep this between you and me, Agatha. You’re nearly fourteen. You’re old enough to travel here on your own if you have to. You know what I mean, don’t you?’

  Agatha nodded.

  Just before Nell was due to arrive, Agatha and Katherine said their goodbyes in the privacy of the sitting room. Chief circled around their feet, making a small whining noise, as if he knew what was happening.

  With that done, Agatha went outside and sat on the front step with her left hand resting on top of her bright orange suitcase that sat beside her. Katherine stood at the front window, with Chief sitting at attention beside her, as arranged, as Agatha had insisted.

  It was time to leave, again, Agatha thought, and to return to where she belonged but didn’t want to be.

  A car pulled into the driveway. From the step Agatha could see the friendly face of Nell, with the same I’m sorry expression as last time.

  Agatha stood and picked up the suitcase. It wasn’t heavy.

  Nell stood in the open door of the car, one leg out the other resting in the doorframe. With her hand, holding on the top of the car door, she gave a small wave. ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘All ready?’

  Agatha replied with a slow shrug, her favourite word. She reluctantly walked towards the car. Leaving the car door open, Nell walked to the back and opened the boot, and watched Agatha’s every move. She placed the suitcase perfectly in the middle, straightening it with a slight adjustment and running her hands over the top of it, as if to smooth out the already smooth surface. ‘Here we are again. Are you hungry?’ Nell said. Agatha looked at her. While her voice sounded cheery, her face told Agatha a different story.

  ‘Is it better? At the house I mean,’ asked Agatha.

  Nell let out a sigh, ‘A little bit.’

  Agatha nodded. ‘So, nothing’s changed. You’re taking me back again and nothing’s changed.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  Agatha shrugged. She tried to show Nell that she didn’t care that nothing had changed. But this time she did care. She cared a lot.

  As Nell’s car pulled away, Agatha took one last look at her temporary home. She could see Katherine standing in the front window waving, Chief sitting at attention beside her. Katherine gave a small wave. It looked like she wiped a tear from her eye too.

  Agatha breathed in deeply. This time she was leaving with a secret, tucked into the pocket of a pair of jeans inside her suitcase. The floral purse would bring her back.

  Things may not have changed at home, but Agatha had changed.

  2

  Nell turned on the car radio, breaking the silence that had settled between them. If she was hoping for some music, Nell was going to be disappointed, as the irritating sound of a carpet commercial blared out, causing Nell to instantly hit the off button.

  ‘That’s so annoying, that commercial. I’ll have it going around and round in my head all day now,’ she said in her usual light and friendly voice.

  Agatha gave her a quick glance and returned to staring out the window.

  Nell tried again. ‘We don’t have to go straight there. Do you want to do anything, you know, on the way?’

  ‘No.’

  The silence returned.

  Nearly an hour later, Agatha knew they were getting closer. She
had always lived in Greensward, a suburb that once, long before Agatha was born, had been developed on the green fringe of the city. It had been built so that city families could live as if they were in the country. They could pretend. There had been large open spaces dotted with trees, a man-made creek forced to flow, with paths and tracks built alongside it for families to walk together, maybe on an evening stroll.

  Regular sized houses were built on larger blocks so that children could have pets, room in their own yards to play, or have a veggie garden. An illusion had been created and sold. People who wanted to work in the city but live in the country saw Greensward as the perfect solution.

  Over the years the original Greensward had melted away, the illusion had faded, changing from its original design as more housing was needed. The larger blocks were divided for more houses so families to move in, which was when Agatha’s parents arrived. Apartment blocks began to spring up and the streets became busier, crowded. The Greensward Agatha has grown up in has fewer open spaces, and no sign of the original creek. Her primary school, that she stopped going to, had to have more buildings added as more children arrived. Gradually its green spaces disappeared too.

  Greensward wasn’t special anymore. It was as cramped and bland.

  As Nell steered the car along its narrow streets, Agatha could feel herself needing to take in deeper and deeper breaths as her chest tightened. When they got to her street, she felt her fists clench. There was no turning back, but she already knew that.

  17 Pendula Place looked similar to 15 and 19 Pendula Place. The houses were almost the same. The front yards had the same fencing, although the gardens were different. In fact, the whole street looked the same, it was just that number 17 had its secrets.

  Nell knew better than to pull into the driveway of Number 17. She stopped the car so that Agatha’s door lined up with the front gate. Agatha had a straight line of view from where she sat to the front door. ‘The front looks the same,’ she commented.