They were sitting at the table eating dinner when there was a knock on the front door. Lucan put down his fork and went to answer it.

"Hello," his voice carried down the hall. The person didn't answer his greeting but just went straight into speech.

"You didn't tell me you brought someone back with you! A woman! Covey says she's, his aunt."

Meggy looked at Thaiter in question. He whispered, "It's Lillian."

Lucan didn't reply. Lillian's voice was heard again, "Why didn't you tell me?"

They heard Lucan sigh and his deep voice say quietly, "It didn't seem right this morning and the lad shouldn't have said anything. I was going to tell you when I saw you on Friday."

"Is she really his aunt or just someone you've picked up with?"

"Can you keep your voice down? She'll hear you," Lucan rumbled.

"Oh! So, it doesn't matter what I think, just what she thinks."

"It's not like that. You're over reacting."

They could hear the strain in Lucan's voice. Covey had a worried look on his face. Meggy reached out and touched his hand. "It'll be alright. Don't you worry none."

Covey did worry because now he understood what his father had meant when he had told him to keep his business to himself. They all shuffled uncomfortably on their seats. Meggy got up to clear the dishes.

"I want to see her."

"Not tonight, Lillian. Not when you're like this."

"Get out of my way, Lucan."

Thaiter got up and left the table, he headed out the back door with Covey behind him. Meggy standing with dishes in her hand watched them go, and then turned to face the oncoming footsteps. Riley was the only one still sitting in his chair.

Lillian stopped just inside the kitchen, her body rigid and her face tense.

"Lillian this is Meggy." Lucan stepped around her and added, "Meg this is Lillian."

Meggy put the dishes back on the table and wiped her hands on the tea towel that was laid over her shoulder. She stepped toward Lillian and smiled holding out her hand. "Hello."

Lillian looked her up and down. Meg's hair had fallen loose, she had put her earlier shirt on after they had come back from Margaret's so it had a stain on it from the meat of the pie and the shoulder had slipped once again. "Are you, his sister-in-law?" Lillian glanced at Meggy's hand, her face stern.

Meggy nodded and let her hand drop. A small crease appeared in the centre of her forehead. "Aye... Kat was me sister."

Lucan leaned against the wall and rubbed his mouth with his hand at the sound of Meggy's bad grammar. He couldn't help but smile a little.

"And why are you here?" Lillian thrust her face forward.

Meggy frowned some more and cocked her head thinking what a rude woman this was. However, she had to wonder if their places were exchanged how she herself would feel. "I arrived in Cairns a few months back and happened to run into Lucan. I have nae other family here and he was kind enough to offer me a home until I get settled. He told me he needed help with the lads." She paused. "He has spoken of you often." Meggy glanced towards him. "Aye tis true, Lucan, she is very beautiful. Much taller than me sister Kat."

Lucan frowned and watched as Lillian's face relaxed.

Meggy continued, "Lucan says you're a school teacher. My that's grand, I cannae read or write. He says you teach Covey."

Lucan knew now what Meggy was doing and thought she'd probably been in this situation before with some irate wife of one of her clients.

Stepping forward Lillian took Meggy's hand and tittered saying, "I'm pleased to meet you."

"Would you like some tea?" Meggy smiled. "Though I've no baked the day?"

Shaking her head, Lillian said, "I best be getting back. Missus Blake will be waiting for me." With a satisfied look on her face, she turned away from Meg saying, "Walk me home, Lucan?"

He nodded and pushed himself off the wall as Lillian stepped into the hallway. As he followed, he glared irritably back at Meggy.

She felt the sting of it and wondered why. She thought he would be pleased she had pacified his irate fiancé.

"I'm sorry, Lucan. I shouldn't have burst in like that." Lillian reached for his hand but he pulled away.

"No, you shouldn't have."

Lillian knew she had behaved badly and wanted to make it up to him so she stopped walking and took hold of his arm. "I said I'm sorry, Lucan. I don't know what else to say. If you could see past your anger and see things from my point of view you might understand my reaction."

"You've no right to accuse me of picking up with someone as you did." As he said the words they burnt as they left his mouth. He was lying and deceiving her, had sex with more women in one week than he'd ever had in his life and though he hadn't admitted it to himself fully, he was planning to have sex with Meggy too, if she'd let him.

"I'm sorry," Lillian said once more.

Lucan looked at Lillian and thought about what Meggy had told her. She had made Lillian feel as if he had only spoken of her while he'd been away and now, he knew this was going to make things harder for him to end it. He sighed. It would come back on Meggy. Lillian would blame her for his loss of interest.

"I am sorry, Lucan." Lillian slipped her arm through his and tugged him onward.

Lucan walked on with her. This wasn't her fault, it was his. He had to think of a way to break things to her gently. He realised it was going to take a while, so he would say nothing for now and let the days and weeks pass. There would be another situation, another fight that wasn't related to Meggy, and then he could do it.

They didn't speak as they walked. She turned to face him at the gate, put her hand on his cheek and said, "Do you forgive me?"

Lucan looked down at her, sighed and just wanted to get away from her. "Yes. I'm sorry I got so angry; I should have told you."

She smiled, leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. "I forgive you," she whispered against them, and then kissed him harder. Lucan returned her kiss. He gauged his feelings and was happy when his body didn't react in anyway, a sure certainty that he was over Lillian.

When he got back to the house the boys were already in bed. Thaiter had gone to the pub. Meggy was putting away the last of the dishes. He sat down quietly at the table and said, "I know I should be thankin' ya, Meg, but I wished you hadn't told her those things."

A surge of anger swelled in Meggy's chest. "What would you have me say, Lucan? He's only mentioned you once and that was in between fucking as many women as he could in the space of a week?"

He hung his head in his hands as he said, "You have no idea."

"Oh, don't I, Lucan?" She laughed sarcastically. "Would you like me tae tell you how many men I've met just like you? Men who have a woman waiting at home for them while they bed someone else. She has a right to be angry and I covered up for you so don't you tell me you wished I didn't say those things. At least now she feels good... thinks you only thought of her."

Lucan stood and banged his fist on the table. "There are things you don't know anything about and yes I took me frustrations out with other women, but that don't make me a bad man. I'm just a man trying to find answers so don't you dare judge me, Meggy, because I'll never judge you." He stormed out the door and left her.

Meggy sat heavily on the chair. He was right, he had never judged her. He had only shown her kindness and understanding. She didn't know what was going on between him and Lillian. She had taken Lillian's side without considering him. Meggy thought of Johnny and all the stories he had told her of his wife and marriage. Johnny who was a nice considerate man, not unlike Lucan, and she would never have gone against Johnny.

It was only the end of their first day and already Meggy was wondering if she'd made the right decision.

*

Noises in the kitchen woke her the next morning. Meggy pulled on her cotton dressing gown and made her way down the hall. Lucan had his back to her and was putting wood into the stove so she sat quietly with her head hung and waited for him to turn around. When he did, she didn't hear him until he pulled a chair out. Meggy looked up and ran her hands into her hair to push it away from her face. Lucan stared at her, his blue eyes intense, patiently waiting for her to speak. Her stomach surged. Meggy had a sudden yearning to kiss him. She looked away as she spoke, "I'm sorry, Lucan. I'm sorry I judged you. I know you have never judged me." She looked back at him; he hadn't shifted his gaze.

"Lillian and I are different from each other," he said. "Not of the same class and it's caused some problems. I went to Cairns ta try to sort me head out, to come up with answers. Maybe I didn't do it in the right way, Meggy, but I hadn't been with a woman since you. I went a bit overboard." He paused, saw her eyes dilate as he told her she had been the last woman he'd been with. "I don't want you to think I'm the sort of man who'd do that to his wife. I was always faithful to Kat and loved her very much. Lillian's different and it's been tough on me to be without a woman in me life. Hard trying ta work and look after the lads. I hope you can understand."

Meggy nodded and wanted to hug him because he looked so sad. She realised he must love Lillian a lot. That he went to Cairns out of respect for her, to satisfy his urges so it was easier for him to be with her until she was ready to give herself to him. Meggy reached out and took hold of his hand. She wanted to cry because he would never be hers. She squeezed his fingers. "I understand and I'm sorry. I'm making things difficult for you. I think I'll go back to Cairns so I'm out of your way."

As she said these words Lucan's heart beat faster. He gripped her hand, and his mind raced because he knew he hadn't made himself clear. Meg didn't understand. She thought the tension between Lillian and he was to do with her. How could she think that? She'd only been in Irvinebank for one day. "You won't do that, Meg. I need you here. Need ya to give it a go. You can't go back to that life. Do you hear me?"

"But I don't want to make your life troublesome."

He stood up abruptly. "You won't. I'll sort it. If you go, I'll drag you back. You belong here now." He grabbed the milk pail and stormed out the door.

Meggy went to get changed feeling confused by his temper. As she thought about it, she realised he was relying on her to give him more flexibility. While she was around to look after the boys he would have more time for Lillian, more freedom. That's why he was angry because if she left, he'd have to go back to the way it was before he went to Cairns. Now she understood why he'd asked a virtual stranger to come and live with him. Disappointment, anger and a sense of being used overwhelmed her. So, it wasn't sex on hand that was his driving force, though she'd bet he'd take it if it were on offer. It was his need for a full-time housekeeper and babysitter that drove him. Well, she thought, she probably owed him somewhat. His kindness and the chance to get away to start a new life were something, so she'd stay for a little and hoped to meet someone. By then he and Lillian would be married and everyone would be happy.

I thought for a moment there that Lucan might have had to become a referee hahaha.

Who fears that there will be more trouble where Lillian is concerned?

Photo - Getty's Images