Page 43 of Darling Girls

‘No.’

He looked so disappointed, Norah felt bad. She considered making a guess, but before she could, he said, ‘In that case, talking about your childhood is all we’ve got.’

Bugger.

‘Perhaps you can tell me how you felt about Miss Fairchild?’ the detective suggested. ‘Did you like her?’

‘No. She was awful.’

‘Awful how?’ Hando asked. ‘Violent?’

‘Depends on your definition of violence.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

Norah sat forward in her chair and rubbed the belly that Converse had exposed. ‘Let’s just say she found more interesting ways to hurt people.’

19

JESSICA

BEFORE

It was Saturday afternoon, and Jessica was on the sofa, watching taped episodes ofBeverly Hills, 90210, while Norah, beside her, read a book. Unusually, Miss Fairchild had left them alone for the afternoon.

‘What should we do?’ Alicia asked.

‘What do you mean?’ Jessica said.

‘Imean. . . what shall we do?’ Alicia said. ‘With the afternoon?’

Jessica paused the TV on Brenda and Dylan making out on the couch at the Walsh house and frowned at Alicia. It was just such an odd comment. As if she expected them to suggest a trip to the seaside or an outing to the zoo. Alicia had been at Wild Meadows for six months – long enough to know that when they weren’t doing homework or chores or running errands, they read books or watched TV or hung around the house. Which was exactly what they were doing now.

Norah looked equally confused.

‘We’re not allowed to go anywhere,’ Jessica said. Miss Fairchild had been very clear on this. She’d said it was for their own safety, but they knew she just didn’t want people to know she left her foster kids home alone for hours on end.

‘We don’t have to goout,’ Alicia said. ‘We can stay here and do something.’

‘Like what?’

Alicia gestured towards the window. It was a beautiful sunny day. Beyond the pool, at the bottom of the field where the paddocks gave way to a wooded area, the horses were having a canter. ‘How about horseriding?’

Jessica laughed.

‘What?’ Alicia said.

Jessica stopped. She’d assumed Alicia was joking. ‘Do you evenknowhow to ride a horse?’

‘No,’ Alicia said. ‘But Grammy always said it was a crime to waste a beautiful day.’

Jessica began to pulse with panic. She was torn. On the one hand, she was terrified to do anything that might make Miss Fairchild angry. On the other, four months had passed since Alicia’s grandmother died and Alicia was yet to regain her spark. It was as if the spirit had drained out of her. Jessica could see that she tried her best, moving through the rituals of the day – playing, chatting, even laughing – but it was like an actor performing Alicia rather than the real thing.

And Grammy said it was a crime to waste a beautiful day!

‘They’re not even Miss Fairchild’s horses,’ Jessica said desperately.

‘But there’s a man out there,’ Alicia said. Norah and Jessica followed her gaze to the man by the stables. ‘See?’