Free Watery Graves by Kelli Bradicich Page B

said.
    “Do you think she could make Mrs Paltry apologise?”
    “That’d mean Mrs Paltry would have to admit she was wrong.”
    “Well, she should, at least for the yelling.”
    With Mrs Paltry gone, the customers who had scattered began to mill around again.
    “No wine today, kids?” a younger lady pushing a stroller asked
    “Not til Dad’s back, I’m afraid.” Sebastian beamed.
    Emmy’s legs were shaky.  She dropped into the deck chair in the back corner of their stall. “That Mrs Paltry thinks I’m a thief.”
    “You’re not. Let her think what she likes. You know the truth.”
    “I don’t want to do this without Mum and Maya anymore.”
    “That’s too bad. We have to get used to dealing with people by ourselves.”
    “Why should we?”
    “Because our mothers won’t be down here for a while, that’s why.”
    Emmy bounced to her feet, and grabbed twenty from the cash tin. “Let’s just go give that lady this twenty. I don’t want her telling everyone I stole from her.”
    “Emmy, she didn’t give you that much,” Sebastian shouted after her.
    But Emmy disappeared into the crowd. Despite her search, Mrs Paltry had to have left the town square. Emmy was so aware of the stares and whispers that followed her. It was as if they had all been watching.  As if they hadn’t they had their minds made up about who she was and what she was like, anyway.
    *
    The van shook and rattled up the rough dirt track. Emmy sat in the back, eyes closed. Her head pounded and her body felt like a rag doll.
    “I’m going to leave you guys in charge more often. We’ve sold most of our stuff. That doesn’t happen much.”
    She opened her eyes to see the smile on Sebastian’s face break out wider. “It was great, Dad. I’ll do it again.”
    Emmy groaned inwardly. Sebastian seemed to be the new draw card for women. And there were girls their age buying things that they ordinarily wouldn’t be into. Emmy pressed her forehead to the cool window. It soothed her until the van lurched and her head bumped against the glass.
    When they pulled up to the kitchen hut, Emmy fell out of the van. She left the door open, put one foot in front of the other and made it to the quiet of her bedroom cabin. She didn’t look back but knew that Kristian and Sebastian were watching her. But she didn’t care. She had nothing left. All she wanted was to shower away the town grime and climb into bed.
     
                                             

Chapter Twelve
     
    Family time with Maya had become sacred. She rested a lot during the day. The only chores that were done were those that desperately needed it. Baking happened the day before market day. Maya joined in when she felt like it. Otherwise, she sat and watched from the cushy rocking chair Kristian brought into the kitchen for her. Being together was more important than anything. Most days she spent whole afternoons in bed though just to get through.
    Cards kept Maya’s mind active and everyone else calm. She shared in Emmy’s hand but was watching each play carefully. Emmy pointed to a three of spades. Maya nodded, giving approval for her to throw it out as an unwanted card.
    Sebastian picked up a card, grinned and showed Maya.
    Maya’s eyes lit up. “That’s what you’ve been waiting for.”
    He spread out three fives and dropped the last card on the pile.
    Kristian, Ingrid and Emmy groaned.
    “Start counting guys,” Sebastian gloated.
    “I had the joker Sebastian,” Kristian whined.
    “Take off 50 points, Dad. Fifty smackaroos.”
    After they tallied their scores, Maya cleared her throat. “Let’s take a break,” she said, her voice raspy.
    “Okay guys,” Kristian said, sliding off the bed. “Let’s give Maya a rest.”
    Ingrid reached for Emmy’s hand and pulled her up.
    “I haven’t finished the scoring,” Emmy protested.
    Sebastian didn’t budge from the spot beside his mother. “Are you sure you want to quit Mum?