It was darker inside and I stood at the door waiting for my eyes to adjust. I was looking for a woman on her own but there were none so I thought she must not be there yet. Nervous as I was I never thought Wendy would not turn up, she had come half way around the world for this meeting after all. I walked toward the bar and as I approached it I looked at a table with two women at it. The one who was facing me was a dead set image of Wendy. That is of Wendy when she was nineteen.
I must have stared because she looked up and said “David?” It was Wendy’s voice too.
I was stunned. This was Wendy nineteen years ago. She had not aged a day. I struggled for words but couldn’t find any, and I just stood there staring.
The other woman at the table turned around and said “David, you made it.” This was Wendy now. She was still slender. The hair was well done but the face was just the same as the girl opposite her.
I struggled with my mouth and eventually managed “Wendy, what the…”
“David,” she said, “meet my daughter, Mary Ann.”
“Your daughter,” I was really struggling now, “she’s you nineteen years ago.” Then it struck me. If her daughter was like her at nineteen then the chances were she was conceived in our night of passion. She must be my daughter too.
“Mary Ann,” said Wendy, “go and get David a beer please.” And then to me she said, “David sit down before you fall over.” I managed to pull a chair out and sit down.
“Mary Ann is how old?” I asked, a tremble in my voice.
Wendy looked at me slightly confused, and then the penny dropped. “No David, you are not the father.”
“But she is…” I was struggling again.
“Eighteen yesterday.” Wendy answered. “I was curious, you remember.”
Oh how well I remembered that.
“I enjoyed our night so much that I wanted more, but we were moved out the next day. I wanted to call you but there was just not the opportunity. When we got to back to America dad was sent straight to Washington and I was left with my grandmother who was lovely but not able to control an independent, curious girl. I met Mary Ann’s father in the general store and we were going out soon after. Three months later I was pregnant and when he found out he just left.”
“I’m so sorry…” I started.
“Don’t be, I’m not,” said Wendy.
Then Mary Ann arrived at the table with my beer.
I was now totally confused. The girl I had dreaming about for nineteen years had kept her promise to come back, but she had brought her young daughter. Mary Ann gave me a beer.
“Thank you um.. Mary Ann.” I said.
“You’re welcome David,” she replied then going red she said, “oops, may I call you David?”
“Of course.” I answered smiling, I was a little happier to know I wasn’t the only one out of my depth here.
“I’m sure we will all get to know each other much better.” Wendy said in a voice that promised much without saying anything. My mind was totally out of control thinking what was going to happen, where are they staying, I just couldn’t concentrate on anything.
“Lost for words, David?” Wendy seemed to be enjoying herself, “Again?”
“I um…” get it together I said to myself, or you will look like an idiot, “when did you get in to Melbourne?” At last, an intelligent question I thought.
“We arrived this morning,” said Wendy, “I rang you from the airport.”
“And where are you staying?” I asked.
Mary Ann burst out laughing, “I told you Mum.” She said.
Wendy gave her a dirty look and then tuned to me.
“David,” she said, getting very serious, “I am here because you and I started something nineteen years ago that I thought was not finished.” Wow, I thought, that explains half of this, “Mary Ann is here because she has never traveled overseas and she gets married next month and probably won’t get the chance again.” OK, I was thinking, this makes sense so far. “Tonight,” Wendy continued, “we are staying at your place if you will have us.”
“Of course.” I managed.
“Tomorrow we leave for Ayers Rock.” Wendy finished.
“One night,” I said, disappointed, “I would have liked longer.”
“Sorry David,” said Wendy, “It was the only way I could arrange it.”
“Another drink?” Asked Mary Ann, trying to break the negative mood. I looked down and my beer was empty. I did not remember drinking any of it.
“Allow me,” I replied, what are you having?”
I went to the bar and ordered another round.
“Mother and daughter?” Jenny, the barmaid was always ready to pass on the latest.
“Um, yes actually.” I answered looking back to where Wendy and Mary Ann were huddled together in conversation.
“You sly dog.” This was not going to do my reputation here a lot of damage, I thought, and then felt guilty for thinking it.
“Thanks Jenny,” I said, giving her the money, “let’s keep this quiet OK?”
“Yeah, sure.” Said Jenny. Yeah sure, I thought, this story will be out before I am back at the table.
I took the drinks back and Wendy and Mary Ann sat back in their chairs.
“Drinks for the two prettiest ladies in the room.” I said in my smoothest movie star accent.
“Why thank you kind sir.” Said Wendy in a perfect southern belle voice.
“You are just too kind.” Said Mary Ann in the same voice.
This is going to be a very enjoyable night, I thought.