Right As Rain Read Online Free Page A

dug in her pocket for a band. “Why didn’t someone tell me?”
    â€œStop bellowing at your brother.”
    Patrick leapt to his feet and Mackenna swivelled her head to see her mother standing in the doorway.
    â€œMum, I didn’t hear the car. Where’s Dad?”
    â€œLetting the dogs out.”
    â€œShould he . . .?” Mackenna faltered as the weariness on her mother’s face changed to anger.
    â€œHe shouldn’t be doing anything but try telling him that, especially when his two grown children seem incapable of such a simple job.”
    â€œI’ll go.” Patrick shot out the door.
    â€œHow is he?” Mackenna asked. “I wish I’d known, Mum.”
    â€œHe’s tired but okay. It was my decision not to tell you.” Her mother gave her a quick hug, then sighed and cast her eyes around the room. “Not quite the welcome home I would have planned.”
    Mackenna wasn’t sure if she meant for herself or her daughter.
    â€œI said I’d put the kettle on.”
    â€œIt’s not long boiled,” Mackenna said.
    â€œGood. Do you think you can start on this mess? Then we can all sit down for a chat when your dad comes in.” Her mother stepped around the can that had rolled to the floor and reached for the kettle. She peered inside and began to refill it. “You’re home early.”
    â€œI did most of the things I’d intended. The weather turned bad and there was a seat on an earlier flight.” Mackenna had told herself that so often on the journey home, she believed it. She tried again to tug her hair into the band. It was a pity she hadn’t taken the time to get it cut before she’d come home, but she didn’t trust anyone except the local hairdresser to keep her unruly curls in line. “I didn’t stay in Adelaide – came straight from the airport. If only I’d known . . .”
    â€œYour hair looks pretty.” Her mother started wiping down the table as Mackenna cleared off the assorted debris. “I like it when you don’t colour it. Some people would kill for your auburn curls.”
    Once again the subject of her father had been redirected. And once again, even though she was thirty-two, Mackenna could still be made to feel guilty about colouring her hair. Dying hair was disapproved of. Some of her friends went to the hairdresser with their mothers and had pamper days together. Her mother would never see the necessity for that. Mackenna pursed her lips to hold in the questions she wanted to ask and instead, flew around the room setting it back in order and trying to keep her annoyance at Patrick in check. This was his mess that she was cleaning up – nothing had changed.
    She looked up at the sound of the screen door and bit her lip as her father stepped into the kitchen. His face had lost its ruddy glow and the polo shirt she’d given him for Christmas hung loosely from his shoulders. Patrick appeared in the doorway close behind. For a moment there was silence as they all froze like pieces on a chessboard, then Mackenna flew across the room.
    â€œDad.” She kissed his cheek and wrapped his frail frame in a careful embrace. They were matched in height and when she stepped back she could see tears welling in his eyes. It shocked her. She’d left him strong and healthy, physically tackling all the jobs the farm threw at him, now he looked barely fit enough to wrestle a kitten. She twisted her lips quickly into a grin and slipped an arm through his, leading him to a chair. “You’ve taken to visiting the city while I’ve been away.”
    â€œCouldn’t let you be the only one to have a holiday.”
    â€œHow’d you find it?”
    â€œGot myself some four star accommodation. Room service was pretty good.”
    Mackenna laughed as she saw him give a glimmer of a grin. The tension eased and they all sat down. Louise put cups of tea in front of them