Поющие в терновнике

           ThemomentMeggiewasonherwayshesentLukeatelegramsayingMeggieneededhimdesperately,pleasetocome.Bynatureshewasn’tgiventointerferinginotherpeople’slives,butshelovedandpitiedMeggie,andadoredthedifficult,capriciousscrapMeggiehadborneandLukefathered.Justinemusthaveahome,andbothherparents.Itwouldhurttoseehergoaway,butbetterthatthanthepresentsituation.

           Lukearrivedtwodayslater.HewasonhiswaytotheCSRinSydney,soitdidn’tcosthimmuchtimetogooutofhisway.Timehesawthebaby;ifithadbeenaboyhewouldhavecomewhenitwasborn,butnewsofagirlhaddisappointedhimbadly.IfMeggieinsistedonhavingchildren,letthematleastbecapableofcarryingontheKynunastationoneday.Girlswerenoflaminguseatall;theyjustateamanoutofhouseandhomeandwhentheyweregrownuptheywentandworkedforsomeoneelseinsteadofstayingputlikeboystohelptheiroldfatherinhislastyears.

           "How’sMeg?"heaskedashecameupontothefrontveranda."Notsick,Ihope?"

           "Youhope.No,she’snotsick.I’lltellyouinaminute.Butfirstcomeandseeyourbeautifuldaughter."

           Hestareddownatthebaby,amusedandinterestedbutnotemotionallymoved,Annethought.

           "She’sgotthequeeresteyesI’veeverseen,"hesaid,"Iwonderwhosetheyare?"

           "Meggiesaysasfarassheknowsnooneinherfamily."

           "Normine.