Confrontation Across the Line

Claire Smith rang Greta Smith late in the afternoon from a bed at Broken Hill Base Hospital. A nurse had brought Claire her mobile phone from her belongings and given her fifteen minutes with it. Claire had not called Greta in months, and the two women had never got on. She rang because she was certain Paul had gone to his parents in Adelaide, as she believed he always did when their marriage became difficult.

Greta, alone at home, answered in the hallway. Claire asked for Paul without any greeting. When Greta said he was not there, Claire accused her of lying and of always covering for him. Greta kept her temper with effort. She said she had not seen her son in months and had heard nothing from him in recent days. Claire did not believe her, and said Greta had always coddled Paul and was protecting him even now that he had abandoned his family.

Neither woman knew where the other was. Greta pictured Claire at home in her kitchen, with no idea she was in hospital. Claire imagined Greta comfortable and untroubled, ready to forget the call as soon as it ended.

As the call went on, Claire's anger gave way to fear that Greta might be telling the truth. She told Greta that Paul had promised to be home the night before, when the children returned from staying with their grandparents. This was untrue. Paul had made no such promise, and the children were still at Dawn's. Claire said it so that Greta would feel the weight of what Paul had done, and it worked. Greta softened, said she was sorry, and promised to tell Claire at once if she heard from him.

Claire accepted the promise flatly, then began a threat she did not finish. Greta repeated that she was not lying, told Claire to take care of herself and offered to help in any way she could. Claire hung up without saying goodbye.

In Broken Hill, Claire was left with the realisation that Paul was not in Adelaide after all, and that she had accused Greta with nothing to go on. She wondered whether he had left her for another life or whether something had happened to him, and pushed the second thought away. When the nurse returned, Claire handed the phone back without argument.

In Craigmore, Greta stood holding the receiver for some time before putting it down. She now believed Paul was missing and had broken a promise to his children. She went back to the sunroom and sat at the sewing machine, unable at first to concentrate on the work. She prayed for Paul's safety and return, and for the wisdom to know what to tell Noah. Then she took up Shayna's dress again and carried on sewing, praying as she worked for Paul, for his children and for Claire.