The Fence Read Online Free Page B

‘Michael wanted to show Soo-Lin the house first.’
    Eric takes his orange to the dining nook. ‘He’d be keen to show her where he grew up.’
    Gwen rinses her hands and dries them on a tea towel. ‘That’s what he said. And she said that Michael never talks about his childhood. Why do you think that is?’
    â€˜Can’t be that relevant in Singapore.’
    Gwen harrumphs, plonking herself opposite Eric, the vinyl squeaking in protest. ‘I planned that they’d come here and have some slice and a cuppa first. We’d have a proper catch-up. I even got these out,’ she pats the pile of photo albums next to the fruit bowl. ‘I thought Soo-Lin might like to see Diane and Jonno’s kids. After all, we’re practically family.’
    Eric eats his orange in silence, pushing the plate aside and drawing his cup and saucer in front of him. He eyes the tray of slice sitting on the bench but Gwen chooses to ignore him.
    â€˜We haven’t seen him in years and his mother’s just died for goodness sakes.’ Her cup clatters into the saucer.
    â€˜I know you had it all worked out, Gwennie. You’ve always been good like that.’ Eric tries to take her hand but she brushes her hair behind her ear to avoid it.
    Eric sighs and drinks his tea. ‘I wouldn’t mind a piece of that slice myself. It’d go nicely with the tea.’
    â€˜Not now,’ she snaps. Her shrillness is echoed by the kitchen timer and she shoots to her feet to pull the pork from the oven.
    Through lunch, Gwen deliberately avoids asking Michael about his plans for the house but as they eat their dumplings, Eric says, ‘If I were you, Michael, I’d think long and hard about putting a pergola over that front porch. That westerly sun is a real killer in summer.’
    Michael clears his throat. ‘Well, yes, that’s certainly a good idea, Uncle Eric, and it’s something we’d probably consider doing,’ he pauses, ‘if we were staying.’
    Gwen’s spoon drops to her bowl. ‘You’re not staying?’
    Michael winces. ‘The thing is, Auntie Gwen, our lives are in Singapore. I’m about to manage a new dam project in Thailand. Soo-Lin has taken a position as a senior research fellow at the South East Asian Institute for Tropical Diseases.’
    â€˜That’s impressive,’ says Eric, turning to Soo-Lin. ‘Are you specialising in any particular area?’
    â€˜Malaria,’ she says.
    Gwen stares at Michael. ‘So will you rent the house out then?’ Not that she likes this idea at all. A constant rotation of people moving in and out who won’t care for a house or garden that isn’t theirs. She has lived in this street with most of the same people her entire married life. The thought of strangers is unbearable.
    Michael tidies his napkin before saying, ‘I thought … we thought,’ he rests a tentative hand on Soo-Lin’s leg, ‘it might be better to sell up. Property in Singapore is outlandishly expensive. The extra money will come in handy.’
    â€˜Is it now?’ comes Eric again. ‘How much would a place like your parents’ set you back over there?’
    Michael shakes his head. ‘God, we wouldn’t even dream of buying a house, Uncle Eric. That’s way out of our league. We were thinking more of one of the newer apartments close to the city.’
    â€˜So you couldn’t even afford to buy a house? That’s no good, is it?’
    â€˜When are you thinking of putting it on the market?’ Gwen snaps, sounding angry when it’s really the terrifying thought of her world falling apart. First Rohan gone, then Babs and now the house. Has Michael no idea what a wrench that will be?
    Michael squints his apology. ‘Pretty much straight away. We’re staying in Sydney for a couple more days. We want to line up a real estate agent before we go. Do you