JOHNNY was completely at peace with his world the next morning, looking benevolently on everyone, not the least bit perturbed when Mitch and Ric wanted a private meeting with him in the office. As the three of them strolled along the verandah which skirted the inner quadrangle of the homestead, he inquired about his old friends' contentment with their lives.
'I'm a happy man,' Ric declared.
'Couldn't have it better,' Mitch said decisively. 'Sorry if I did wrong, bringing that video, Johnny,' Ric slung at him with an edge of concern. 'Didn't mean to upset things.'
'You didn't,' Johnny assured him. 'It cut a bit close to the bone in places, but that's all right.'
'You're okay with it?' 'Sure.'
'Megan?'
'No problem. Sorted a few things out for us, actually. Guess I was a bit too tight-lipped about stuff I've carried with me for a long time.'
'I was with Kathryn, too,' Mitch admitted ruefully. 'Hard to open up. But makes a big difference when you do.'
'Makes sense of everything for them,' Ric remarked knowingly.
So they had held back, too, Johnny thought.
We all felt vulnerable…guarding ourselves.
Trust was such a huge thing, coming from their backgrounds. They'd learnt to trust Patrick. Yet even he, at the end, had confounded Johnny with his will. Probably Mitch and Ric, too, though they'd set it aside, making up their own reasons for it.
'So what's this meeting about?' he asked as he ushered them into the office.
'A letter from Patrick,' Mitch answered.
Johnny was stunned. He closed the door on automatic pilot, staring at the other two. It was clear they both knew about it. No surprise on Ric's face. And Mitch was drawing an envelope out from inside the jacket he was wearing.
'He left it with me, Johnny,' he explained. 'To be opened a year after his death when the three of us were together.'
Fair enough, Johnny thought. Mitch was the lawyer. Of course he would obey Patrick's instructions. Yet if it explained the will, why a year later? It would have saved a huge amount of heartburn and worry if they'd all known Patrick's reasoning in the first place.
Mitch held out the envelope. 'I think you should read it out, Johnny.'
'No. He put it in your keeping, Mitch,' he asserted, his stomach already churning over what its contents might be, whether Patrick would have wanted what he'd ultimately done. The other two had nothing to worry about. They could be at ease, while he… No, he fiercely told himself. He'd done right. It felt right. Megan felt it, too. Partners, in every sense.
'You read it, Mitch,' Ric agreed.
None of them moved to sit down. Somehow, it was a mark of respect to Patrick to keep standing. Mitch opened the envelope and withdrew a sheet of paper, slowly unfolding it. He cleared his throat.
'Just let me read it through. Leave any discussion of its contents to the end. Agreed?'
Johnny and Ric nodded.
Mitch took a deep breath and read—
My three sons, That's howI think of you. I could not have loved you more, nor been more proud of you, if you had been born to me.
I get so tired now. I can feel my body slowing down, time running out. Ric and Mitch, both of you have found what you needed to fulfil the rich promise of your lives. I believe you knowthis and will understand I want the same for Johnny. To some measure, I think I stood in the way of that happening, so the will I have written is meant to correct that.
There's Megan, too. I've made provision for Jessie and Emily but Megan will need help to get past this drought and rebuild. I knowall three of you would step forward to ensure her future on Gundamurra, but I have singled out Johnny, not because I favour him above either of you, but because it gives him my approval and blessing to make his home at Gundamurra with Megan, if he so wishes.
I sit here thinking of the bond that has always been between them—a natural gravitation towards each other which has never lessened, though it has been much strained in recent years. I believe the tension I have observed between them is the tension of barriers raised which neither of them feel able to cross.
I could be wrong. A year is long enough to break those barriers if the desire to do so has the strength of love behind it. If this has not proved true, I nowput it in the hands of the three of you to correct the inheritance, returning it all to Megan, and sharing the financial onus I put on Johnny to rescue Gundamurra for her.
You each offered help. I knowit's in your hearts to give it. Let Johnny go free to seek what I hope he will find one day—the peace of coming home to a woman he loves, who also loves him. And Johnny, please forgive my trespass on your life. I trust the year was not too hard on you. On all three of you, wondering why I did what I've done.
Stay brothers to each other. And thank you for all you have given me through the years.
Patrick.
It took Johnny a while to swallow the lump in his throat, to feel composed enough to speak. 'Did either of you realise what the will was about?'
'We didn't know for sure, Johnny,' Ric answered. 'We just figured Patrick knew what he was doing.'
'Knight attack,' Mitch murmured, waving to the chess table. 'Patrick wanted you to capture the queen. That seemed to be the logic of it. And you did, Johnny.'
'Well, I wouldn't put it like that to Megan,' he said hotly. 'We're partners.'
'All the barriers down?' Ric quizzed, a satisfied twinkle lurking in his brilliant dark eyes. 'Seemed that way to me this morning.'
A quick train of realizations clicked through Johnny's head. 'That damned concert! Lara's idea. And bringing a video of the movie home, shoving it in our faces…'
'You helped me with Lara, Johnny,' came the quick retort.
'You knewsomething, Ric.'
'I swear I just put two and two together.'
'We were both here for Megan's twenty-first birthday,' Mitch slid in. 'It was very clear that we didn't make up for your absence.'
'Right! So I'm an idiot for not seeing it before this.' 'No, Johnny. Megan was ten years younger than you.
And Patrick's daughter,' came the sympathetic reply. 'They were big blinkers to see past. Both Ric and I wore the same blinkers until Patrick's will was read. Then for the most part we stood back and let the two of you fight it out.'
'Which brings us to the critical question…' Ric paused, then pointedly inquired, 'Have you come home, Johnny?'
'Yes. Yes, I have.'
And he laughed because they were both grinning at him, and their grins plainly said, 'Welcome to the club!'
'In fact,' he went on, 'I was discussing with Megan last night—I'd like to start up an opportunity program for street- kids here on Gundamurra. I probably won't be as good as Patrick at it, but I want to give it a shot.'
'No question kids would relate to you, Johnny,' Mitch said warmly. 'It's a great idea.'
'Very fitting,' Ric agreed. He nodded to the big leather chair behind the desk. 'If anyone can fill Patrick's chair, it's you, Johnny. I wish you well with it.'
'I'll second that,' Mitch said, smiling. 'I can see that chair fitting you like a glove as time goes on.'
It embarrassed Johnny that they thought so much of him, but he was intensely grateful for their support and understanding. 'Thanks, guys. I'll do my best to live up to it. And Mitch, I was thinking since you're high up in legal circles, you could help me organise the program.'
'You can certainly count on my help.'
'I take it you're not thinking of doing any more movies?' Ric posed.
'No. It's not real life. What I have with Megan here on Gundamurra is real. And it's good. I wouldn't swap it for anything.'
'So there's nothing to discuss,' Mitch said decisively. 'I think we should do what all brothers would do at such a time. Arm ourselves with a drink and raise a toast to the man who got it right for us.'
Which they proceeded to do.
'To Patrick Maguire, who gave us the lives we now have,' Ric said.
'To the best father we could have had,' Mitch said. 'Rest in peace, Patrick. It was indeed a good day when we arrived at Gundamurra,' Johnny said. Then with deep feeling, 'Your mission is complete. We've all come home.'