'Good mate! s.h.i.t!' Karl thought as he went to his room. 'I've just been with his wife!' Karl was fully aware that Harvey was an unfaithful husband, but that did not ease his conscience about what he and Mary had just done.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR.

Sat.u.r.day morning dawned clear and crisp, except for some dark clouds threatening way off in the distance. Everyone hoped a change would reach the valley by evening; rain was desperately needed.

'Ooh, my head!' Eric groaned.

He woke up with a thump in his head and a seedy feeling in the pit of his stomach. His mouth felt like the bottom of a c.o.c.ky's cage.

's.h.i.t, I'm dry!' He half sat up, looking around the room. 'How'd I get to bed?' He was talking to himself and rubbing his temple. 'h.e.l.l, I must have been p.i.s.sed!'

'You were!' Des poked his head around the door with a smirk on his face.

'You needn't look so b.l.o.o.d.y smug. My head's killin' me.' Eric groaned again.

'C'mon, Mum'll fix you up. She's got breakfast ready.' Des laughed loudly.

Eric dragged himself out of bed and to the breakfast table. He told Connie he couldn't face anything more than strong coffee!

She tut-tutted, gave him some aspirin for his head and insisted he at least try and eat some toast.

'You sure did celebrate, my boy!'

'I wasn't that bad, was I?' he asked.

Sam gave him a look and raised his eyebrows.

'Ok, what'd I do?' Eric demanded.

'Oh, 36, 24, 36 blonde, blue eyes and very s.e.xy,' Des laughed.

Eric looked embarra.s.sed. A sheepish grin crept over his face. 'You're kiddin'?'

'Too bad you can't remember, mate!' Sam laughed.

The Winters' house was not so cheerful. Mary had risen after Harvey and when she walked into the kitchen, she received an icy reception.

'Harvey?'

He didn't answer. He was about to take a mouthful of his coffee when Mary spoke again. She had made her second decision since last night. Now she was determined to go through with it, even if it killed her.

'The time to start is right now!' she thought.

'Harvey, I suppose you know by now that I hit Ellie. I'm very sorry about that and I hope I didn't hurt her.'

Harvey just looked coldly at her.

'I'm going to apologize to her.'

'Mary, I've never seen you act so badly. You were disgusting. You need help, Mary.'

'Yes, I know. I haven't liked myself for some time I realise I have been mistaking dependency for love!' Mary had actually taken on board what Ellie had said to her in the toilets.

'What do you mean?' Harvey asked. He hadn't been expecting her to say this.

'Well, you and I have had nothing between us for years, have we?'

She paused and took a deep breath. 'Now, I realise that living this way is not right, it isn't getting either of us anywhere. I want more from life as well. I know you're probably finding all this hard to believe, but I've given things a lot of thought since last night, and I feel more confident than I have for a long time, strangely enough.'

Behind her back, her hands were clenched together. She must pull this off... she must!

Harvey couldn't believe his ears. He thought he would have h.e.l.l's own trouble with her. It seemed he wasn't going to have the battle he'd expected. 'Why?' he wondered. 'Surely she's not up to her tricks. Still, I'd better tread carefully.'

Mary had thought a lot since her lovemaking with Karl. She'd decided to stop being so foolish. She couldn't stop Harvey's affairs, she never could. Ellie wasn't going anywhere and that was obvious. It was time she, Mary, had a life!

She wouldn't go through a divorce that was out of the question. She had her reasons for that and it wasn't religion. But she could start leading her own life and let Harvey get on with his, for now, anyway.

Karl had made her feel more like a woman than she had ever felt in Harvey's arms. For once in the last few traumatic months, Mary felt she did have a future after all. She had a lot to do and she wanted to get on with it.

She placed her hand on Harvey's shoulder. 'Don't worry, Harv. Things are going to be different from now on. Life's too short to be unhappy. We all should be making the most of it.'

Harvey was looking at her, saying nothing, lost for words.

'I've decided not to fight with you about your affairs anymore.'

Harvey nearly choked. 'What the devil is she up to? I'm gonna have to keep my eye on her!'

'That's right, Harv.' She smiled sweetly. 'You can have your fling with Ellie, or whoever takes your fancy. I really don't care, but...'

'Here it comes, the ultimatum!' he thought and watched her closely.

'I don't care who you screw anymore, but I will never agree to divorce!' She smiled brightly and picked up her handbag.

'Now I'm going shopping. I want to get those plants Emmie showed me the other day, and I'm going to call on the Masons as well. I could be a while so don't worry if I am a little longer than expected.'

Harvey's mouth hung slightly open as he watched her leave. 'b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, that's a sudden about face, too d.a.m.n sudden!' he said aloud.

As Mary drove towards town, she thought to herself, 'Karl, I want to see you again.' She knew she would have to be careful. Karl had been drinking last night but she hadn't mistaken his pa.s.sion. He was a healthy and virile man. He would want her again, she would see to that!

'Happiness is a choice.'

The Authors ***

In Hamilton Valley, the Mason household had risen later than usual.

Kathy was fretting about the way she and Eddie had parted. He had been quiet when they said goodnight. She was torn between her morals and her strong desire to let him make love to her. She also knew she had aroused him far too much and then backed away. She had to learn from that it was unfair to Eddie.

She was putting the finishing touch to her make-up when she heard the phone ring. Within seconds, Win was calling her downstairs to take the call. As she bolted downstairs, she was praying the caller was Eddie.

She picked up the receiver and heard his voice. 'Let's go for a picnic. It's turned into a nice day, baby.'

Kathy was relieved to hear he sounded fine. She was expecting him to be moody. Last night had been awkward and she knew she couldn't do that to him again unless she was serious.

She happily agreed to the picnic and they chatted for a bit longer and arranged a time for him to pick her up.

'Okay, I'll see you in about an hour.' She hung up and went off to the kitchen to ask Hazel if she would help her with a special picnic basket.

Karl was sitting under the walnut tree thinking about Mary. He was still finding the whole thing hard to believe. When he awoke this morning, completely sober, his emotions were confused. He had enjoyed every minute of his lovemaking with Mary, but what he couldn't comprehend was his impulsiveness. He hadn't been able to control his desire. Would he do it again, given half the chance?

He couldn't answer the question. 'Mary's beautiful, desirable... b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, she's just plain d.a.m.n s.e.xy!' he thought as he pictured her body in his mind. 'Nah, pull ya head in ya fool,' he said aloud and walked off towards the orchard.

Ellie stepped from the shower and checked her face in the mirror. The welt from Mary's punch was still obvious. She applied some make-up and dressed. As she went downstairs, the phone rang and she answered it in the hallway.

'Ellie....' Harvey's voice came through the line.

'Yes, Harv. What's wrong? Is Mary alright?'

'Yes, darling, she's fine. Listen, I've had the strangest conversation with her just now.'

Harvey related everything Mary had said. He also mentioned that Mary would be paying the Masons a visit sometime during the day.

'She's got something planned in that head of hers, Ellie. I can't put my finger on it but for her to have a complete change of heart like this, it's like she's had a huge epiphany! I'm a bit sceptical but we'll take it for what it is, eh, and see what happens.'

'Well, I'll pay careful attention to her while she's here today. Mind you, I don't really want to see her after what she did last night,' Ellie told him.

'I don't blame you, sweetheart. But at least we can be open about things now.'

'As long as she means what she said to you, Harv.'

They chatted on for a bit longer then Harvey had to go. Before he went, he said, 'Looking forward to more red hot raunchy s.e.x!' He hung up, grinning and remembering how she had used those same words to him a while ago.

Ellie looked at the receiver buzzing in her hand, her heart racing. She laughed aloud, placing the phone gently in its cradle.

Ian and Richard had asked Tammi and Laura out again that night, just as they had hoped. They were going to the movies.

The girls were glad their mother had spoken to Digger about keeping them on such a short leash. He was still inclined to be very over-protective, with good reason. However, life had to go on and the girls couldn't be kept prisoners in their own homes. Chances of catching the firebug were looking more remote as time went on and they couldn't stay locked inside forever. As long as they were with someone and not wandering around the property in the dark or alone, they were able to try and retain some normality.

Tammi was at the front gate on her way to Laura's when Mary arrived.

'Hi Mary...'

'h.e.l.lo, Tammi. Lovely day!' Mary replied brightly.

Tammi noted how different Mary was when sober, compared to the drunken woman she had witnessed last night. 'What a shame for such an attractive lady to disgrace herself in that way,' she thought.

Hazel answered the door to Mary showing her through to the lounge room.

Win was the first to speak. 'Well... Mary, what brings you here this morning?' she asked coolly.

'I don't blame you for being angry, Win. You're probably wondering how I could have the audacity to even come here.'

'You could say that,' Win replied testily.

'I want to apologize for my dreadful behaviour last night. I won't be drinking like that anymore. Please, forgive me,' she said, looking ashamed.

Emmie looked at Win and then at Mary. She was amazed at the sudden change in the woman standing before her, and a little apprehensive. Was she up to something? Still, maybe she should be given the benefit of the doubt.

'Well, Mary, your behaviour lately has been questionable. Last night took the cake, but I must say it, for you to come here this morning and face us shows me you are a very sorry woman. So I am willing to accept your apology.' Emmie gestured for her to take a seat.

Ellie came in then, and Mary had the grace to look very embarra.s.sed.

'Ellie, could I speak with you please?' Mary asked softly.

'If that's what you want, Mary,' Ellie said carefully.

'I want to apologize for my appalling behaviour last night. I hope I didn't hurt you. I will understand if you won't forgive me. I really don't deserve you to do so, but Ellie, I mean what I say. I am truly sorry.'

'Even though I can't accept your violent a.s.sault last night, I think I can understand your outburst,' Ellie said. 'Things haven't been easy for you. I can't condone what you did to me, but I will accept your apology and I think it would be best for everyone if we could agree to be civil to each other.'

'Yes, I think that would be better all 'round. As I told Harvey this morning, life is too short to be miserable. I think things will work themselves out. Anyway, I must be going.' Mary turned to Emmie.

'Emmie, I bought those plants this morning and I want to plant them today. They will be the beginning of a new start for us all.'

Emmie stood up and put her arms around Mary's slender figure. 'Mary, I think you may just be right!'

Mary turned to Ellie again. 'You know Ellie, I do believe fate plays a big part in our destiny.' She smiled ruefully.

The three women watched as she turned and left. 'She sounded genuinely sorry,' Ellie said, hopeful. Mary's last statement stayed in her mind.

'I think Mary's facing reality,' Emmie said softly. 'Although I can't be sure about this sudden change of heart...'

'Me either,' Win murmured.

As Mary walked around the side of the house, Karl had just come back from the orchard. He was surprised to see her and wasn't sure how to approach her.

'Morning, Mary. What's brought you here so early?' he managed.

'It's not that early, Karl.' She told him the reason for her visit.