Absolution Creek Read Online Free PDF Page A

move, Olive. We did discuss it this morning at breakfast.’ She tapped her fingers against the black gabardine of her skirt. ‘Then at lunch.’
    ‘I haven’t been here.’
    ‘How unusual. Well, your sister and brothers decided to go today – something about rats leaving a sinking ship. Your father has secured a new house for us on the southern side. Do stack the fire a little will you, Olive, it’s quite cool in here once one stops moving about and there has been so much to do today. I don’t think I’ve rested even when we lunched. Izzy made a fine beefsteak pie. Very fine.’
    ‘Mother?’
    ‘Yes, right, back to your siblings. They have lodgings in the city until the weekend, when we can all be together again. Of course it suits Henrietta as her young man is on that side of the pond, and Eddy and Hal have always found it a struggle travelling back and forth to the Exchange. Quite frankly, I’ve been suggesting this move for some time. The North Shore was always so removed from the more cosmopolitan aspects of this great city.’
    Olive wanted to pull on her mother’s stays until all the bluster puffed out of her. She threw some kindling on the fire instead then kicked the brass fender surrounding the tiled hearth. ‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner?’
    Her mother twisted the beads at her throat. ‘Really, Olive, you can’t possibly have failed to notice what is occurring not two streets from here. Why, everyone realised that once the resumptions began it would be best to vacate the area.’ She raised a thinly plucked eyebrow. ‘For an intelligent girl you are really quite stupid at times.’
    Olive thought of the wreckage of Blue Street, the inevitable closure of Mrs Jessop’s salon and her own unedifying time in the work force. ‘Is our home to be resumed?’
    Her mother displayed a number of expensive gold fillings. ‘No, my dear, your brilliant father has sold it for a hefty price to the Works Department. They are looking for offices close to the bridge construction, and although this street is to be closed your father persuaded the department that it was an excellent position for them.’
    ‘I see.’ Now she knew why Henrietta, Eddy and Hal had slunk away so quickly.
    ‘Fortuitous, don’t you think, considering the maelstrom that North Sydney will become. I’m moving south before the weekend, so I’ll leave the overseeing of the remaining packing and the locking up of the house to you. The removalists are highly reputable and the majority of the furniture will be gone by noon tomorrow. You’re old enough – and your father feels you’re intelligent enough – to be entrusted with this responsibility, and I have a concert to attend.’
    Olive pushed the sole of her shoes into the plush rug on the floor. ‘I don’t want to leave, Mother. This is our home.’
    Mrs Peters directed her attention back to her writing desk.
    ‘Mother, I really don’t want to –’
    ‘Five hundred buildings will be resumed, Olive. Then there are the street closures, the shifting of the wharf, the general inconvenience of the demolition process, not to mention the unhealthy air from all this dust and grime.’
    ‘I like North Sydney. My friends are here and –’
    ‘You’ll make new ones.’ She finished writing and looked at her youngest daughter. ‘We’re aware of your attachment to the grocer’s boy. A change will be for the best, my dear, and with your sister marrying Mr John Eton before the year is out we can’t risk a most inappropriate friendship. Although, I’ve a feeling your childish attachment is an extension of his kindness in saving you from that runaway horse.’
    ‘But –’
    ‘Once you’re settled on the south side all your silly notions of work will vanish and then we must find you someone suitable.’ She tapped the side of her nose. ‘You will be quite in demand once the North Shore is dusted off you.’ She smoothed her skirt over her knees. ‘And you will adore our new home.