Time: Present Day

Location: HereAfter

Carter watched as the months rolled by. All of a sudden he was two years old. Amelia had won the argument with her parents about adoption but at a cost. She had had to agree not to bring the child home until she had found herself a husband. Or at least a man who was willing to take them on and adopt young Peter as his own and keep the secret of his real birth father, and his real age. She hadn't found such a man so far. She had been far too busy having a baby and completing her two year music degree at the academy.

The graduation ceremony had been a wonderful time, all the family had come over for the event. Her father had been especially proud, and had astounded her by bonding so completely with her little Peter. He had not had much time with him as a baby and had not seemed to want to get too involved. Now though, that Peter was developing, walking, running, starting to talk, he had been totally won over by his little grandson.

Soon it was time for the family to return to Australia. Amanda was to stay a few days extra to catch up with her twin sister and share some good times that only the young can keep pace with.

They went out on the town after dropping the rest of the family at the airport. Amelia had discovered a little wine bar that played a mixture of jazz and rythmn and blues from the seventies.

Carter watched as Amelia got drinks for them both and came back from the bar to join Amanda in one of the armchair booths.

Amanda was talking excitedly before Amelia even sat down, about the new man in her life. She told Amelia that she had gone on a cruise after her HSC exams and met Roger on board. He was a law student on a break from Sydney university. She told Amelia how she was instantly smitten by the six foot sandy haired surfer, soon to be lawyer. She thought she didn't have a chance with him when she saw the girls hovering around him at the pool, but he had pushed through them like he was on a wave and headed straight for the extremely attractive twenty year old in the yellow bikini. He said it had been love at first sight for him. They had been inseparable ever since returning to Sydney. Amanda suspected that he was going to propose to her as soon as she got back from Paris. He had told her last night that since she left for her trip to France he had felt like a chunk of his heart had been ripped from his chest, and he had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He said if this was love it was the best and worst feeling he had ever experienced.

Carter sensed that Amelia was overjoyed that Amanda had apparently already found her soul mate although he felt that she sensed that something wasn't quite right, the twins always knew when one of them was lying or having the other one on. He also sensed that Amelia felt some pangs of regret that she hadn't pursued Peter more and at least given him the opportunity to choose her above his other girl in Melbourne.

"Wait till you meet him Amelia, you'll just love him, and he'll love you. He is so looking forward to seeing my twin!" said Amanda excitedly.

"Maybe he'll fall for me too Sis, eh? He might want both of us, do you think? Maybe we can play a few tricks on him like we used to on poor Pete," Amelia ventured.

"Yeah, maybe we could, I used to enjoy confusing the hell out of Peter. They were the days. I wonder if Peter remembers what we used to get up to . . . the two of us." Amanda mused.

"Yeah, I often wonder if Peter ever thinks about us."

"Shit, you still love him don't you Sis?" Amanda ventured.

"No, no I do not, honestly . . . I don't!" insisted Amelia.

"Me thinks she doth protest too much," said Amanda.

The next thing Bob Dylan's 'Knocking on Heaven's Door' was playing. "Isn't that strange? Wasn't he Peter's idol? Bob Dylan? Didn't Peter play this on the guitar all the time?" asked Amanda.

"Oh, do stop going on about Peter will you, who cares?" Amelia wailed.

"You do Sis, you do. Why don't you just contact him and be done with it," Amanda said exasperatingly.

"Because I promised Mum, that's why, anyway I heard he's married now. He probably wouldn't want a bar of me or want to find out about his little Peter," Amelia explained.

"You mean he still doesn't know about the baby?" Amanda said incredulously. "You have to tell him, Sis. You must, he has a right to know.

"It isn't like I haven't tried. I've written to him numerous times, but not a word back. He just doesn't care, either that or his parents aren't forwarding his mail. Maybe when I am back in Sydney I'll fly down to Melbourne and find him, and tell him what I think of him, face to face," Amelia threatened.

"Okay, I'll go down there with you for moral support, but for now let's forget about Peter, enjoy the music and get ourselves smashed, after all I have to leave in a few days, so let's enjoy it while we can. This time next year, I might be married and maybe even have a child of my own, who knows?" Amanda ventured.

"Yeah, okay, and when I get home I'll write another letter and you can take it back with you and make sure he gets it will you?" pleaded Amelia.

"Sure Sis, anything you want. Your wish is my command. I'll make sure he gets it wherever he is."

Carter sensed that something major was brewing, then he was startled by a presence touching his arm . . . and his heart . . . his Mum was back. He turned to see the young Amelia, she was stunning, radiant almost. She smiled at him,,but it was a sad smile just the same. Then Teacher was in his soul, "Don't ask Carter Cheval, watch your movie, it will all become clear".

Carter turned his attention to what was happening on the big screen.

Amanda looked shocked, "You don't mean home, home?"

Amelia smiled. "Yes, I've just decided, no more letters. it's time to grow up and face reality. I'm flying back with you and we're taking little Peter to finally meet his Dad."

"Mum won't like it, she'll be furious!"

"I know, Sis, but I don't care anymore. There's something wrong and I'm going to get to the bottom of it. I've had the feeling all along that they haven't been telling me everything. It's not like Peter to totally ignore everything I've been telling him in my letters," Amelia explained.

Amanda said," You realise Mum and Dad won't pay for you to come back don't you, and I doubt Aunty Margot will lend you the money. I'd give it to you if I had any, maybe I could ask Roger to lend it to us?"

Amelia smiled, "Who is this Roger then? Oh that Roger, the Roger you are lying to me about?"

"I'll tell you later, maybe on the plane. It's still a bit hush hush, Mum and Dad don't know yet and I want to break it to them gently."

Thanks Sis, you're the best but I've got the money."

"What! How? Which bank did you rob?"

Amelia laughed, "No dramas, I've been giving tutoring lessons after school. I've saved it up."

"How long have you been planning this?" Amanda asked.

"Ever since the baby was born, even before . . . "

"Does Aunty Margot know?" Amanda ventured.

"No, and she can't, not until its too late, until we are on the way to the airport at least. I've got it all worked out. We'll change your flight to the middle of the day, I've got my international license now, so we tell Aunt Margot they changed your flight time, but not to worry, I'll drive you to the airport. We'll get a hire car and leave it at the airport."

"You've got it all figured out haven't you Sis, and I think you're right. Something hasn't been right from the start. Mum and Dad have too many secret little talks, .and every time I ask anything about how the Margates are going they clam up. Let's do it. I'm in Sis, in fact let's get some Champagne to celebrate, my shout!" Amanda laughed., they both started giggling and went off arm in arm to the bar.

Chapter 30 - Hello from the Other Side.

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