THE HEIR OF HAVILAH

SATU

On that hot November afternoon, just before the Christmas break began, Olivia returned to her trendy downtown apartment and saw the lights on her answering machine flickering. He pressed the button while leaning back at the kitchen counter to listen to the messages. While waiting, Olivia kicked off her shoes, thinking she wanted to swim and rest.

Olivia looked at her letters, sorting through them quickly. He is looking forward to this long summer vacation. This year has been really exhausting. Teenage girls are not easy to deal with. Especially those who know love.

 

There are postcards from friends who always visit exotic places of the world this time Peru, because the postcards are pictured in the ruins of Machu Picchu; a stack of invitations to Christmas events and parties; and; the phone bill was accompanied by a booklet containing various instructions; a thank-you note for the Christmas donation he gave to a charitable foundation that specializes in helping families in need. Olivia helped happily, even feeling it was her duty.

His career as a high school teacher was quite successful. He did well teaching at the prestigious Ormiston Girls Grammar three years ago, as if the job was created for him. He earned a decent salary and had personal possessions. Why not give something to the community? He also sent checks to several other charitable foundations.

 

The first recorded message came from Matt Edwards who dated him several times. Matt wants to know if Olivia is interested in enjoying a romantic weekend at the luxurious Noosa beach resort on the Sunshine Coast. He should consider the offer first. Olivia enjoys spending time with Matta. The man is attractive, but unfortunately not alluring. Few men are alluring, and it is better for the sake of women because alluring men can turn dangerous in an instant. It is better to choose a man who is loyal and calm, Olivia thought.

Actually Matt is quite attractive, with a slightly cynical sense of humor that suits Olivia. Matt almost earned an excellent reputation as a corporate lawyer. He also just bought a luxury car and magically allowed Olivia to drive it around the block. It's rare for a man to appreciate a woman's driving skills, let alone her intelligence, but Matt does spend most of his energy trying to calm Olivia down with the intention of getting her married. Unfortunately, Matt didn't make it. Olivia knew she would never love that man.

Olivia knows a lot about love the kind of love that makes a person happy or broken. Heaven or hell, there is no choice between the two. Ordinary attraction is meaningless after experiencing such love. Soon Olivia has to tell Matt that she's wasting precious time. Olivia can't commit. Maybe all of that stems from the fact that he was almost married. Sometimes, when tired or depressed, Olivia unconsciously remembered the memories when she felt she would always be alone. She used to cut her wedding dress and veil, then a week later cut her long hair. No more men will shrink the fingers in his hair.

"Liv, you deliberately kept the men away!" That's what his friend said, Julie often intends to irritate him. The thing is, it's hard to forget love even after it's over.

The second message came from the mother of one of the students who was very troubled in Mathematics, who often left the class with anger. Olivia doesn't want to tolerate that. The student's mother thanked him for getting "good results with Charlotte"; the third message from a recently married co-worker who invited Olivia and Matt to dinner" I went home early, Son! You're really popular."

The last message left Olivia very surprised. The letter opener fell from his limp hands, clanking on the floor. Olivia rushed to the answering machine, her heart beating wildly, as if waiting for bad news that her instincts would soon hear.

The voice sounded as familiar as his own, but what sounded was not as affectionate and pleasant as usual. Grace Gordon, Harry's family housekeeper for many years, sounded very anxious. Her words were spoken so quickly that Olivia had trouble hearing what Grace was really saying.

 

"Livvy, it's me. It's Gracie, honey." Grace's voice filled the small kitchen very loudly, echoing throughout the hallway. "Livvy, you need to go home."

 

Olivia closed her eyes tightly. What's the matter? Olivia soon realizes something must have happened to Harry. Harry is perfectly healthy for a man in his seventies.

"Something bad happens." Those words sounded hoarse on the phone. "I can't call you at school. There's a horrible woman she's rude to say that you're in a meeting with the principal and can't be bothered. I don't like being the bearer of bad news, honey." There was a pause as Grace's voice was blocked by sobs, "This is your Uncle Harry's attitude,"Grace lamented, assuring Olivia's worst fears."He had a severe heart attack. He's dead, Livvu! Three o'clock this afternoon as I prepare tea for her. A very sad surprise happened all of a sudden. She was okay. Jason is so good. The man is like a pillar of our strength."

Immediately Olivia felt her wound reopen. There's some guy named Jason in there? The name was firmly touching him again. Olivia staggered and leaned against the granite-coated counter, placing one hand against her pounding chest. What was Jason doing in Havilah? That man has no right to show his face there anymore!

"Go home, baby," Grace pleaded, unable to control the crying."Jason knows you'd want to arrange Harry's funeral. Please answer my phone, honey, as soon as possible. I'm sorry that my voice is so messed up, but I'm so sad."

And what about me? In the confusion Olivia managed to step into the living room, leaving her letters lying in a mess on the kitchen floor. He sat down on the chair, feeling overwhelmed. Harry's dead. Jason is a pillar of strength. Looks like something weird happened. How's the money why Jason's in Havilah? Didn't Jason run a farm in Outback, living with his wife and children? Jason is back. Butwhy? More importantly, why didn't Harry tell me? thought Olivia.

Because Harry knew talking about Jason would hurt my heart, Olivia said. Jason Corey used to make Olivia hurt very deeply. Years ago, at the age of twenty, Olivia felt her life was over when her fiance Jason left her the night before their marriage. Now, at the age of 27, Olivia thinks she has managed to free herself from the pain and shame. But he just needed to hear the name, and it all came back. Sadness and bitterness seemed to descend Olivia's cheeks in the form of tears.

"Jason is like a pillar of strength."

Even from the way Grace had said that sentence long ago Olivia knew it must be her Jason.

His jason? Olivia felt a sense of self-loathing because even under such circumstances she thought of Jason again in this way. Jason was never his. Even when the man declares love for her, she sleeps with another woman, Impregnating the woman. Olivia trusts Jason completely and she will never forgive him. Like he would never forgive Megang Duffy who used to be a childhood friend as well as one of the four girls who would become bridesmaids.

Now the woman's name is Megang Corey, Jason's wife, their son's mother. Maybe they had more than one child because Jason was obviously very masculine. No one's gonna tell Olivia about it. Everyone knows Olivia doesn't want to know. In Olivia's view, Jason and Megan are just mass traumas. That's why Olivia doesn't believe Harry let Jason back into Havilah. As Olivia suffers, Harry suffers too. His uncle Harry raised Olivia since his parents died in a chariot accident when he was ten. Harry never married, no one, not even Harry himself, knew why and he inherited the family home, the Havilah Farmland land in tropical Northern Quennsland. The Linfield family was a pioneer of the sugar industry, mainly because most of the national sugar production was donated by the Northern tropics. In the past, Havilah hosted the memorial service of Captain Louis Hope, considered the father of the sugar industry. Born in Scotland. Captain Hope established the first sugarcane plantation just outside Brisbane in the early 1860s. Since then the sugar industry has grown so rapidly that every year Australia manages to sell 40 million tons of high-quality raw sugar to the world market. Since long ago the Linfield family was very proud of their descendants. When making a will, Olivia's parents refer Harry as their guardian when something happens to them. At that time, the decision was a reasonable one. Olivia's parents have always been described as "The glamorous Linfield young family".

They are rich and endowed with charming faces. They bear the family name with pride and truly intend to live to old age.

It was not their destiny. Death comes after twelve years of romantic marriage, when they are still in their thirties Just like poor families, rich families will not escape death. Three of the Linfield family's sons died while fighting for allies in two World Wars.

Olivia could hardly believe that less than a week ago she was still talking to Harry. Sometimes he calls a few times a week, especially since Uncle Harry is getting older, but end-of-year activities at school keep him very busy. Sometimes he felt he really needed to see Havilah again, but knew he wouldn't stand it. Too many memories.

He was tired of suffering. In the past, the plan for Olivia's wedding reception was to be held in Havilah's large barn. Harry had turned the barn into a party hall as well as a very unusual Ballroom, with a spring fir wood floor. Every last detail was planned out perfectly. Harry spent limitlessly, everyone was so excited that even the air was so sweet. It was as if the marriage was heaven-sanctioned. In the past, sometimes Olivia thought it was impossible to feel such happiness. Olivia adored Jason.He couldn't survive without the man. He was interested in Jason. And Jason was attracted to him.

It turns out everything was a lie. Jason, that perfect image of true love, turns out to be just a liar.

Now his beloved Harry, who knows all the traumas and successes of Olivia, is gone. Olivia thought about how well her mom had been, really involved in every aspect of her life. Olivia's education was excellent, she graduated from university with a degree in education when she was twenty. He was confident of gaining a position at one of the district's high schools for several years before he and Jason began to build a family. After the children they crave are big enough, he can resume his career again.

The dream! But how do I know that the opposite is going to happen? Everyone around Olivia believes Jason is crazy about her, loving her without changing. Evidently from Jason's eyes while looking at him! jason's voice when he talks to her.

"He adores you!"Or so the crowd always says.

It's awful to know just last night that Jason's started building a family with Megan Duffy. As a quiet girl.