A Life Worth Living

by Louise Guy

  The relationship had its rules. Ben was married too, happily he’d said, but he needed more. Like Eve, he wanted adoration, escapism.

  They’d agreed that if they were discreet, no one need know, and no one would get hurt. They’d put their families first, and snatch whatever time they could for themselves.

  Her phone rang as she pulled out into the traffic on Beaconsfield Parade. Irritation replaced her excitement. The number showing on the Audi’s navigation screen was St Roberta’s Primary.

  The girls were both booked in for after-school care that afternoon. She was tempted to not answer, but then they’d ring Sean, who was in court and couldn’t be interrupted.

  She pressed the receive button on her steering wheel reluctantly. ‘Hello.’

  ‘Mrs West?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Mrs West, it’s Mary Steed from St Roberta’s. I’m afraid Ava isn’t feeling very well. We need you to come and collect her.’

  ‘But she’s booked into after-school care.’

  ‘We’re aware of that, but, since she feels ill and has a temperature of thirty-nine, we’re required to ask you to collect her.’

  Eve wanted to pummel the steering wheel. This was not happening. She was only a few minutes from South Melbourne, a few minutes from Ben.

  She did her best to compose herself. ‘And if I can’t?’

  Mary cleared her throat. ‘I’m sorry, Mrs West,’ she said crisply, ‘that’s not really an option. If you are unavailable, could your husband or another family member or friend collect Ava? We did call your nanny, Kate Spencer, but her phone went straight to voicemail. We can call your emergency contacts if you aren’t able to.’

  She sighed. If only Kate wasn’t still on holidays. ‘Fine, leave it with me. I’ll see if I can get someone to come and pick her up. If I can’t, I’ll be there within half an hour.’

  Eve hung up. Of all days for Ava to be sick. Her parents always offered to do jobs like this, but they were away for a few days. Leah?

  God, she’d never rung her sister to postpone their three p.m. appointment. Would she dare ask her to pick up Ava? An image of Ben, bare chested, filtered into her thoughts and she shivered.

  Yes, she would dare to ask Leah.

  3

  Leah pulled up to the O’Reilly residence in the company car at two-forty-five, fifteen minutes before her scheduled meeting time.

  She’d needed to get out of the office, clear her head a little before catching up with her sister. She’d tried to distract herself with an audiobook during the thirty-five minute drive to Hampton but switched it off because her thoughts kept flitting back to Grant.

  Leah sank back in her seat and closed her eyes just as her phone rang. Eve’s number was on the caller display. Instinct shouted her sister would cancel.

  ‘Thanks for the notice,’ Leah said, not bothering with a greeting. ‘I’m sitting out the front of this place in Hampton. I thought we’d get a coffee.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Lee, I meant to call you hours ago. An opportunity has come up that Peter wants me to chase immediately. I’ve had to cancel my entire afternoon.’

  She sighed. ‘Fine, I’ll go for a walk down the beach instead. I’m assuming I don’t actually need to see this property?’

  ‘No, I’ll send you enough info for your write up.’ There was a brief pause. ‘If you aren’t already mad at me, you might be in a minute. I need to ask you a favour.’

  ‘What do you need?’

  ‘The school’s called and Ava’s sick. The girls were both booked in to after school care, but she’s got a fever so they won’t let her go. Is there any possibility you could pick her up? If you’re in Hampton, you’re less than ten minutes away.’

  ‘What? Now?’ Leah had planned to go back to the office after she’d met with Eve. If her niece was sick, she could hardly bring her back to the Paper.

  ‘Yes, sorry.’

  She didn’t respond. She’d been looking forward to seeing Eve and talking to her about Grant. She needed to talk to someone. Jackie, her best friend would know all the right things to say, but she couldn’t bring herself to ring her. Not yet. Not until she knew why he’d ended it.

  ‘You there, Lee?’

  Leah pushed all thoughts of Grant from her mind and made a quick decision to call the office and say she’d be keeping the car overnight and working from home for the rest of the afternoon. ‘Of course I’ll pick her up. Do you want me to take her to your place or mine?’

  ‘To mine if that’s okay? That way you can put her to bed. You might as well collect Harriet while you’re there, too. No point us doing a separate trip to the school later. You’ve still got your key, haven’t you?’

  ‘Yes. What do I need to do? Does she need a doctor or medicine or anything?’

  ‘I’ve got no idea.’

  ‘You’re her mother. Surely you know what to do when she’s sick.’

  ‘Just take her home and put her to bed. Ask the school nurse, she’ll tell you what to do. Gotta run, thanks again.’

  Leah stared at the phone. Eve had already hung up. Surely her sister should know what to do? The twins must have had fevers and illness before?

  She drove back out onto the road in the direction of Brighton, and the girls’ school.

  Leah pulled into a park and noticed a long line of traffic was queued at the exit. She walked past the sports fields to the heart of the school and found the main administration office. She was quickly directed to the sick bay and after school care facilities.

  She opted to collect Harriet first. If Ava felt rotten, it would be best to get her straight into the car and home.

  Leah pushed open the door to the after school hours room and was greeted by the noisy chatter of children as they painted, completed puzzles and read books. She scanned the room. An ache tugged at her heart as she spied her blonde-haired niece deep in conversation with a girl around the same age. Only two days ago, she’d contemplated her own baby, a baby with Grant.

  In a split second that dream was now out of reach. She managed a smile when Harriet threw her hands in the air and burst out laughing at something her friend said.

  It was only because Ava was in the sick bay that she could easily identify Harriet. When they were in their school uniforms, until Leah spoke to them, it was very difficult to tell them apart. It was easier in their casual clothes. Ava loved purples and pinks and Harriet loved blue and yellow.

  No doubt her own parents had had the same difficulties with her and Eve, although Leah had opted to wear her own long blonde hair up in a ponytail or bun from an early age, whereas Eve liked hers loose around her shoulders.

  Harriet looked up, her face breaking into a huge grin. She jumped to her feet, rushed over and flung her arms around Leah. ‘Aunty Leah, what’re you doing here?’

  Leah laughed, squeezing her back with the same force Harriet squeezed her. ‘How is it, I can’t tell you and Ava apart, yet you can easily tell the difference between me and your mum?’

  ‘Lipstick,’ Harriet said. ‘Mummy always wears tons and you never wear any. You have nice shiny lips. I wish Mummy had lips like yours and eyes too. I hate all those colours she puts on hers.’

  ‘One day, you might decide you want to wear lipstick and eye shadow too. Mummy wears it to look nice for her job.’

  The child shook her head. ‘Your job is much more important than Mummy’s. She only sells houses. You work at a paper and you look nice. And your hair is beautiful, having it up makes you look smart. What’re you doing here?’

  ‘I’ve come to kidnap you.’ Leah smiled again, as Harriet’s eyes grew wide.

  ‘Really? Wow, that’d be so cool. Will I come and live at your house or will we sneak off to another country?’

  Leah drew her niece in for another hug. ‘I’m kidding, silly. Ava’s sick and your mum asked me to come and pick her up and take her home. So it made sense that I pick you up too.’

  Harriet grinned. ‘And you came and got me first, bec
ause I’m your favourite.’

  ‘Come on, let’s go find your sister. You can show me where the sick bay is.’

  Ava was sitting in a comfortable chair, flicking through a book when they arrived. She gave Leah a weak smile, confusion registering in her eyes.

  Harriet bounced over to her before Leah had a chance to explain.

  ‘Avie! Aunt Leah’s kidnapping us and taking us to a kingdom far away where there are unicorns and chocolate rivers. Get your stuff, we need to go.’

  ‘Mrs West?’

  Leah glanced at a thin, dark-haired woman with a friendly face and smiling eyes. Her badge confirmed she was the school nurse. ‘No, I’m the girls’ aunt. I’m Leah.’

  ‘Sorry, I’ve seen you at the school before. I assumed you were the girls’ mother.’

  Harriet shrieked with laughter. ‘You did see our mother. They look exactly the same.’

  ‘Oh, I see! Twins run in the family?’

  She nodded. ‘Is there anything I need to know or do for Ava?’ She glanced across at her niece, whose face was very pale.

  ‘Put her straight to bed,’ the nurse said. ‘A cold drink and some food if she’ll eat anything. She was complaining of a headache, so you might want to give her some paracetamol. It will help bring her temperature down. See how she is once you get home.’

  ‘Okay, thanks.’ She smiled at Ava. ‘Do you think you can walk up to the car, sweetheart?’

  ‘Your car?’

  She put her arms around her niece. ‘Yes, of course, I’m taking you home and looking after you until your mum finishes work.’

  ‘Will she be very late?’

  Leah couldn’t help but notice the look of hope on Ava’s face.

  ‘I’m not sure, she didn’t actually say. But regardless, I’ll stay until you’ve gone to sleep.’

  ‘Both of us?’ Harriet asked. ‘You can read me stories and put me to bed too.’

  ‘Sounds like the perfect way to end the day.’

  Leah helped Ava out of the car and across the path to the front door. She couldn’t help but glance around the perfectly manicured garden. Hedges cut to the same height, the winter roses all neatly standing to attention and blooming. On one hand it was very pretty, on the other, it seemed rigid and formal. She preferred a garden that grew a little wilder.

  She checked on Harriet, who’d insisted on carrying both school bags. ‘You okay, Harry?’ she called.

  The little girl’s face was red from struggling under the strain of the bags, but she nodded. ‘Ava must have rocks in her bag,’ she announced. ‘It’s crazy heavy.’

  ‘Library books,’ Ava said. ‘Big fat ones. But no rocks.’

  Leah unlocked the front door. She pushed it open and led Ava inside.

  Harriet followed, dropping the school bags onto the floor the moment she crossed into the house. ‘Now what?’ she asked.

  ‘What do you normally do when you get home?’

  Her niece gave her a sly look. ‘Mummy usually lets us make a chocolate cake or muffins. Or she gives us some chocolate.’

  Leah hid a smile hearing a sharp intake of breath from Ava.

  ‘You liar,’ her other niece said. ‘Mummy’s never home, but when she is she never lets us have anything like that. She makes us eat fruit or carrot sticks.’ She lowered her voice. ‘She doesn’t want fat kids.’

  A lump rose in Leah’s throat. Fat kids? They were seven, and there was nothing of them. If anything, they could both do to put on a few kilos.

  ‘How about I help Ava up to bed, then you and I look at what we could make for afternoon tea,’ she suggested.

  Harriet's eyes glistened. ‘A chocolate cake?’

  She shook her head. ‘Probably not today. Ava’s not well and chocolate is the last thing we should be feeding her.’

  Harriet’s little face clouded over with disappointment.

  ‘Don’t worry, we’ll make something yummy. Now you go and put the school bags in the kitchen so I can unpack them. Wash your hands and I’ll be down in a few minutes.’ Leah put an arm around Ava. ‘Come on, let’s get you into bed.’ They walked slowly up the stairs.

  The girls shared a huge bedroom, leading off their own play and television room. A rope lay on the floor at the half way point, creating a clear division. One side of the room was full of pinks and purples. Stuffed toys were strewn about; a dolls house sat in one corner and a shelf above a small desk proudly housed around twenty miniature fairy figurines.

  The other side of the room was blues and aquas. A skateboard was propped up in one corner, and a basket full of Nerf guns stood in pride of place in the middle of the floor.

  She helped Ava over to her pink princess bed. Leah sat her down, untied her shoes and pulled off her socks. ‘How about we put your pyjamas on? That way you’ll be nice and snug and comfy.’

  Her niece reached under her pillow, pulling out her a pretty pair of floral flannel pyjamas.

  She helped her change and tucked her in, bringing the doona snug around her. ‘How’re you feeling?’

  Tears welled in Ava’s eyes. ‘Horrible.’ Her voice was a whisper. ‘My head and throat hurt.’

  She gave her a cuddle. ‘Oh, you poor little thing. How about I go downstairs and get you a nice cold drink? I’ll see if I can find some medicine for your head, too.’

  Ava nodded, laying her head back against the pillow. Leah snuggled the doona around her once again and tucked her soft toy squirrel in with her. She leant down and kissed her niece's forehead, noting that it was very hot. ‘I’ll be back in a few minutes,’ she promised. She made her way back down the stairs. She could hear clanking and banging coming from the kitchen.

  What on earth could Harriet be up to? She'd probably be covered from head to foot with flour and cocoa, having decided to make a chocolate cake, anyway.

  Leah stopped at the kitchen door, tears pricking her eyes as she saw what Harriet was doing.

  The little girl was hunched over the kitchen table, her tongue poking out of the side of her mouth concentrating on spreading a piece of bread with butter. Next to her was a tray, with a small vase which had one pink rose sticking out of it, and a glass of something clear and fizzy with ice cubes in it.

  She got herself together and joined Harriet. ‘What you doing, chipmunk?’

  Her niece looked up. ‘I thought I’d make Avie some afternoon tea. I’m making her a sprinkle sandwich.’ Her eyes widened. ‘That’s okay, isn’t it? I know Mummy wouldn’t normally let us have that, but it is Avie’s favourite. And I don’t think she’ll notice I cut the rose from the garden.’

  Leah put an arm around her. ‘Of course it’s okay. It’s lovely in fact.’ She felt Harriet relax against her. ‘What’s the drink?’

  ‘Mineral water. I wanted to give her lemonade but we don’t have any. I’ve squeezed some lemon in it to make it a bit nicer.’

  She was surprised Harriet had even found sprinkles if Eve was that strict about what the girls ate. ‘It looks great. I’m sure she’ll love it. Now you finish, and we’ll take it up. I’ll see if I can rustle up some medicine for her headache and fever.’

  Harriet concentrated on applying the sprinkles to the bread while Leah opened the pantry and went in search of the medicine. She let out a breath, relieved to see a large box on the top shelf marked First-Aid. She took it down and opened it, taking out the paracetamol and the ear thermometer. She checked the dosage to give Ava and rummaged back through the box for a medicine cup.

  ‘I’m finished,’ her niece announced.

  Leah crossed to the kitchen table and admired Harriet’s work.

  The sandwich had been cut into little bite-sized pieces.

  ‘It’s a sandwich poppa,’ explained Harriet. ‘When you’re sick, you don’t want to be taking big bites.’

  ‘Poppa?’

  Harriet nodded. ‘Poppa it in your mouth.’ She grinned. ‘I made that up, do you like it?’

  ‘I love it, and so will Ava. Let’s take it upstairs. Shall I carry
the tray until we get to the top of the stairs, and then you can take it so she knows you made it?’

  The little girl beamed with delight. ‘Really, I can walk into the room with it?’

  ‘Of course,’ Leah said. She placed the medicine and thermometer on the side of the tray. She followed Harriet out of the room, stopping outside the girls’ room to hand the tray over.

  Harriet smiled proudly and walked into the room. She stopped as she neared the bed, her face clouding with disappointment.

  Ava was asleep.

  ‘Set it down there and come with me.’ Leah pointed to the bedside table.

  Harriet followed her back into the playroom.

  ‘Have you got paper and coloured pencils?’ she asked.

  Her niece nodded.

  ‘Great, let’s make a lovely card to sit on the tray. When Ava wakes up, she’ll know you made her the food.’

  ‘That’s a great idea.’ The little girl made her way across the room to a chest of drawers. She took out a sheet of paper and reached into the second drawer for a big packet of coloured pens. ‘Can you help me fold the paper so it’s like a real card?’

  ‘Of course.’ Leah did so, and the paper stood. ‘You get to work on this, and I’ll go and clean up the kitchen and pack your lunch boxes away. Would you like me to make you a special afternoon tea too?’

  The little girl didn’t look up from the card she was adding something purple to. ‘Yes, please.’

  Leah smiled heading back down the stairs. Her niece had such a good heart.

  Eve was lucky to have the family she had. Her smile slipped. She was supposed to have had that with Grant. A lump formed in her throat. What she’d lost was enormous. Not only the man she loved, but she’d wasted six years. The likelihood of finding a new relationship and having children in her thirties was slowly moving out of reach. It was quite possible she might need to settle for being an aunt.

  4

  Eve pulled up in front of a rundown-looking townhouse at the address Ben had sent her in South Melbourne. She opened the car door and stepped out onto the cracked footpath, pulling her jacket around her; the wind was biting.