by Paige Toon
‘Well, like what he did for her on her birthday…’
Molly looks puzzled.
‘You know, the fancy picnic with lobster and sparkling wine on the beach and everything.’
‘Oh, that! The way Nathan described it to us made it sound like a bit of a beach party.’
A spark of hope…
‘Really? I thought it sounded like he’d put it all on just for her.’
Molly snorts. ‘You’ve got to be joking, haven’t you? Nathan couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery. He’s hopeless. Nah, I reckon you must’ve got that slightly wrong.’
I’m confused. Amy made it sound romantic, just the two of them. Could she be jealous? Surely not with the way I was looking this morning.
I sit with Molly at the breakfast table while she munches on toast. My stomach still feels full from Nathan’s omelette.
‘He made you an omelette?’ Molly squeals when I tell her. She really doesn’t have a very high opinion of her soon-to-be brother-in-law, I must say. But I laugh along with her for fear of her getting suspicious. ‘Seriously, Sam was quite concerned when he read your note this morning. I was relieved to see you walk back through the door.’
‘Why?’ I ask, irritated now.
‘Just that Nathan’s not very responsible. Something could have happened to you.’
‘I can swim, you know.’ I try not to sound too snappy. ‘And actually he really looked after me.’
Molly raises her eyebrows, but doesn’t push it further. Whereas I can’t let it lie. ‘I know Sam doesn’t like the water anymore so I understand he might feel nervous.’
‘Who told you that?’ she asks, taken aback. ‘Amy?’
‘No, Nathan,’ I answer, then quickly explain. ‘He was just saying how he still loved to surf, despite his parents being killed.’
‘He spoke to you about that?’
‘Yes.’ I can’t help feeling smug.
‘Nathan never, ever talks about their parents. I’m surprised. What time did you say you two stayed up talking the other night?’ she pries.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Huh,’ is all she responds with.
‘Want another cuppa?’ I ask brightly, determined to change the subject.
The next day is Saturday and Molly and Sam’s hen and stag nights are finally upon us. I don’t know about the boys, but the plan is that all the girls will meet in Circular Quay later this afternoon. There are nine of us going in total, including Molly’s boss, Sandra, and another friend of hers from work, Bea, two of Molly’s university pals who I’ve never met and even a couple of girls from our school days.
Amy is coming to collect Molly, Sam and me at four o’clock to drive us to the ferry terminal so we don’t have to walk down the hill in our heels. The boys are going bungee jumping this afternoon, God help them, and then on to a club or bar or something.
I’m aiming for simplicity tonight and have chosen a little black dress and kitten heels. I’m keeping my hair down and it’s curling softly around my shoulders. Nathan hasn’t seen me yet with my make-up on, so tonight I’m going for the full works. I’m assuming he’ll be coming with us on the ferry.
I opt for a glimmer of gold eyeshadow, which brings out the amber flecks in my eyes, and I line my eyes with black kohl before slicking on two coats of lash-enhancing mascara. Rosy blusher highlights my cheekbones and then I apply lipliner and lipstick, before blotting my lips and dabbing on some shiny lipgloss. I stand back and survey myself. Yep, that’ll do. I’ve got a nice tan now so don’t need to vamp up my look too much. Quick spritz of perfume and I grab my clutch bag.
Sam wolf-whistles, wide-eyed, and I smile at him appreciatively. He’s wearing a chocolate-brown shirt hanging loose over casual black khaki pants.
‘Lucy, hi!’ Amy appears from the living room wearing a short black miniskirt and charcoal-grey T-shirt with BABE emblazoned across it in pink diamanté. Her blonde hair is long and straight, and it falls halfway down her back. I suddenly feel overdressed, but then Molly materialises at the bottom of the stairs and I immediately feel better.
‘Has the party started without me?’ she asks. She’s wearing a striking low-cut clingy red dress.
‘You’d better not be going out looking like that,’ Sam warns, ‘or I’m going to have to cancel the stag night and be your bodyguard instead.’ He puts his arms around her.
‘You dag.’ She giggles.
‘You look beautiful!’ Amy gushes, and I think: I was going to say that. ‘Are we ready, then?’ she asks.
Where’s Nathan?
We pile into the car, Sam locking the front door behind us. Unable to contain my curiosity, I ask about Nathan. Amy explains he’s meeting us at the ferry terminal because it would have been a bit of a squash in her car. Phew.
The next ferry is scheduled to leave in five minutes and I look around, distracted. I still can’t see him.
We buy our tickets and go through the barriers as the ferry chugs into the wharf. Men in uniform lay the platforms down and incoming passengers stream onto the quay.
‘Going without me?’ a deep voice says in my ear and I turn around, elated.
‘Hi, buddy!’ Sam exclaims. ‘Thought we were going to have to meet you over there.’
He looks sexy, more casually dressed than Sam in beige-coloured cord jeans and a slim-fit black T-shirt encasing his toned chest.
We file onto the big green and cream ferry and make our way to the top deck where there are four rows of wooden benches. Nathan sits facing backwards, next to Amy and opposite me. He leans back casually on the bench, knees almost reaching mine. ‘You look nice,’ he says.
‘Thanks,’ I respond, feeling shy suddenly. ‘You too.’
The ferry chugs out of the terminal and we leave Manly behind us. As I look over to my right I see the Oceanworld aquarium on the shorefront. Nathan follows my gaze. ‘Have you ever been?’ I ask.
‘Nup.’
‘Me neither.’
‘It’s really good,’ Molly says. ‘You should try to go while you’re here.’
‘Sydney Aquarium is much better,’ Amy interrupts.
‘Have you been to both, then?’ Molly queries.
‘No, only Sydney Aquarium.’
‘So how would you know which is better?’ Nathan asks the question that we’re all thinking.
‘I just know,’ Amy says tetchily, and I’m reminded she’s only about twenty years old.
‘I’ll take you next week if you like?’ Nathan leans in towards me.
‘Okay.’ I grin.
Amy shuffles uncomfortably in her seat. ‘I’m going to sit inside,’ she says. ‘It’s too windy out here.’ She gets up and steps between Nathan and me, forcing him backwards in his seat. He leans back and watches her go.
‘You should go and talk to her,’ Molly urges.
‘Why?’ Nathan asks a little petulantly. ‘I keep telling you she’s not my girlfriend.’
‘Well, she obviously feels something for you,’ Molly responds sternly.
Sam stays quiet, keeping out of it.
Nathan just looks out to his left at the mainland.
‘Well, I’ll check on her, then,’ Molly says brusquely, getting up.
‘Do you want me to come?’ I make as if to join her.
‘No, it’s okay. Probably better for me to chat to her alone. And anyway I don’t want the wind to mess up my hair. I spent enough time with the straighteners this morning.’
‘Been a long time since you were on this ferry, hey, Lucy?’ Sam says, after she’s left.
‘Yeah,’ I murmur, and as an afterthought get a hair tie out of my bag and pull my hair back into a ponytail. I remember how knotty it used to get on this crossing.
The last time I caught this ferry I was with Molly and Sam. The three of us hung over that very railing, Molly and I both flanking Sam in the middle. It was just before I left Australia and they were on one of their on-again times. I remember feeling terribly left out. On the whole
they never made me feel like three was a crowd, but at that age and at that time, especially considering the feelings I had for Sam, it was quite painful. Sam kept putting his hand up to stroke Molly’s mop-head and they were laughing as our hair blew all over the place. I still recall the comb bringing tears to my eyes as I tried to untangle my hair that night.
Sam’s mobile phone rings and he makes his way to the other side of the ferry to take the call, leaving Nathan and me alone and facing each other.
There are no buildings on this part of the mainland and it’s green, full of trees. The tops of the city’s business towers start to appear above the cliffs. I can just make out concrete structures on the cliff face.
‘Look.’ I get up and go over to the railings. ‘I’ve never noticed those before.’ Nathan joins me and we stand side by side. ‘Are they left over from the war, do you think?’ I ask, nodding towards the small, grey buildings.
He leans over, resting his elbows on the railings.
‘That’s right,’ I continue. ‘Didn’t the Japanese manage to get submarines into Sydney Harbour?’
‘That rings a bell. But I left school at sixteen, remember?’ he answers.
I don’t really know what to say to that.
‘Sam would know for sure,’ he says after a moment. ‘Ask him when he gets back.’
I see some movement in the ocean and spot seals ducking and diving in the surf alongside the boat, their small black bodies slick with the water. The white foam from the ferry’s wake is almost blinding in the sunlight.
I’m glad of the distraction.
‘That reminds me of our dolphins.’ I look across at him.
‘That was a classic,’ he responds. ‘Actually, I’ve got a joke for you.’
‘Not another elephant joke…’ I groan.
‘No. I found my old joke book last night and they really are crap. Well, unless you want to know why elephants have trunks?’
‘Since you’re asking…’
‘Because they can’t afford suitcases.’
‘That’s shit!’ I squeal.
‘I did warn you.’
‘Was that the worst?’
‘Of the elephant jokes?’
I nod.
‘Hell no, I can top that.’
‘Go on, then.’
‘Okay, but this is definitely my last one, because the others really are appalling. What’s the similarity between a plum and an elephant?’
Pause.
‘They’re both purple. Except for the elephant.’
I laugh, then snort and he grins down at me.
‘So do you want to hear my properly funny joke?’ he asks, after a while.
‘Are you sure it’s properly funny?’
‘Yes.’
‘I think I need to after that.’
‘Okay. Brace yourself,’ he says. ‘A man is stopped by the police for driving a van full of penguins. Even though the man argues that the penguins are all his friends, the policeman orders him to take the penguins to the zoo. The very next day, the same man, the same van and the same penguins are stopped by the same policeman, except this day all of the penguins are wearing shades. “I thought I told you to take these penguins to the zoo,” the policeman says. “I did,” the man replies, “and today we’re going to the beach.’”
‘What are you laughing at?’ Molly and Amy appear through the cabin doorway.
‘Oh, just telling silly jokes,’ I giggle.
Sam returns, putting his mobile phone back into his pocket. ‘Ben and Adam are running a bit late.’
Nathan looks at his watch. ‘No worries. We’ve got an hour to kill. Beer down by the harbour?’
‘Sounds good,’ Sam agrees.
‘Amy’s going to pop in and see her mum when we get there,’ Molly tells me. ‘She’ll meet us in an hour at the Ocean Room.’
I forget to ask Sam about the Japanese submarines in the harbour.
As the ferry turns the corner, the Sydney Opera House looms into view. There are dozens of sailboats out, all leaning in exactly the same direction. The ferry honks its horn as a small group of them veer dangerously close. One cuts in front of us and the three teenage kids on board laugh. Molly rubs Sam’s lower back gently as he looks away from the sailboat, back to the Opera House. I peek at Nathan, but his face gives nothing away.
We pass Fort Denison on our left–the old penal colony where prisoners were once kept, as I definitely remember learning at high school. Surely even Nathan would know that one. I’m not about to ask, though.
‘There’s the Botanic Gardens.’ Molly nudges me and points. ‘Look, Sam, there’s another function going on.’ We can see a white marquee on the lawn. ‘That’s where we’ll be having ours,’ she says as she turns to me.
‘It’s going to be incredible,’ I gasp in amazement.
‘Isn’t it?’ Molly beams.
We pull past the Opera House and clearly see the two structures. It actually comprises three separate buildings; the small one is around the other side. Many people think the Opera House is made of one big structure.
I glance up and see a white jumbo jet flying above the city. That’s where I’ll be next week, I think, and my heart sinks as the plane soars higher into the cloudless sky.
The ferry pulls into Circular Quay and we follow the hoards of passengers as we walk through the terminal.
‘See you later, then,’ Amy says to Molly.
‘Okay, love.’ Molly gives her a quick hug, before Amy hurries off, shouting bye to the rest of us over her shoulder.
‘What’s up with her?’ Sam asks.
‘The usual.’ Molly smiles sardonically. ‘Boys!’ She looks at Nathan. He just shrugs.
Outside again in the warm sunshine Molly looks at her watch and turns to the guys. ‘We’re early too. Do you fancy grabbing a quick drink together first?’
‘I don’t know if that would be allowed, would it, Nathan?’ Sam teases. ‘Drinking with the missus on my last proper night of freedom, and scaring all those single girls off?’
Molly kicks him up the backside and he laughs, pulling her in for a hug. It’s lovely seeing how well they get on these days, compared to when we were younger and jokey comments like that would incite the other’s insecurities. I wonder if I would find it quite so lovely if Nathan wasn’t around. Would I feel a little left out, resentful even? I shouldn’t do, knowing I have a boyfriend back in London. But that’s hardly the most soothing thought right now, is it?
‘Shall we just go round to the Opera Bar or somewhere?’ Sam suggests.
The bars are already heaving. It’s a warm late afternoon.
‘What’s that up there?’ I ask, looking up at a first-floor window. We can just make out people wearing big puffa jackets and hoods behind what looks like a window made of thick, solid ice.
‘minus5°,’ Sam says. ‘It’s an ice bar. Literally. Everything’s made out of ice.’
‘Can we go there for a drink?’ I turn to the others excitedly.
‘You are such a tourist.’ Sam laughs.
‘Yeah, and?’
‘Oh, come on,’ Molly urges. ‘It’ll be memorable if nothing else.’
We make our way through the busy downstairs bar and head up the stairs. It’s $30 to go in for half an hour–about £12–and for that you get a cocktail. Or you can pay an extra $10 and get two cocktails.
‘Thirty bucks!’ Nathan scoffs. ‘What a rip-off.’
‘Do you not want to go in?’ I feel myself losing enthusiasm.
‘Oh, come on, what else do you spend your money on?’ Molly laughs.
We look at the cocktail list and see they’re all vodka based. Nathan and I grin naughtily at each other.
We pay up and the receptionist hands each of us long furry coats and pagers which we hang around our necks. ‘When the first beep goes, you have five minutes. When the next beep goes, you have to come out,’ she explains, then ushers us forward to the next door.
We stand behind a rope while a s
hort bleached-blonde girl hands us each two sets of gloves. ‘These ones are for warmth and these ones are waterproof,’ she says. ‘The glasses are made of ice and they’re your glasses for the duration, so if you choose to buy another drink, make sure you hang on to them. There’s a water sculpture inside but it’s made with antifreeze, so don’t drink it,’ she cautions.
Sam rolls his eyes good-humouredly. ‘What a rigmarole,’ he whispers as we’re ushered through into another room where a man gives Molly and me sheepskin boots to put on in place of our heels. I’m beginning to think this is a bad idea. I’m looking less like a hen and more like an Eskimo every minute. Finally we’re told by the blonde girl to go through to another room and close the door behind us before opening the door to the ice room itself. By this stage we’re all sniggering.
‘This’d better be good,’ Nathan says.
The cold air hits us as we walk through the door and we’re immediately greeted with an ice sculpture of a kangaroo. The whole room is made of ice–tables, chairs, the bar, decorations, everything. Giant ice chandeliers hang down from the ceiling. It’s breathtaking and I’m already wishing I had an ice room in my flat.
Our flat, I mean. I’m feeling more and more single with every day that passes. I haven’t spoken to James since he woke me up the other night. Every time he or that sodding text pops into my mind I force them back out again. One minute my heart is telling me one thing and my head is telling me another and the next it’s the other way around. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. I’m just going to enjoy the here and now. Considering what could be waiting for me when I get home, I think I owe that to myself.
Is he cheating on me? No, no, he can’t be. But maybe he is. Oh, give it a rest, Lucy!
The barman immediately whacks out four solid-ice glasses and starts pouring vanilla vodka into them. We look around the room. There are only about six other people in here.
I turn around and see a replica of Michelangelo’s David behind us. ‘Looks like the cold is affecting him too.’ Nathan grins, observing the statue’s not-very-ample genital region.
It’s a surreal experience. Looking down out of the ice window we can see people walking by on the busy pavement, dressed in their summer clothes. ‘It’s freezing in here!’ Molly laughs.