A Simple Mistake

by Andrea Grigg

  ‘What is this? Psychology 101?’

  Lainey smiled. ‘And then there’s me. I like to be organised, have everything under control, know all the details, take minimal risks. You, Nick Cusack, are a big risk in my well-ordered life. A very attractive one, I admit, but a risk none the less.’

  ‘Whew. I was beginning to think I’d misread the signs.’ He reached over and took her hand again. ‘I was afraid you’d decided I wasn’t your type anymore.’

  ‘Hardly.’ Lainey entwined her fingers with his. ‘Lara and I wrote lists years ago, about what we wanted in a man. I wrote one I showed her, and another that I kept for myself.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘Well, for the first one, I used some guy out of a Kmart catalogue.’ She smiled when he chuckled. ‘For the second, I wrote about you. Not on purpose, but when I read it, I realised I’d described you, as I remembered you.’ She frowned.

  ‘And you have a problem with that?’

  ‘The only thing missing from my list is the part where I need a man who is spiritually in tune with me – and you’re not.’

  Nick let out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding. ‘I see.’

  ‘We balance each other in a lot of ways, but in this one, the most important to me, we don’t. And I don’t know what to do about it, because my heart gets in the way of my head.’

  ‘Does it now?’

  ‘Yes, it does. So that’s why I’m thankful you’re going away and then you go and do something like this,’ she indicated the rooftop with a sweep of her free hand, ‘and I feel awful saying these things.’

  ‘You shouldn’t. I want you to be honest with me, I always have.’ Something flickered in her eyes. ‘What? Do you think I feel ripped off because I’ve gone and done all this and it hasn’t worked out as I’d hoped?’

  ‘Of course I do. You’ve overwhelmed me and I’ve … I’ve probably totally underwhelmed you.’

  ‘If it takes ten more times of doing this to convince you we’re worth it, I’ll do it.’ Nick kept his grip on her. ‘And don’t give up on me spiritually. I need to do a lot of thinking myself. That’s where you need to give me time, alright?’

  ‘Alright.’

  It was as good as they were going to get.

  They were both quiet on the drive home. When they got to the door of Lainey’s flat, Nick took both her hands. ‘What am I going to do with you, Miss Sullivan?’

  ‘I don’t know. I wish I knew.’

  ‘We’ll figure it out. I’ll phone you when I get to L.A.’ He leaned forward and kissed her just below her ear on her jawline and then again, a little higher. She gave a slight shiver and he stepped back. He could have kissed her properly, but sometimes he could be as stubborn as she was. ‘Happy Valentine’s Day.’

  ‘It was incredible, Nick.’ Her eyes were luminous.

  He pressed another kiss into her palm. ‘See you when I get back.’

  He started missing her as soon as she closed the door.

  * * *

  Lara was out and Kate asleep. Lainey sat on the lounge in the dark for a long time. Once in bed, she tossed and turned, taking ages to drift off, only to have Lara shake her awake, excitement fizzing off her in waves.

  ‘Lainey! Wake up!’

  ‘Wha—’ Lainey sat up, looked around for the fire, then sank back with a groan. ‘What’s wrong?’

  Lara snapped on the bedside lamp. ‘I’m getting married!’

  ‘You’re what?’ Squinting against the sudden light, Lainey leapt out of bed and hugged her just as Kate stuck her tousled head around the door, wanting to know what was going on.

  By the time they’d heard the full story it was two o’clock. Lainey would tell them about her magical evening another time.

  She hugged it to herself all day. Nothing could penetrate her bubble, not even explaining discounts and percentages to blank faces, or listening to her slower readers drone on.

  She was on front gate duty after school when Carolyn, another teacher, found her.

  ‘Hey, I’ve been meaning to catch you all day. I’ve a couple of questions for you. Now, I presume your flower man is the one responsible for you beaming like a beacon?’

  Lainey laughed, only slightly embarrassed. ‘Yes, he is.’

  ‘Did you meet him at your church?’

  ‘No, I met him at a wedding I was playing at.’

  Carolyn raised an eyebrow. ‘Very romantic! I hope you’re bringing him to mine. That’s what I wanted to ask you. I need a name to write on the place card.’ She poked around in her bag and found a notebook and pen. ‘Okay, what is it?’

  ‘It’s Nick, Nick Cusack.’ Lainey’s heart was in her mouth.

  ‘How funny. The same as that pop star guy.’ Carolyn didn’t even look up. ‘Hope he looks like him! He’s drop dead gorgeous.’

  ‘He does a bit,’ Lainey said.

  ‘Lucky you! Okay, see you tomorrow.’ She waved and that was that.

  The minute she got home from work, Lainey changed into her running gear. She had lots to think about and exercising was the perfect way to do it. It wasn’t everyone’s thing, but it was hers.

  As she ran, Lainey thought about her conversation with Carolyn. She couldn’t wait to take Nick to the wedding and show him off. She grinned, imagining her colleague’s faces. No one would expect this from the Miss Sullivan who went to church and led a presumably dull life.

  Lainey was thrilled for Lara and Adam. She and Kate were to be bridesmaids and Adam’s two older brothers would be the groomsmen. It was going to be fun.

  She rounded the corner and headed for home. Running in February was always the worst. Sweat soaked her t-shirt and dripped off her face. Lara thought she was mad. Lainey found it cathartic.

  She slowed to a jog for the last two hundred metres, but then her heart sped up once more. It had nothing to do with the run.

  A black limousine was parked outside the flats and it looked like Nick striding down her path. It couldn’t be. Sweat trickled into her eyes and she dashed it away. ‘Nick?’

  He turned and his face split into a grin. ‘There you are.’

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Looking for you.’ He smiled his famous knee-weakening smile, grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the privacy of the entry.

  She tried to tug away. ‘I’m all sweaty!’

  ‘I don’t care.’ He pulled her against him, his smoky grey eyes boring into hers. ‘I’ve come to do what I should’ve done last night.’ And then he kissed her. Not just a tentative, chaste first kiss, but long and deep.

  Lainey worried about not having had a shower, but only for the tiniest moment. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him right back.

  Nick laughed against her mouth. ‘You’re not exactly being shy, Miss Sullivan.’

  ‘I thought I was going to die when you didn’t do this last night.’

  ‘I can tell you barely survived. Not much energy went into that at all.’

  ‘Better do it again then, make sure I’m completely revived.’ Lainey saw his eyes light up then everything else was blotted out once more.

  ‘Unfortunately,’ Nick said, a little while later, ‘I really do have to go.’

  ‘Oh, look.’ Lainey poked at patches on his shirt. ‘I’ve left sweat all over you.’

  ‘Guys don’t mind a bit of sweat. And it means I get to take a little bit of you with me.’ The look on his face made her insides melt. ‘Come and meet my manager.’

  ‘So what happened to your flight?’ Lainey trailed down the path after him, surprised she could still form a sentence.

  ‘It was delayed so I thought I’d use the time wisely.’ Nick grinned and opened the car door. ‘Hey, Malcolm, this is Lainey.’

  A man she guessed to be in his late forties stuck his head out, offering a han
d to shake.

  ‘Hi, Lainey, nice to meet you.’

  ‘Hello. You too.’ At least her hand was dry.

  ‘Alright, gotta go.’ Nick hugged her again.

  ‘Sorry about the sweat.’

  ‘I may never wash this shirt again.’

  ‘Silly.’ Lainey smiled and he kissed her once more.

  ‘Bye, beautiful. Be good.’

  She caught sight of her flushed face in the mirror as she jumped into the shower, and beamed. Nick had called her beautiful.

  Chapter Eight

  Lainey missed Nick, but not in such a way as to make herself miserable. She’d been down that path before and wasn’t going back there again.

  She rang her mother, told her the news about Adam and Lara and let her know she and Nick were seeing each other again. Rose sounded pleased but cautious. Lainey hadn’t expected her to jump for joy.

  Nick phoned her several times. The screen tests had gone well and he was looking forward to the movie premiere, but he missed her. They found it hard having a decent conversation as the time difference was awkward to manage and there was always a delay on the line.

  School kept her occupied. The best part was when flowers arrived, two Fridays in a row. The first bunch was pink roses, reminding her of their Valentine’s dinner, the second a stunning yellow. The little cards and their ‘missing you’ messages went straight into her treasure box.

  The girls in the office were dying to know who this Nick person was, but she was keeping it quiet until the wedding. She’d asked Carolyn not to say anything either – she would feel silly saying they were from Nick Cusack. Carolyn quite understood.

  The day before he was due home, Nick phoned to say he had to fly to Chicago unexpectedly but he’d still be back in time for the wedding. Lainey wasn’t too concerned until she got another call just as she was leaving for work on Friday morning.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Lainey,’ he said, ‘but there’s been a mix up with the flights. I’m stuck in L.A. tonight and won’t arrive in Sydney until one o’clock in the afternoon. What time’s the wedding?’

  ‘Three. You mightn’t get here in time.’

  ‘I’ll make it. I’ll phone you as soon as we land.’

  ‘Are you sure you’ll be alright to come? Won’t you be too tired?’

  ‘I’ll be fine. I won’t let you down, I promise. I can’t wait to see you.’

  There was nothing she could do, except pray.

  She woke early to a beautiful March day, perfect for a wedding. Worry had her up and running.

  The beach was spectacular, the light dancing in a myriad of diamonds across the water. Lainey paused for a few minutes, taking it all in and praying again. She was nervous about seeing Nick. He’d been gone longer than they’d been back together.

  ‘He’ll get here.’ Lara tried to reassure her when he still hadn’t phoned by a quarter to two. ‘You look stunning, Lainey.’

  ‘Thanks.’ She’d bought the dress on a whim in the Boxing Day sales. It was midnight blue and sleeveless, with the bodice attached to a circular piece around the neck then nipped in under the bust, the rest coming to just above her knees. Lainey had put up her hair in its usual topknot and Lara had loaned her some dangly silver earrings. On her feet she wore silver sandals with a small heel and she’d even applied polish to her toenails. If she’d been going to this wedding by herself she wouldn’t have made such an effort. Lara had better be right.

  The phone rang on the dot of two.

  ‘Told you I’d make it.’ Nick didn’t sound the least concerned. ‘I’ll have a shower at your place. See you soon.’

  Lainey went straight into the kitchen to make a sandwich. She hadn’t been able to eat a thing – now she was starving.

  As soon as she heard his knock, she dashed to the door. ‘You’re here.’

  Nick dropped what he was holding, wrapped her up and kissed her. ‘You are definitely worth coming home for.’

  Smiling, she thrust a towel at him. ‘Hurry up.’

  He disappeared into the bathroom, calling out his congratulations to Lara in the kitchen and a greeting to Kate, reading on the lounge.

  Kate lowered her magazine and shook her head. ‘I cannot believe Nick Cusack is in our bathroom, using our shower.’

  Lainey grinned and sat beside her to wait. ‘Me neither. It’s great, isn’t it?’

  ‘Great’s not the word. More like, astonishing, amazing, astounding. And you’re going to a wedding with him.’ Kate hit her with the magazine. ‘And I saw him kiss you.’

  Lainey laughed, feeling better and better.

  Ten minutes later, Nick emerged, wearing a dark suit and a white shirt without a tie, his hair damp and dishevelled. He smelled wonderful and looked even better.

  ‘You two look so good together.’ Lara was almost reverent.

  ‘We always did.’ Nick winked at Lainey, making her heart do somersaults, and pulled her out to the waiting limo.

  He was here, and everything was alright.

  * * *

  Scuttling into a pew with Nick, Lainey had time to catch her breath and look around to see who she knew. Quite a few, each with a mouth forming a perfect ‘O’.

  She giggled as heads snapped back into line when the minister asked them to stand for the bridal procession. Beside her, Nick gave a quiet laugh.

  ‘What? Oh!’ Lainey recognised the introduction to The Journey. She tried not to cry but it was hopeless. She always cried at weddings. Having Nick beside her and his song being played made it even harder. It was worth it though, when he put an arm around her and kept it there.

  The bride and groom came back down the aisle, beaming from ear to ear. As Carolyn’s eyes focussed on Lainey, she saw who was beside her and would have tripped if she hadn’t been gripping her new husband’s arm.

  They filed outside along with everyone else and Lainey prepared herself to introduce Nick to her colleagues. She didn’t have to look far. They were right there, expectant grins on their faces.

  ‘Hi everybody,’ she said, ‘meet Nick.’

  They all went to the nearest pub while photos were being taken and by the time they got to the reception, everyone was chatting to him like they’d known him for years.

  During the wedding breakfast, Penny spoke up. ‘How did you two get together? We’re all dying to know.’

  Lainey had just taken a mouthful of food and gestured at Nick to explain. As he did, she watched him, his jacket over the back of his chair, sleeves rolled up. He was, as Lara often said, drop dead gorgeous.

  He told the girls how they’d grown up together, dated at high school, lost contact, and how they’d found each other again. When he finished, his eyes met hers, warm and hiding nothing. He leaned over and kissed her and there was a collective sigh. She would’ve laughed if not for the guilt coiling and uncoiling in her stomach. He was so transparent about his feelings for her. She had to tell him about Liam.

  After the cutting of the cake and the formal speeches, the DJ started up. Now that the casual part of the reception was in full swing, people came and talked to Nick. Most just wanted to meet him and shake his hand, some asked for his autograph. Carolyn and Dale had their photo taken with him and more followed suit, including some little old ladies and lots of not so old.

  Lainey looked up from her conversation with Penny to find Nick making a beeline for her. ‘Come and get your butt on the dance floor, Miss Sullivan. You can’t ignore the Nutbush.’

  Sure enough, Tina Turner was belting out her song and the parquetry was subjected to a barrage of stomping feet. The Macarena followed then the music changed and the lights dimmed.

  Nick took her in his arms and murmured in her ear. ‘This is our song, Lainey.’

  ‘What, this old thing?’

  ‘Just listen to the words.’

  Phil Collins
’ Groovy Kind of Love washed over her and her bones went soft as Nick pressed his lips to the sensitive place by her ear. When it got to the part about kissing, shivering and quivering, if he hadn’t had a firm grip on her, she would have fallen in a heap.

  As soon as it finished, Nick took her outside into the gardens lit by stars and a struggling half-moon. He cupped her face, smiled, and kissed her, just like he had that day in the entry. And like that day in the entry, Lainey kissed him back.

  ‘I’ve wanted to do that ever since I’ve come home. And this.’ He reached into her hair and tugged, making it tumble down her back. ‘That’s better.’

  ‘That took me hours to do.’ Lainey spoke lightly, trying to lessen the effect he was having on her heart, her knees and everything else.

  One hand stroked her hair, the other held her close. ‘Can we go? I want to talk to you.’

  Lainey nodded. Tonight, she would tell him about Liam.

  Chapter Nine

  Nick didn’t know where they were but it was a beach, which was what he’d wanted. The salty air was cool and it helped keep him awake, along with the takeaway coffee they’d picked up.

  ‘So.’ He stretched out his legs and smiled at Lainey next to him, cradling her cup in her hands.

  ‘So yourself. Tell me more about your trip. How was the movie premiere?’

  ‘Very good. I think it should do well.’

  It was a tale about survival behind enemy lines during World War II. His character was one of five men, lost in France after they’d parachuted in. They were helped by the Resistance and it was the story of how they’d survived.

  ‘Will you come with me to the premiere here? I know I’ve mentioned it before but …’ Nick knew he was asking a lot.

  ‘When exactly is it?’ Lainey ran a finger around the edge of her cup as she spoke. She always had to be doing something with her hands while she was thinking. She’d done that since they were children.