by Cate Kendall
‘What?’ he said.
‘That – those ratty shorts and that old Hawaiian shirt?’
‘Old ... old...?’ Nick put out his hand and pretended to choke. ‘You with your designer labels and your vintage eclectic blah blah you’re always going on about, which, God knows, I listen to with interest for hours on end–’
‘Oh my God, you so don’t! You blank out and change the subject–’
‘This,’ Nick interrupted, ‘I’ll have you uninformed fashion-ignorant types know, is a genuine Magnum PI Hawaiian shirt. Genuine. Look...’ He reached behind his head and grabbed the collar, pulling it up for all to view. ‘Made in Hawaii. Do you know what this is worth on eBay?’
‘No, what?’ Jessica asked, arms folded.
‘Oh, I don’t know either ... I’m asking.’ He grinned.
‘What do you mean by “genuine”, anyway?’ Jessica asked, her hands on her hips now, lips pursed. Rainbow and Songbird continued eating, ignoring the playful banter.
‘I don’t know, but that’s what it said on the label when I bought it online.’
‘You got ripped off, you know,’
‘I did not!’ Suddenly Nick started to look a little pale. ‘Whoa! What’s that all about ... freaky!’ Nick staggered to a sitting position on the sand next to Rainbow and Songbird. ‘Oh, you girls, what have you done to the brownies?’
Songbird said, ‘Feeling mellow, dude? How’s your Hawaiian shirt looking now?’
Nick looked down, then back up with a beatific grin. ‘Psyche delic!’ he said.
21
Fi’s clifftop home glittered like a fairyland. With little regard for energy conservation, light spilled from each window onto the lush lawn, which was suspiciously green despite the current drought.
From the two-storeyed, architecturally designed house came the sound of jazz, drifting through the balmy summer air to greet Nick and Jess as they arrived at the party. Jess had changed into her pink silk gold-sequined sari and had even convinced her ridiculous locks to stay restrained in a long braid. Nick had, as usual, completely ignored Jessica’s outfit guidance and still wore his tatty shorts and floral shirt.
‘You know she rang me last week on her way down,’ Nick said as Jess killed the engine. Neither of them wanted to leave the calm, private atmosphere of the car.
‘Who? Fi?’ Jess asked.
‘Yeah, she wanted me to hose down the gravel drive because she’d just had the X5 detailed and didn’t want to raise dust clouds and damage the finish as she drove in.’
‘Hasn’t she heard of water restrictions?’ Jess asked.
‘Yes, but she insisted anyway: she said considering they were on rain tanks it didn’t matter.’
‘But hadn’t you just filled her rain tanks with Melbourne water?’
‘Exactly, but she said she paid through the nose for that water so she could do with it as she liked. Luckily a shower set in an hour before she arrived so it was damp looking when she got here.’
‘Ah, problem solved then,’ Jess smiled at him in the dark. ‘You must have a direct line to the gods.’
‘I wish,’ Nick said ruefully. ‘That would make life much easier.’
‘In what way?’ Jess asked.
‘Oh, nothing, just being silly,’ Nick said, the more sober part of his brain kicking into action.
They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes. In the dark the property was mysterious and romantic, the tall oaks casting shadows under the moon’s glow.
‘Well, let’s do it!’ Jess dredged up motivation and grabbed her bag.
‘Yeah, can’t wait,’ Nick said with barely concealed disappointment.
A path of tea lights led to the side of the house where the party was in full swing on the back patio. The band was blasting out tunes and the dance floor was full of revellers.
Fi flew over as they walked in. ‘You made it,’ she cried, and embraced them. ‘Everyone loves what you’ve done with the space, Jess. Thanks, darling, you’re a hit. Must go circulate,’ and she was gone in a flurry of linen and pearls.
‘Hi, Pet, Pip, Dot, Vi, Flick, Kit.’ Jess greeted each of the bespangled and bejewelled, highlighted forty-somethings with an air-kiss.
‘How on earth do you remember who’s who?’ Nick’s aside was muffled by the brass section.
‘Years of practise,’ Jess whispered back.
‘Hello, gorgeous – love your sari.’ Tori came up and the women double cheek-kissed.
‘Thanks,’ Jess said. ‘Love your sheath dress – too sexy!’
‘On sale, five hundred off! Am I not a bargain hunter? Here, got you both some bubbles,’ she said, holding out two flutes of sparkling rosé.
‘Oh, you have mine, Tori, I’m not one for champagne,’ Nick said and ambled off in search of a beer.
‘Chin chin!’ Tori said and they raised their glasses.
Jessica could tell by the strain in her voice that her friend was trying to cover her sadness.
‘Tori, how’s it going? Have you spoken to him?’ Jessica asked.
Tori’s face fell. ‘Oh Jess, it’s so terrible. I think it might be completely over. We both seem to have given up. We’re going to use the holidays as a trial separation.’
Jessica took Tori by the elbow and steered her to where the crowd was thinner. They sat at a small table on the darkened edge of the patio.
‘But neither of you cheated; no one was beating up the other – surely it’s worth working on for the sake of the kids?’
Tori looked at her and Jessica could see the black smudges of exhaustion beneath her foundation.
‘I keep asking myself that, Jess. But is it? I might sound lazy, but really, after the first eight years of marriage it just got so hard. It’s like living with a colleague you have to get along with for the sake of your career or to impress the boss, but you can’t wait to see the back of them – and for no particular reason, Jess. I wish I could tell you he’s cruel or nasty. But he’s not. And he can’t say I’m anything other than a model citizen. We’re polite, civil and respectful. And the fights are more terse, tense, undertones.’
‘How are the kids?’ Jess asked.
‘Oh, Jess, the guilt.’ Tori buried her face in her hands. ‘The children don’t even know yet: I haven’t had the heart to tell them. They wondered where their dad was for Christmas Day but we were so busy with uncles, aunties and cousins they didn’t really seem to care. He’s away such a lot anyway. Now for them it’s just summer holidays at the beach house as usual.’
At the sight of Nick returning with his beer they switched their conversation to a less personal topic.
‘Got your bevie okay?’ Tori asked, attempting a light-hearted tone.
‘Yep, cheers,’ Nick said and downed half the glass of beer in one gulp.
‘We’ve just come from the locals’ beach party,’ Jess said and leant forward to squeeze Tori’s forearm as a promise to return to the conversation later.
‘Ah, boho by the bay. How was it?’ Tori asked, her merry veneer returning.
‘Bloody Rainbow and Songbird doctored the brownies,’ Nick said, only just recovered from his dizzying dessert.
‘It was utterly divine,’ Jess told Tori. ‘The dolphins came.’
‘How beautiful. There’s such great wildlife down here. You know there were a couple of koalas in Fi’s one-and-only eucalyptus tree just before the party and she sprayed them in case they started their raucous mating calls during the party.’
‘You are kidding!’ Jess said. ‘Why the hell has she got a country house when she doesn’t like dust, native animals or native plants?’
‘Well you know she’s a minimalist at heart. It’s Cat who’s the classic: she’s a hard-core Brit-o-phile,’ Tori said.
‘Yeah,’ Nick interrupted, ‘she doesn’t mind the animals but she hasn’t got a single native plant on her hundred acres.’
‘But she’s more Australian than any of us. Didn’t her ancestors come out on the First Fleet?�
� Jess asked.
‘Shhh,’ Tori said, making an exaggerated play of looking for eavesdroppers, ‘don’t mention her criminal background. She’d be mortified. She’s the only Aussie I know who isn’t proud of being related to convicts.
‘By the way, you’ve done a remarkable job on the decorations,’ Tori continued, looking around the extravagant outdoor room. ‘It’s so beautiful.’
‘It has turned out well,’ Jess agreed. ‘I had an unlimited budget, so that makes it easier.’ Jessica’s red-and-gold theme was a triumph. It gave the space a sexy, glitzy feel with a touch of Moroccan sultriness. Hundreds of red chilli lights draped down from the patio roof, punctuated by crimson Chinese lanterns. Huge stems of crab claw reached into the outdoor room from each corner. A centerpiece of red lilies hugging gilt candles sat on each of the many small gold-draped tables. The red-raw silk high-backed chairs had a regal feel against the backdrop of a galaxy of dangling white pea lights.
‘It’s like a jazz club from Shanghai in the forties or something,’ Tori said as she took it all in.
‘That’s exactly the look I was going for,’ Jess admitted.
‘Ah, she’s a talent this one,’ Nick said, draping his arm around Jess’s shoulders. ‘Says she’s going to leave us, but I don’t reckon she’ll go through with it.’
Jess stiffened under his hold, but before she could answer he was distracted by the appearance of three young women dressed in slinky silk creations, each more low-cut than the last. ‘Oh, good, Fi’s sisters are here,’ he said, almost rubbing his hands with glee. ‘They’re a riot. Excuse me girls.’
Tori and Jessica rolled their eyes as they watched Nick bow to the new arrivals and escort them to the bar.
‘So you’re going to have a go at a city career?’ Tori turned her attention back to Jess.
‘I think I am,’ Jessica said. ‘I had my interview two days ago and it sounds like I got the job although it hasn’t been officially offered yet.’
‘That’s fantastic, I’m so proud of you.’ Tori raised her glass and drained its contents. With perfect timing a waiter arrived with a tray of sparkling. They each took a glass and sat gazing into the party for a few minutes, lost in their thoughts as they swayed to the gentle jazz notes.
When the band switched to a dance number, Nick reappeared.
‘Looks like you two need a bit more fun over here,’ he said, offering Jess his hand. ‘Dance with me, Red?’
‘Sure,’ Jess said and jumped to her feet.
‘So what do you think about Jessica’s new–’
‘Shoes!’ Jessica cut Tori off abruptly. She raised her eyebrows and glared at her friend to shut up about the job. Now was not the time to talk about it. It was a perfect night and she wanted to enjoy it without any tension. Tori gave a tiny nod of understanding and Jess responded with a grateful smile.
‘Come on then, girl, let’s do it,’ Nick cried, swinging Jess out into the crowd with a flourish. His strong arms and graceful steps spun and flipped Jessica around the floor. Her vintage satin Indian shoes were the perfect footwear for twisting and turning as she followed his lead, anticipating his moves. Her smile was broad as he had her dipped in one moment and swept her around in a twirl the next. ‘Choo Choo Ch’Boogie’ wound up its big ending and they joined in, loudly cheering the band.
‘Cutting in!’ Fi slipped between the thin gap as Jess and Nick stood side by side.
‘My turn next!’ Cat boomed as she sashayed by with her husband Freddy. ‘Freddy’s got two left feet.’ Freddy grinned and offered no argument to his wife’s assessment of his skills.
Jessica graciously relinquished her dance partner and found Tori again. The two sat down with a bottle of champagne and made short work of it.
‘It’s late,’ Tori said a few glasses later, squinting at her Omega with one eye closed.
As the exhilaration of the dancing subsided, Jess was filled with a sudden champagne-induced sadness. ‘You’re the greatest friend, Tori,’ she cried. ‘I can’t believe your marriage is in danger.’
‘I can’t believe my marriage is in danger,’ Tori replied.
‘It sucks,’ Jess said.
‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ Tori said.
‘I don’t want to leave Nick behind,’ Jess stage-whispered to Tori.
‘I knew it was about Nick!’ Tori accused her friend with a pointed finger. She reached out and grabbed the bottle and clumsily poured them each another drink; most of the bubbly went onto the ground, but some made it into their glasses.
‘I know, I know, it’s dreadful, terrible,’ Jess said, throwing her head into her hands dramatically. ‘But what can I do? He’s so damn gorgeous, and ... and ... he listens to me all the bloody time, and that is so lovely, you know?’
‘I know.’ Tori nodded her head emphatically to enforce her grasp of the situation.
‘But I don’t want a relationship with him. No, no, no!’
Tori was confused. ‘No?’
‘No!’ Jess shook her head violently.
‘Ahh ... no.’ Tori nodded again to show she understood, but she wasn’t all that sure she did. She looked up at the sky and wondered if it had always been that damn far away. ‘Hang on then,’ she said, looking back at Jess and feeling mighty dizzy. ‘What do you want?’
‘I just want to see him all the time and I don’t want him to see anybody else. And I want my boys back, and I want a successful design career ... and, well, I wouldn’t mind a nibble of Nick’s oblique muscle.’
‘Right, of course,’ Tori nodded. To her addled mind it all made complete sense.
The haunting strains of ‘Always’ filled the country air.
‘I love this song,’ Jess said, distracted by the music.
Nick came up behind her and grabbed her shoulders. She stood unsteadily and winked at Tori just as Nick twirled her to face him.
She felt her head clear as they danced the next few numbers. Soon she was less drunk, but still felt divinely loose and relaxed as Nick spun her around the floor. She didn’t even think about the moves; she just followed his lead and let the music take them away. All the sadness and heaviness of the past year seemed to dissipate in that moment, and she was relieved to be free of the burden, even if for a short time.
She surrendered herself to Nick’s capable arms, her body pressing against his and her eyes closing as she let him take control of her, of the moment. She relaxed into him more and lost herself in his warmth; only aware of the subtle scent of pine on his neck and the delight of his strong arms holding her so close.
A cool breeze rippled in from the sea and she shivered, suddenly conscious of how his body felt under her fingertips. His hand brushed lightly up and down her back and he murmured something wordless and gentle into her hair.
The music ended and they reluctantly stopped moving, but their arms remained around each other. Jess opened her eyes slowly and stared directly into Nick’s. He held her gaze.
‘Thanks for the dance,’ Nick whispered.
‘That’s okay,’ she whispered back and his lips came down to brush hers. The brush turned into a linger, then moved into an open-mouth kiss of such electricity Jessica’s knees weakened beneath her. It lasted a mere five seconds. So brief that none of the other party-goers even noticed. But it felt like much longer to Jessica.
Nick pulled back from her with a look of shock.
‘Ah, music ... there’s um ... no more music,’ he stammered, and he propelled her gently from the floor.
Jess’s heart was beating a tattoo of shock and her cheeks felt hot; she avoided meeting Nick’s eyes.
‘Well, I’m off to the bar,’ Nick said, his eyes firmly on the ground. ‘Drink?’
‘Er, yeah, great, ta, thanks. Umm, where’d Tori get to? I’ll be back,’ Jess stammered back, and they scurried in opposite directions.
Jessica went to the kitchen and ordered a coffee from the catering staff. She was confused and needed to clear her head. She did like Nick, a lot. Mayb
e pursuing a relationship with him was the right thing to do after all. But was that what he wanted or had he just been swept up by the moment? All his silly flirting with her was no indicator; he did that with all the girls. It was so hard to know when Nick was serious. Maybe she should find out.
A chorus of voices suddenly began the countdown, so Jess put her cup in the sink and headed back to the party. The New Year was welcomed with a chorus of happy voices and a joyous fanfare from the band, who were replaced by a local DJ, Eighties Daze, who cranked up the classics as midnight slipped into the early hours of the morning.
Tori, Fi and Jess danced in a circle to the ‘Bus Stop’, Michael Jackson, Prince and other musical flashbacks until they were flushed and breathless. Fi and Tori finally threw themselves panting and laughing on one of the several lounges scattered around the periphery of the party room. Jess had tried to keep an eye out for Nick while she was dancing, but she hadn’t seen him for some time. She wandered into the house to check the enormous family room, the living room, the drawing room, the study, even the kids’ playroom. But he was nowhere to be seen. She returned to the others who were cackling gaily.
‘What did I miss?’ Jess asked, sitting next to Tori.
‘Not Binky’s dress, that’s for sure!’ Fi chortled.
‘Shut up!’ Binky said crossly. ‘Fluoro is back in, I keep telling you that!’ Binky was what Pip called a CUB: a Cashed-Up Bogan. She and her husband owned an enormous brick beachfront house that stuck out like an ugly chain store jumper against the locals’ fibro beach shacks. Binky was glitzy, ditzy and shallow, but hilarious fun at a party.
‘Yes, if you’re fourteen, and believe me you’re more than double that ... hang on ... triple that!’ The group laughed.
‘Hang on a minute, no I’m not,’ Binky stood to protest with hands on her non-existent hips. ‘Wait on ... yes I am ... no I’m not ... How old am I? How much is three times fourteen? Where’s my iPhone?’
The other women laughed even louder.
‘Oh stop it,’ Binky said in irritation. ‘I’m not ditzy, I’ve just got Bolly Brain.’ She had another swig to prove it.