Perfection Is Just an Illusion (Swimming Upstream #1)

by Rebecca Barber

  “That’s an option?” Anna asked, shocking both her sister and fiancée.

  As James crawled off Anna, trying to conceal his obvious arousal, Kelley took them both by the hand. “Come on.” The boredom was evident in her tone as she pulled them to their feet.

  ***

  James

  Kelley led Anna and James to their chairs and told them to sit. They still couldn’t see what was happening but they could hear people moving about. James easily picked out the voices of his parents, Kate, Kelley, Lachlan, Kathryn, and Brandon, yet there were two voices he couldn’t place. That was everybody that was staying there and he was wondering who the other voices belonged to. One was a male voice, deep and husky, while the other was a soft, sensual feminine voice. The only question was who did they belong to?

  A minute later Kate and Kelley removed their blindfolds. Brandon and Kathryn’s backyard had been transformed into a romantic, magical paradise. The pergola had been covered in hundreds of tiny fairy lights, while the clothesline was covered in silver and turquoise balloons and streamers. The trees in the backyard had also been filled with the petite fairy lights. The table had been moved under the pergola and wrapped up in a turquoise tablecloth with silver napkins in napkin rings. The transformation was miraculous. The backyard normally looked like the typical Aussie backyard: a green square of grass in the middle, a gum tree standing proudly against the fence, with the clothesline in one corner and the barbecue in the other, but right now it could never be dismissed as simply a normal backyard.

  James’s eyes darted around, searching for the two unknown and mysterious voices. Then there they were, standing quietly in the corner of the yard. It was James’s sister Renee and her husband Ryan. Both families were complete and together. And this time it wasn’t tragedy that had brought them together. This time it was something special. It was a love that had united their two families.

  They sat and ate an incredible meal. Anna couldn’t work out how her mother had managed to pull this off. Kathryn had truly out done herself. It was a baked dinner with all the trimmings. Anna’s eyes darted about sweeping over dishes of baked potatoes, pumpkin, honey roasted carrots, beans, cauliflower drenched in creamy white sauce, and Anna’s favourite, sweet potato. Then as amazing as the vegetables smelt, the roast pork caught her attention. Anna was overwhelmed by the massive quantity of food spread before them, yet she was more surprised at the speed at which it vanished.

  Dinner was accompanied by normal dinner chatter and arguments. Anna and James’s parents sat discussing the weather and debating the advantages of living in a quiet coastal retreat in the middle of nowhere.

  “Diana, why can’t we live in a paradise like this?” Michael pouted.

  “Because we live in the middle of hell. It’s near the railway station and shopping centre. One day, when we retire, we will move to a town like this.” Diana relented.

  Kathryn and Brandon just laughed enthusiastically.

  ***

  Anna

  Anna watched in silence as her sister, Kate, flirted almost shamelessly with her fiancé. James looked over at Anna and winked. He knew what Kate was playing at and despite that, he continued to play along. Ever since the introduction of the two families, they had become friends almost instantly, which made everything easier for James and Anna. They had nowhere to hide, with the exception of their homes, and the truth was without the support of their families they never would have made it this far. Not to mention the upcoming wedding extravaganza they now had to plan.

  After Diana and Kathryn had cleared away the dishes, dessert was presented. A triple layered chocolate mud cake. It was the ultimate indulgence for James, who generally stuck to his strict diet.

  The cogs in Anna’s mind were beginning to turn. They really are my new family. Anna had never considered it like that. For the first time, Anna felt completely safe. She knew that no matter what happened they would all be friends but she had never considered the fact they would be part of her family before.

  It seemed before the cake was even cut it was gone. The smell of strong coffee wafted across the backyard as they continued to laugh and talk. A few minutes later Anna realised that James had disappeared. Dropping her napkin back on the table, she left and went looking for him. Where else would he be, but with Kate nipping at his heels on the front driveway playing basketball. As the minutes passed, James didn’t seem to notice all the kids on the street gathering on the front lawn. For someone so athletic, James was amazingly uncoordinated. He was a pathetic basketball player but anyone watching could still see that he was letting Kate get the best of him.

  Anna smiled and wandered out to join the rest of the spectators. James had a cheer squad sitting there but he still hadn’t even noticed. Kate glanced over and saw them all sitting there, watching, almost in awe of her playing the champion one on one and winning. “Wanna play?” Kate asked the cheer squad.

  Almost simultaneously they jumped up. Hands shot up in the air from every direction. “Pick me! Pick me!” they all chanted.

  Within a few minutes the game, which was formerly one on one, was now six versus seven. Kate had cleverly picked teams with all the girls on James’s team so she could be the only one to guard him. James was just going along with whatever Kate decided. Besides, with Kate involved, there was no point arguing.

  “Okay,” Kate said. “On James’s team will be Sarah, Hannah, Gabrielle, Madison and Tara.” Anna was trying her best not to laugh as all the girls started gushing about being on James’s team. She wasn’t jealous; she was simply stunned by their reaction. “On my team will be Ben, Andrew, Braith, Adam, David and Nate. Any complaints and you don’t play. Let’s do this.” Kate picked up the ball and headed back towards the ring.

  James was being a pain as usual when he started to bitch. “Hang on. I have a complaint. You have one more person on your team more than me,” He was doing his best to hold onto a straight face but was failing miserably.

  “Too bad! Suck it up, Princess. Put on your big boy panties and just play!” Kate commanded.

  A few moments later the game was in full swing and more competitive than ever before. They were defending and blocking, shooting and dribbling. James’s team was down by about ten points almost instantly. The girls couldn’t stop whispering and giggling and not one of them could catch a ball. One tried and broke a nail before storming off, tears streaming down her face. Anna just sat on the lawn laughing. She had been delegated the job of ‘official scorekeeper.’ Kate had convinced her that this was the perfect job for her because she would have to remain impartial. Her sister was on one team and her fiancé on the other.

  The laughter that floated through the night air had drawn Diana, Brandon, Kathryn, Kelley, Lachlan and Michael from the backyard. Now they were watching intently as the game unfolded. The boys on Kate’s team were trying desperately to guard James. Despite their efforts they had little success. James was just too tall for them. Everything was going well; they were all having a great time. Then everything changed.

  Chapter 10

  James

  James jumped up to catch the ball and when he landed his ankle forgot to catch him. His right ankle went out from under him and he fell heavily with a loud thump on the dusty concrete. Anna didn’t move. Diana and Michael’s face fell pale. It felt like hours had passed and James hadn’t as much as moved a muscle. A completely innocuous and innocent action left the front yard silenced. As James jumped to make the shot he spun to ensure he missed Nate as he landed and now the boy had silent tears streaming down his face.

  As if everything was happening in slow motion, Anna sprung up and raced to his side. She accidentally ran Madison over as she tried to get to James, who was lying helpless on the ground. As gently as possible she rolled him onto his back. The agony was etched into his face. His eyes were full of unshed tears, his lip was trembling. Anna read the fear in James face. He wasn’t stupid, although in this moment Anna couldn’t help but wish he was. They didn�
��t need to speak the words aloud to both realise what this could do to his World Championship campaign. Kids who only moments ago had been laughing and playing without a care in the world were now watching as one of their idols lie motionless on the driveway clutching at his swelling ankle.

  “Anna…my ankle. It’s fucked,” James blubbered.

  As the words registered in Anna’s brain her heart broke. All she could see was the broken man in front of her, his dreams in tatters and his strength barely hanging by a thread.

  It was as if James’s simple pain-filled words jolted everyone to action. Suddenly everything was happening all at once. Kathryn came racing out with a tea towel full of ice. Diana backed the car up as close as she could without running over her injured son. Michael and Brandon lifted James into the backseat of the land cruiser. Anna scampered in beside him and held the ice to his ankle, and as soon as he was secure, Diana headed down the driveway.

  “I’ll ring the hospital and let them know that you’re on your way,” Kathryn called out after them.

  Kate’s eyes filled with guilt. She started to sob, “It’s all my fault. If he weren’t playing that stupid game, he wouldn’t have hurt himself. What if he can’t swim anymore? It’s all my fault,” Kate spluttered between gut wrenching sobs.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake, for once in your life, it’s not about you, Kate,” Kelley chastised her sister.

  Michael tried his best to reassure Kate. “It’s not your fault, Katie. It was only a game. He plays all the time. You couldn’t have known that he would get hurt. He’ll be okay. He will swim, you’ll see,” Michael stated as firmly as he could muster. But there was distrust in his eyes. It was obvious to anyone who dared to look close enough that even he didn’t know how far he was stretching the truth.

  ***

  Anna

  James was rushed straight through for an x-ray as soon as they arrived without even pausing at admissions. Anna and Diana paced nervously in the waiting room for news, any news. Good, bad, or indifferent, they really didn’t care. They just wanted someone to tell them something. But nothing came. The doctor walked straight past them and into James’s room without as much as a glance in their direction. Nurses emerged with dejected faces. None of the signs looked promising. If possible they looked like they were getting even gloomier. Anna was fizzing with impatience. News spread around the hospital like wildfire that James was in emergency and soon the waiting room began filling.

  A young nurse came out of the room. “Mrs. Thompson, Ms. White?” she enquired, looking more than a little lost and overwhelmed. She was a tall scraggly looking woman. Her long blonde hair was in disarray, flowing in glorious golden abandon over her shoulder. Her thin white apron wasn’t doing much to hide the soft, feminine curves of her body. She stood, hands on hips, as her eyes darted around the waiting room searching for the women.

  Anna shot a worried glance at Diana. Together they anxiously stood up. Diana clutched at Anna’s hand. Anna gave it a quick squeeze. Anna knew James. And she knew that he wouldn’t let this minor setback derail him. James was stubborn if nothing else. He wouldn’t give up. Not now. Not when he was so close. “Can you please follow me?” the bouncy young nurse invited.

  Hand in hand, Diana and Anna navigated their way through the corridors and into the room. James lay motionless on the bed; his face told the story of heartbreak and dejection. Anna couldn’t help herself. She ambled over and perched herself on the edge of James’s bed; Diana stood quietly, barely in the door. Wrapping her hand in James’s, the warmth there gave Anna the courage to breathe for the first time. But in the same moment that Anna felt like she had regained her bearings she risked a glance at Diana. Something was off. She could feel it. The desperation and worry that had consumed Diana on the drive had faded and in its place was a sadness that Anna didn’t understand.

  “Sweetie.” Anna brushed the hair off his forehead. “What’s the verdict? You okay?” The desperation was obvious as Anna tried to fight back tears. She was praying that he was okay.

  James turned his head and looked at Anna directly. “I’m gonna be fine. I’ve just rolled my ankle. If I keep off it for a few days and rest up it shouldn’t even affect my campaign,” James explained as a smile of relief crept across his face.

  Diana let out a heavy sigh. “That’s great news, honey. I’ll go and ring the others and let them know the good news.” Diana gave him a quick kiss on his forehead before vanishing out the door.

  The blonde nurse told them that she would go find him a pair of crutches, and then Anna could take him home.

  Once they were alone Anna’s tears surfaced. “Thank god you’re okay. I have never been so scared in my life. You do realise that you are officially banned from playing basketball, especially with my sister. Forever,” Anna laughed, giving James a hug so tight it almost cut off his circulation.

  “Hey, hey,” James murmured, lifting her head up to his face. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. Everything is going to be okay. But you, my dear, are just going to have to be at my beck and call for the next couple of weeks,” he reaffirmed with a smirk.

  “Weeks?”

  “Yep–weeks.”

  “Really?” Anna raised a quizzical eyebrow.

  “Okay, maybe days,” James conceded.

  “I think I can manage that.” Anna sniffed, wiping at her face.

  A few minutes later the nurse reappeared with a set of crutches, which she adjusted awkwardly to accommodate James’s towering height. After signing a few autographs, Anna led him out of the hospital and helped him into the car. Diana was more than happy to get as far away from the hospital as quickly as possible.

  “Let’s go home,” Diana said, turning out of the hospital car park.

  ***

  Joel

  When the news reached Joel he was sent spinning. The first he heard of it was when a news bulletin broke the silence announcing, “James Thompson has been admitted to hospital only a week before he was due to fly out to represent Australia at the upcoming World Championships in Manchester.” Before the bulletin had even finished, Joel was pacing the room, trying desperately to get Anna on the phone.

  “Anna! What the hell happened? Is he okay?” Joel’s heart was racing. He knew how much James loved the opportunity to represent his country and race with the best of the best.

  “Joel, breathe…just breathe. He’s fine. It’s just a sprained ankle. As long as he listens to the doctor and keeps off it he’ll be fine.” Anna’s tone was firm and reassuring.

  Joel let out the breath he didn’t realise he was holding. “Thank fuck. Can you handle him? Make him stay in bed for a few days.”

  “No probs. I have my ways,” Anna giggled.

  “I do not want details.” Joel laughed, before wishing her good luck and hanging up.

  Joel was strangely happy with his star swimmer’s injury. He knew that whenever James was coming into a major competition he tended to push himself too hard, but now, with James bedridden, he could use the time to prepare himself mentally for the upcoming battles. A week before most major competitions Joel would try and wrap James in cotton wool. He would do anything in his power to protect him from anything and everything that threatened. He had never successfully achieved this but now, with James stuck in a bed on doctor’s orders, he hoped maybe this time he would be able to accomplish it, especially with Anna on his side. Even if James refused to see it, or admit it, Anna controlled his every move.

  ***

  Anna

  The next morning they packed up the car and bid farewell to Anna’s family. James apologised almost non-stop for ruining the dinner and making Kate feel so guilty for his injury. After assuring and reassuring her that it was an accident they headed home.

  James was the world’s worst patient. After attempting to look after him for less than twenty-four hours, Anna was ready to strangle him. He flat out refused to do anything he was supposed to. Anna told him he was to stay in bed and watch television and she would wai
t on him hand and foot, but that was too much to ask. James was the most stubborn person Anna had ever met, and now he was acting like a child. The moment he was told not to do something he would go out of his way to do it.

  “Would you please at least try to be good and behave yourself or else I’ll have to—” Anna negotiated.

  “Or else you’ll what?” James baited her.

  “Or else I’ll have to—damn it. I hate you! You know that I can’t do anything to you. You’re such a pain in the ass.” Anna laughed as she clambered up on the bed next to him.

  “No, you don’t. You love me, admit it,” James taunted, pulling Anna over so that she was now lying with her head resting on his chest.

  The next few days were uneventful. Anna and James spent most of their time together, cocooned in their own little bubble. James knew Anna wasn’t coming to Manchester to see him compete. She had commitments she needed to keep. She had to go back to school and finish her studies. She had missed so much already, and as much as Anna wanted to go, now was just not the time for her to start tripping around the world. Despite his disappointment, James understood and accepted it.

  The day he was due to fly out, Anna was up before dawn and at James’s house. He was already awake, it was almost as if he knew the exact moment that Anna would breeze through his front door. Dawn hadn’t broken yet and the grass was covered in a light blanket of dew. The day was innocent, the air was clean and crisp, and Anna took a deep breath before knocking on James’s front door.

  As soon as she knocked the door sprung open and James yanked her inside enthusiastically. Diana and Michael sat at the kitchen table eating breakfast, while they laughed at James’s erratic behaviour. They had never seen him so anxious to see somebody in his life. He was acting like a caged lion. It was in those moments, that it was obvious to anyone watching just how big of a part Anna played in James’s life. He was well and truly gone.