by C. J. Lau
Chapter 28
My name is Catherine McConnell. Retired Olympian.
The chiming of my phone interrupts my inner monologue. Makes me look down. A brief smile before sadness takes over again.
Maggie’s message: All done here.
Yes, it is, swirls in my mind. Gone. It’s all over.
Sitting in the backstage darkness of the Media Centre. Slinky out front having promotional photos with her team-mates. My former team-mates. How quickly life has turned.
Everything I’ve worked so hard for.
I punch at my thigh. Crying at the unfairness of it all. The future I carefully planned, diligently guarded, terminated with one almighty crash. A mighty Olympic flame reduced to dying embers in the wreckage.
Pain shoots up and down my broken body. Bringing back the crater; the smell and taste of broken bones and blood. Heartless metal taking Trisha away.
I pull at my hair. More pain. Chest heaving deeply with each strangled breath. Tears sting my cheeks once more as I let out a wail to the universe.
Time stands still through each pull and heave. I’ve done nothing wrong, but everything has been taken from me.
“Cat. Cat, don’t.” Urgent sounds. Then Maggie’s arms around me; strong shoulders holding me tight.
I bury my head into her shirt and hug back. “It’s not fair!” I almost don’t recognise my own voice. More dingo than roo.
“I know Cat, I know,” Maggie answers.
Suddenly, my own shoulder’s warm with her tears.
And then I feel it. Spreading from my damp shoulder, down to my broken heart. Two souls joined by tears. The precious minutes soothe, like menthol on muscles weary from battle.
Maggie’s tears give me courage in the darkness. To lay part of me to rest, bid a teary farewell to my athlete life, and welcome her as my rock.
“You have so much more ahead of you, Cat,” Maggie’s whispers help claw back control of my emotions. “You just wait and see.”
I nod gently. Hope rising. “Thanks, Maggie. You’ve never let me down.”
For some reason this makes her cry harder.
We hug a few more minutes before I finally pull away to look at her face. Know a stunning woman lives under that tracksuit, behind the tears.
“Want to talk about your meeting?” I ask. My own fire rising, yearning a different kind of contest.
Maggie’s shrug only stokes the flame. She shakes her head. “Not much happened. Everyone had their knives out, mostly at Zara.” Her look of disgust matched by my own. “Then Darrell called me over-protective when I complained about Zara calling out to target Brooke’s leg.”
“How rude.” Her report stuns me for a second before I pull her deeper backstage. “But Murwillumbah will destroy Wollongong on Monday. You’ll not play Zara again.”
I pull more firmly. Our footsteps echoing on the concrete floor.
She looks at me. Stopping. “I have to beat Newcastle, or else…”
“Yeah, I’ve got you covered. But first I have a surprise.” We head towards the make-up room where Clara and Elise wait.
“A surprise?” Maggie’s broad grin forms, thrills me. “Do I need to close my eyes?”
The smell of vanilla scented candles fills my nostrils as I lead Maggie in. The look in her eyes says she has figured it out.
I introduce her to Clara and Elise. “These wonderful women have generously offered to help you look and feel your best before your big date tonight.” Now I’m grinning too. “Solo’s not going to know what hit him.”
“It’s our pleasure, Maggie,” Clara welcomes, gesturing. “Come, grab a seat. We can have a quick chat before we get you relaxed and looking great.” She turns to me. “You weren’t kidding, Cat, when you said she was beautiful.”
I watch Maggie’s face go red, Elise ushering her into a make-up chair. One more thing to explain.
“Also, Maggie, I know you didn’t pack anything to wear tonight.” I get down beside her. “So I’ve gone into the wardrobe and grabbed a few things. Take your pick.”
Maggie’s eyes follow my finger to four dresses hanging on the rack. Her eyes rolling back in her head as Elise starts massaging her neck.
“Tonia said I’m allowed to borrow one provided it’s returned in good condition. Dry cleaned if there’s any stains on it.” I give a mischievous wink. “You know.”
My sadness lifts as the giggles overtake us. Maggie going even redder, but smiling brightly at me.
“Thank you so much, Cat,” Maggie puts her head down to let Elise massage her shoulders.
“No. Thank you, Maggie.” I grasp her hand with both of mine. Knowing I’ll never forget today. “You’ve been everything to me since I woke up.”
We exchange a glance that seems to link our two hearts again. And find myself forgetting the sadness of everything that’s happened. Clara asks Maggie to close her eyes for a minute.
“I’m going to go check on Slinky out front. I’ll see you in a bit.” I start moving towards the door. “Take good care of her, Clara. She means everything to me, and she is beautiful inside and out.”
Clara’s got one of the lamps to shine at Maggie’s face. Studying my best friend. No scars to hide, unlike her last client.
“Don’t worry, Cat. By the time we’re done, she’ll look and feel magical,” Clara says before pulling out some small bottles from her bag.
I close the door behind me, warm feeling bringing life to parts of me I’d given up on. My surprise exactly what Maggie needs after a long week. And another surprise is coming.
“Good one, Cat,” I mumble, moving to where Slinky and the others are. “Now get on the phone.”