by Lisa Heidke
‘Thanks, but I wouldn’t be too sure.’ I unlocked and opened my car door. ‘I’ll call you, okay?’
‘You sure you’re right to drive? You’ve had a big day.’
‘I’m fine. I just need to bring my girl home.’
As I was driving to the hospital, I called Constable Denim and told her a modified version of what had just happened. ‘Yes, it has definitely been resolved,’ I repeated. ‘Just a silly prank and I won’t be taking it any further.’
‘As long as you’re sure, Mrs Campbell, but we’ll be keeping your report on file should you wish to pursue charges at a later time.’
‘Okay.’
‘Should there be future incidents, it’s important that you record all encounters.’
‘Thank you. I will.’
At least I could put the stalker business behind me. For now, I had more important things to concentrate on, like Evie and Olivia.
I arrived at the hospital to find Liam and Olivia waiting for me.
‘Did you actually leave the hospital, Liam?’
‘For a little while when I picked up Liv. I didn’t think you’d mind.’
I hugged Olivia. ‘How are you, mischief?’
She looked suitably sheepish. ‘I swear I had no idea about Evie. She’s always playing around with her food—’
‘It’s fine, honey. Evie is not your responsibility. She’s mine.’
‘Mr and Mrs Campbell?’ It was the doctor from this morning. ‘We’ve taken out Evie’s drip, her blood pressure is normal and she’s dressed and sitting up. If you’d like to follow me.’
The three of us followed the doctor around the corner to where Evie was waiting. She was sitting on the bed and had more colour in her cheeks than she’d had five hours ago.
‘Darling,’ I said, hugging her. ‘We’ve been so worried.’
‘Sorry, Mum.’
I wiped away a couple of tears. ‘No need, sweetie, but we are going to talk about this.’
‘Yes,’ said the doctor. ‘Evie and I have spoken, too. We’ll be doing a follow-up consultation on Monday. I’ve given her some pamphlets about people she can talk to, groups she can join if she needs support, which I highly recommend she does.’
The four of us, even Liv, nodded.
After we signed several forms, Evie was released into our care. Driving home, Evie went with Liam, and Liv rode shotgun with me.
‘What a day,’ I said to Liv in the car.
She shrugged. ‘Will Evie be all right?’
I smiled. ‘So you do love your sister, after all?’
She grimaced. ‘I wouldn’t say love, Mother, but she’s okay. Also, I don’t want to have to go through whatever is going on with you and Dad, alone. Plus, she’s my support at musicals.’
‘Grease next Friday night,’ I beamed.
Liv groaned.
‘In all seriousness, I think we have a bit of work ahead of us with Evie, but we’ll get through it.’
Liv didn’t say anything, just stared out the window.
‘And how are you, my love? How’s Brodie?’
She turned to face me. ‘Okay.’
‘I do like Brodie. He can come over more as long as you agree to a few house rules.’
‘Such as?’
‘Absolutely no sex until you’re seventeen.’
‘Ugh! Gross, Mum.’
‘Good! Let’s keep it that way.’ I could have laboured the point, but that was enough for now. Liv and I would have plenty of time to talk about her relationship with Brodie—whether she liked it or not. But my girl was growing up. I needed to give her a bit of rope.
Liam pulled up in the driveway just behind us.
‘How are you feeling?’ I said to Evie as she climbed out of his car.
‘Mum! Are you going to be asking me this like twenty times a day?’
I smiled. ‘Probably.’
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ said Liam, walking over to us.
‘What?’ said Evie. ‘You’re not coming home?’
‘Evie,’ I said, stroking her hair. ‘It’s not as easy as that. Your dad and I have a lot to talk about.’
‘Dad?’ said Evie, looking at him, tears threatening.
He took a deep breath. ‘Your mother is right. We love you guys and that’ll never change, but your mum and I have lived together twenty years, we’ve got some cleaning up to do before—’
I shot him a warning glance.
‘We have a lot of talking to do,’ he conceded.
‘I don’t understand it and I never will,’ said Evie. ‘You’re both selfish and pig-headed.’
‘Hey,’ said Olivia, taking her by the arm. ‘I could say the same about you. Now come inside and tell me all about your near-death experience while I watch you eat a lettuce leaf.’
Evie snorted as they walked to the front door. ‘Liv, it was so dramatic. The ambulance, the hospital…’
I turned to Liam. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to come in?’
‘I don’t think so. You’ve had a massive day.’
‘So have you.’
‘Not as big as you.’ Liam leant against the side of his car.
I had told him briefly about Penny’s visit to the house and wasn’t up for further discussion. I hoped he wouldn’t push it.
‘So Blake’s wife is the stalker?’
I nodded.
‘You’re not going to press charges?’
‘Over Penny?’ I yawned. ‘No.’
Liam sighed. ‘She committed a crime. She shouldn’t get away with it.’
‘She hasn’t. Her marriage is over. I think that’s enough suffering and heartache for her to deal with.’
‘Tell me about it. So, you had an affair with him?’
‘An infatuation that lasted five minutes.’
‘I knew it.’
‘Liam,’ I cut in, ‘I didn’t do it to hurt you.’ I managed to keep the desperation out of my voice but my eyes were pleading. ‘It really lasted little more than a couple of weeks.’
‘But long enough for his wife to stalk you and for their marriage to fall apart?’
‘I’m sure there were other contributing factors.’ I threw my hands up into the air. ‘But, yes, what more do you want me to say? I had a brief encounter.’
‘I can’t believe it. I can’t see you with him. It doesn’t make sense.’
‘Does it have to? I was feeling lousy when we met. He made me feel better about myself and then—’
Liam raked his fingers through his hair the way he had since I’d met him more than twenty-two years ago. ‘You slept with him?’
I shifted uncomfortably on my feet.
‘Wow, incredible. Are there others?’
‘Liam, we’re separated. Surely, you’ve been out with other women?’
‘No, I…’ he began, before exhaling. ‘Yes, I have.’
I knew it was a conversation we’d need to have soon, but right now my focus was on Evie. ‘Liam, there’s a lot we need to work through to start being friends again. I know that. But right now,’ I emphasised, ‘we need to worry about Evie. Do what’s best for her.’
‘Yes, together. I meant what I said this morning, about wanting to give our marriage another go. I love you, Fri.’
‘Liam,’ I said firmly. ‘We’re Evie’s parents. We’ll deal with this together, but I’m not so sure about us getting back together. It’s too soon to talk about that. We haven’t discussed any of our issues—’
‘I’ll admit I’ve done some dumb things, things I’m not proud of. But the truth is I missed you and the girls every single day I’ve been away. Every day.’
I sucked in some air. ‘I’m not up for this now,’ I said, staring towards the house and thinking about Evie.
‘I’m glad you don’t have a stalker anymore. Are you really okay?’
‘I will be. Obviously, we’ve both made mistakes,’ I said quietly.
‘Fri, I know you’re shaken and we’ve both had a lot going on, but I don’t
want it to be the end of us.’
I closed my eyes. ‘It’s too soon, Liam. I need to talk to the girls. You can come inside if you like.’
He touched my shoulder. ‘It’s okay. I have stuff to do.’ Then he turned to get into his car.
I watched as he drove away. I could see myself hanging out with Liam, exploring new restaurants, watching the latest movies, and cheering him on at open-mic nights. But somewhere along the way, our romantic relationship had stalled. Maybe we’d find it again, some day. For now, I wanted to concentrate on Olivia and Evie. We were a family, Liam included, just not in the traditional sense of the word. There was still so much hurt, anger and angst to work through. It seemed overwhelming. Where to begin? I thought back to what the Zumba psychic had said: ‘Focus on what is in your control.’ That’s exactly what I needed to do. Focus on what was in my control. At least it would be a start.
35
On Saturday morning, I offered Evie a cup of tea in bed.
‘Mum, it’s like nine-thirty.’
‘I know. Time’s a-wasting. Take a sip.’
She sat up in bed.
‘Are you sure you’re feeling okay?’
‘Mother, I’m fine.’
Fine! How many times had I heard her say that? I stroked her hair. ‘Why, Evie?’
She burrowed her face into my chest. ‘Sometimes, I just feel so sad and alone.
I pulled back so I could see her face. ‘But you’re not, honey. I’ll always be here for you.’
‘And Dad?’ She brightened.
‘Of course.’
‘I don’t know why you two can’t sort yourselves out. You’re carrying on like children.’
If she only knew the half of it. ‘One day, Evie, when you have a boyfriend, you’ll start to understand. Relationships are complex. They certainly aren’t as easy as they look on TV sitcoms.’
‘Mum, you’re such a drama queen.’
I let the comment slide. ‘Also, I rang the counsellor last night. You have your first appointment on Monday morning. She’s making time to see you at eight o’clock.’
She glared at me. ‘Goody.’
I shrugged. ‘Bright side, you miss the first two periods of school.’
I kissed her on the head and walked into Liv’s room, where she, too, was still lying in bed tapping on her iPad. ‘Anytime you want to come out onto the deck or into the lounge room, you’ll be welcome.’
She looked up at me. ‘I don’t think so. Lazy Saturday here. PJ and bed day all the way.’
I turned to go.
‘But, Mum, from now on, I will keep an eye out for Evie. If I hear her puking her guts out in the bathroom, you’ll be the first to know. ILY.’
I smiled. ‘Good. I think.’
I walked into the kitchen and started unstacking the dishwasher.
‘How’s everything this morning?’
I swung around. Liam was standing in the hallway.
‘You scared me.’
‘Sorry. I knocked but there was no answer.’
I looked closer. ‘You hiding something?’
He grinned and withdrew his hands from behind his back and presented me with a tiny blond bundle of joy.
‘Oh, Liam, he’s beautiful,’ I squealed as Liam handed him to me. ‘He looks just like the puppies in the toilet commercials,’ I marvelled, cradling the squirming labrador.
‘Girls,’ I called out. ‘Come quickly.’
‘I miss Baxter,’ said Liam. ‘After he died, I didn’t think I could cope losing another dog, but that’s not fair on you or the girls. Sorry I resisted for so long.’
‘Girls,’ I yelled again.
No use. Together we walked into Evie’s room.
‘Oh. My. God!’ she said, screeching and jumping on her bed. ‘Give him to me.’
‘What’s all the… a puppy!’ yelled Liv, joining Evie in her bed with the pup. ‘We have a puppy?’
‘We have a puppy,’ I said, smiling. ‘Thanks to your father.’
‘Dad, you’re the best,’ said Evie.
‘Yeah, thanks, Dad,’ said Liv, and then started squabbling with Evie over who was going to hold him.
We walked out of Evie’s room and back into the kitchen. I made Liam a coffee and handed it to him.
‘He’s adorable.’
‘And he’ll keep you company,’ said Liam, taking a sip of his drink. ‘Not that you’ve been lacking it.’
I took in a sharp breath. ‘I was acting out.’ God help me, I was never going to sleep with another drummer or goat farmer. Ever!
‘You don’t have to explain—’
‘I know I don’t, Liam, we’re separated, but the thought that the girls could have inadvertently been in danger…’
Liam shook his head. ‘That guy’s wife going mental on you? It was a lot to take in, in five minutes. I told you I didn’t like him. What were you thinking?’
I put up my free hand to stop him. ‘Not now, Liam.’
He shrugged, looking at me as if he wanted to say something but at the last moment thought better of it.
‘I’m not ready to talk about it, but maybe your instincts are better than mine,’ I conceded.
‘We’ll laugh about this one day,’ he said softly. ‘As much as it hurts me to think of you with other men,’ he wiped away a tear, ‘we’re not living together and you can do what you want with whomever you want.’
‘I know that,’ I agreed. ‘And so can you.’
He shrugged. ‘Yeah, and I thought I wanted to. There are so many women out there.’
I raised my eyebrows. ‘Yes, Liam. We make up fifty percent of the world’s population.’
‘But the truth is I don’t want to be with anyone else but you.’
‘Now that you’ve shopped around?’
‘I don’t mean it like that, Fri. You know me better than anyone else. I’m never going to find that connection with another woman.’
‘Maybe, but, Liam, we need to talk about what’s happened in the past few months and before that. You won’t talk about the baby we lost three years ago so what makes you think we can work through our current issues?’
‘I’ve been doing some thinking. I accept that I shut down after the baby,’ he said. ‘And then it got worse when Mum and Dad died.’
‘Thank you for acknowledging that, but I don’t think we can do this on our own.’
Liam blinked. ‘I don’t want to go to counselling.’
‘Will you at least think about it?’
‘Okay. Maybe the four of us could take a holiday. See what happens. Be spontaneous for a change.’ His voice sounded upbeat.
‘What? First a puppy and now a spontaneous holiday?’
‘Only if you want to.’ He had that old Liam twinkle in the eye that I’d fallen in love with.
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘The girls would love it.’
‘The girls love their new puppy and the boys from One Direction, too. It’s all relative. A holiday might be a bit much.’
‘I just thought with our anniversary coming up—’
‘We’re not together anymore, Liam.’
‘Yeah, but nothing’s forever. You know, you’re as beautiful today as the first day I met you.’
I definitely wasn’t expecting that. Those words took my breath away. Not that Liam wasn’t capable of being romantic or kind, it’s just that it had happened so rarely in recent years. He was switching from one foot to the other, clearly agitated. And I didn’t want him to be. We’d been together more years than I cared to remember. He truly did not need to be nervous.
He put his arm around me. ‘I love you, Fri. I always will. I’m hoping this separation is not forever but, if it is, I’ll deal with it and you’ll have a new Baxter to keep you safe from stalkers.’
‘Don’t kill him with kindness,’ I said, breaking away from Liam as the girls walked into the kitchen, carrying the puppy between them.
They were giggling like they didn’t have a care in
the world. I hadn’t seen either of them this animated in a long time.
‘You realise you’re going to have to feed him, toilet train him, walk him. Oh, and guess what? All the above means you’re actually going to have to come out of your bedrooms once in a while!’
‘Yes, Mum,’ they said in unison.
‘Girls, I’m off,’ said Liam, finishing his drink and rinsing out the empty glass in the sink.
‘Don’t go, Daddy,’ said Evie.
‘I have to, buddy,’ he said, kissing Evie on her forehead before hugging Olivia. ‘But I’ll see you soon and when I do, this fellow had better have a name.’
‘Mr Styles,’ said Evie. ‘Harry, for short.’
‘As if,’ countered Olivia.
I walked Liam to the door. ‘This weekend is going to be very long. You sure you won’t stay for a bit?’
‘I have a sketch to write and you guys need to bond with your new housemate.’
‘We’ll talk, okay?’
Liam smiled and hugged me. ‘You bet. Have a good day.’
I waved him goodbye. ‘You, too.’
I wasn’t convinced ours was a fairytale romance about to have a happy ending, but right now, in this moment, we weren’t arguing, nor were we angry with each other. We were… friends. Almost. I also wasn’t convinced that our new tail-wagging ball of happiness would be any sort of guard dog, or an instant cure for Evie’s woes, but he was a very welcome addition and diversion.
‘Okay,’ I said, walking back into the lounge where the girls were sprawled out on the floor with their new playmate. ‘Who’s up for a trip to the pet shop to stock up on some puppy essentials?’
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Louise Thurtell, Christa Munns and the amazing sales, marketing and publicity team at Allen & Unwin for bringing my manuscript to life. Thanks to Nicola O’Shea for whipping the early draft into shape. And it did need whipping.
A big shout out to the gorgeous Valerie Khoo and all at the Australian Writers’ Centre for welcoming me onto the team… and letting me stay. (I am angling to steal your cats, Val!)
To my wonderful writers’ group, James Worner, Desney King, Shelley Kenigsberg, Selena Hanet-Hutchins, Annarosa Berman, and especially Dianne Riminton-Johns. You all inspire me to be a better writer. (Wish I could come up with a better word than better!)
A billion thanks to Dr Anita Heiss. I love our closed writing group of two. You make me want to be a more compassionate, aware, human being. In Anita’s words, ‘I have been incredibly supportive of Friday from Monday through to Sunday for years. You owe me.’