by Iris Blobel
***
The alarm woke her at seven o’clock. Katie had hardly slept that night, not for lack of tiredness, but giddiness and the inability to wind down after spending a weekend with Ty. She could easily fall for him, and was probably halfway there. She’d tossed and turned most of the night wondering whether she was doing the right thing. Following the heart was easier said than done when the subject of the attraction was so far away, but not only that, his upbringing was so completely different from hers.
Nonsense, she told herself. Princess Mary and Prince Frederick of Denmark couldn’t have been from a more different world, and their marriage was going great. At least that was according to the magazines. She and Ty could make this work. And their childhood hadn’t been that different. Loving parents and sister. Admittedly, Tyson’s father had held a bigger job than her father had, and his family had lived overseas for a little while, but that shouldn’t matter.
It shouldn’t. But it had kept her awake.
When Katie finally got up, she had her shower before some breakfast. She was about to walk out the door when the phone rang. Her mother.
“Would you care to tell me what you were up to last weekend?”
“Good morning, Mum, and I told you last week, I was going to see a friend in Melbourne.”
There was a brief silence, and Katie heard the sound of newspaper crinkling in the background.
“Mum?”
“Darling, how come I have to read about your new boyfriend in the paper?”
Katie’s heart dropped as she lowered herself into the nearest chair. For a brief moment, her mind was blank, and she struggled to understand what her mother was saying. Fighting exhaustion, she willed herself into gear.
“I don’t understand,” she finally muttered.
“You don’t understand? Darling, I don’t understand. I always hoped you’d be able to tell us things. Why are you hiding the fact that you have a boyfriend? Why haven’t you told us about Tyson? And who’s Anita?”
Words were rushing through Katie’s head. She wasn’t able to make sense of them. It was like a jigsaw puzzle, but the pieces were thrown all over the floor and in all shapes and sizes. Again, a newspaper article messed up her day. What was it this time? She needed to get the paper to figure out why her mother was so upset. It couldn’t have been only the fact that she hadn’t told her parents about Ty. After all, it was still in its beginnings. She hadn’t even been sure about him herself.
“Mum?” she whispered. “I…I didn’t…I wasn’t hiding it from you. Honestly.”
“Darling, who is he?”
She smacked the palm of her hand against her forehead. “I’ll try to get a day off and come over. I’ll call you back in a minute.” Then she added in a barely audible whisper, “I’m so sorry, Mum.”
***
Tyson couldn’t catch a break.
Markus had rung first thing in the morning with the news that his weekend visitor had made the paper. He didn’t have to get into the car to get the newspaper himself. His dad stood in front of the door as he went to step outside.
James slowly shook his head.
Tyson blew out a breath and stood back to let his father into the house.
“A bit of a mess. Have you talked to her yet?” James asked.
Ty ran his hands over his face with a groan. “Nope. Only just found out. Mark rang me a few minutes back. Have you got a copy?”
James held up the paper. “Page twenty-four. The gossip column.”
They both walked into the kitchen where James prepared a cup of coffee. The picture of him and Katie had been taken outside the casino building, Ty’s arm over her shoulder as he placed a kiss on her forehead. It wasn’t a big picture, but a clear one. Even for newspaper standards.
Tyson Gaspaldi with his new girlfriend spotted in Melbourne over the weekend. We think when it comes to looks, he was better off with Anita Cooper.
“Do you think Katie can handle it?” James asked as he placed a cup of coffee in front of his son.
Trying hard to not curse in front of his dad, Tyson’s shoulders sagged as he shook his head.
“Go and get her on the phone. Training today?”
“Nope. A few weeks off. Only a few charity engagements to do.”
“Let’s go up north to the river for a few days.”
Tyson looked up. “Dad? I might go and see Katie for a few days.”
His dad agreed and stood. “Let us know how she’s going?”
“I will. Thanks, Dad.”
After James had left, Tyson went upstairs. He was furious and helpless at the same time. Deep inside, he wanted to blame Anita, but he assumed it had nothing to do with her. Newspapers, or in this case gossip columns, weren’t merely tactless but mostly nasty. Again, he was placed into a situation by someone else where it was hard for him to get his head around it.
Was it worth responding to the paper? Sink to their level?
Anger spread through his veins like venom, but quickly turned into concern for Katie. Upstairs, he grabbed his phone and dialled the familiar number. It rang a couple of times before the message bank kicked in. He briefly contemplated leaving a longer message, but in the end simply asked her to return his call. When he was about to head into the bathroom, the phone beeped signalling a message had arrived.
Busy. Talk later.
It was short and to the point. He hoped he was reading too much into to it. She probably was at work and busy. He knew she worked hard for her money.
He replied,
we made the paper. Pls dont worry too much about it. Need to talk.
Placing the phone right next to the shower, he stared at it for a while as if challenging it to tell him a reply was waiting for him. Nothing came through. He stepped under the water.
Once finished, he grabbed a towel and checked again. The image of a little envelope on the phone told him he’d received a message and relief rushed through him. But it was short-lived.
No not worrying. Getting told Im the ugly duckling all the time!
Shit.
He called her. No answer, and he didn’t bother leaving a message. When the phone rang, he answered without looking at the ID.
It was Oliver. “The joys of having friends are many, not the least of which is the relief from boredom. Mate, you’re getting yourself from crap to bullshit.”
Even though he didn’t feel like it, Tyson chuckled. “Thanks for the kind words.”
“This is crazy,” Oliver said. “She knows she’s a looker, right?”
Tyson walked into his room and slouched on the bed. He appreciated his friend’s words, especially knowing Oliver’s taste in women.
“I hope so. She’s not answering the damn phone,” he said.
“Fuckin’ hell.” There was a slight pause. “D’you think Anita was involved in this?”
He rubbed his brow with the heel of his hand. “I don’t think so,” he answered quietly.
Tyson knew Oliver had rung him so he’d have a chance to talk if he wished to do so, but the longer he was on the phone, the more anxious he became. What if Katie tried to call him? He needed to talk to her. Needed to assure her the paper headline was bullshit, that she should ignore it.
His friend knew him too well. “I’d better get off the phone, in case she’ll change her mind. Markus and I’ll be over tonight. Unless you’re heading north again.”
“I’ll see ya tonight. I’ve got swimming with Cailyn later on, so I won’t go before tomorrow.”
“Aww, the joys of being an uncle.”
“Arsehole. You’re just jealous!”
He hung up and dialled Katie’s number again. To no avail.
Tyson busied himself with unpacking his bag from his trip to the U.S. His mind wasn’t in it, and he checked the phone every five minutes. At lunch time he called again, hoping Katie would have a break.
“Hi,” she answered. The coolness in her voice told him this was going to be a tough conversation.
“Sweetheart—”
She didn’t let him finish. “Ty. I had a great weekend,” she whispered. “And I really like you.”
He had to think fast now, because he knew what was coming. “Katie. Don’t—”
“I do. Please forget about the whole thing between you and me—”
The sound of her voice told him she was crying, and it broke his heart. “Katie, listen to me!”
“I can’t, Ty. I know you mean well, and you’re trying hard, but this is not my world. To be judged and compared is not—”
“No one is judging or comparing you, sweetheart.”
“Yes, they are. I had it most of my school days. First, it was my weight, then it was my braces. I was always teased. I’m past it, Ty. I can’t and I don’t want to go through this again. Especially not in such a public manner.”
“I’m sorry, Katie, but you know you’re—”
“Ty,” she interrupted him. “I keep telling myself, it’s the beauty inside, not the outside, but if you get put down in such a cruel way…” She paused, and he heard her let out a big sigh. “Please don’t call again.” She sobbed and hung up.
He stared at the phone with his throat tight, imagining her pain. Anger rushed through him again, before sadness and an emptiness he’d never before experienced took over. It was clear he’d fallen for Katie in the short time they had known each other. She was all he wanted in his life. Now she wanted him to forget about her. Wipe the memories as if she’d never existed. He rubbed his face and walked over to his cupboard to retrieve his sneakers. He needed to run.
It started to drizzle as he ran along the path, but he didn’t mind. He needed to distract his mind from the morning’s events. The fresh air cleared his head, but Katie’s words still echoed in the back of his mind.
He was hurting.
Probably not as much, though, as she was hurting right now.
After another shower, he headed off to his parents’ house to pick up his niece. He’d consider giving it a miss, but decided it might be just the diversion he needed.
***
Katie and Teagan ate their dinner on the couch with their plates on their laps. Although she didn’t feel like eating, she had accepted her friend’s offer for dinner. Teagan’s homemade pies were to die for. Love Actually was the chosen movie, and with that, the girls enjoyed the evening as much as possible.
“Sweetie, I think you’re overreacting. You know it and everyone around you knows you’re not bad looking.”
Katie snorted. “Not bad?”
Her friend shot her a glare. “You know what I mean.”
“Okay, I’m not bad looking. Now. For Pete’s sake, Teagan, you know how it was at school. The constant teasing from the others. It’s a bit like been there, done that. I don’t need it. Not to mention Ty is in the public eye. He could have any good looking girl. Any! One day he’ll find out what he’s got and what he could have.”
There was a moment of silence before Teagan replied. “D’you really think he’s the kind of person to do that?”
No, she didn’t. She was the kind of person, though, who would always have any comparison in the back of her mind. No matter what others would say about her looks. With a sigh, she wiped a tear from her face.
“It doesn’t matter what I think,” she finally said.
“It does, Katie,” Teagan said, and her voice was full of irritation, but concern as well.
She heaved another deep sigh. “There are so many other factors as well. He has his life in Melbourne, eight hours away from here. It wouldn’t have worked. Better to just move on and remember the great weekends.”
They finished their dinner in silence and shed even more tears as the movie finished. Teagan stayed the night, but it didn’t make Katie feel much better.
In weeks to come, she would live through the days on automatic.
Chapter Eight
Over the next few months, Katie adjusted back into a routine. Work kept her busy during the week, and she went out more often with her friends over weekends or visited her parents. Whenever she was able to, she avoided going back to the beach, the place that held the memories of the picnic with Tyson. It reminded her of the wonderful time she’d had with him. His gentle touch as well as his beautiful kisses. She missed talking to him. She missed his voice. She missed seeing him, and him making her laugh.
Had she done the right thing by walking away so quickly? Or had she given up on them too early? She remembered her past, when walking out the door to go to school became a challenge, facing the cruel remarks about her weight and the tactless words about her braces. It’d become easy to forget someone’s virtues because she was dejected.
Deep inside, she believed her decision not to see Ty again was right, though the pain and the longing wouldn’t go away.
Days had turned into nights. Each night turned into another day. The ache in her heart wasn’t easing.
She quit reading the gossip pages in the paper and turned the television off when the football was on. It didn’t matter whether it was AFL or rugby. She suddenly didn’t like either sport. Instead, she watched the cricket with her father. After she’d explained the whole story of how she’d met Tyson at the beach, and how she had come to see him in Melbourne, they’d never asked about Tyson again. She stopped talking to Teagan about Tyson as well, not being able to stand another of their arguments about how Katie had done the wrong thing. All the more, she enjoyed hearing about Teagan’s relationship blossoming and turning into something lasting.
Summer was in full swing. The little coastal town was buzzing with tourists from all over the place. For the first time in months, Katie was more at ease with herself and enjoying life a bit more. Christmas had come and gone, and she was now relaxing from the never ending parties over the holiday season.
She was about to head to the beach for a barbeque with friends when Teagan rang.
“Sweetie, have you read the paper today?”
Her heart sunk at the familiar question. It brought back memories of the day Teagan asked her more or less the same question a few months earlier. The tone of her friend’s voice told her she wasn’t going to like where this was going, and it took all her strength not to hang up.
Katie sat down on one of the kitchen chairs, preparing herself for what was to come, swallowed twice and said, “I don’t read the paper anymore. You know that.”
Even she noticed the hesitation in her own voice.
“Tyson’s dad died the other day.”
Katie wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but that wasn’t it. A wedding or an engagement. Possibly an injury.
But not the news of his father’s death.
Stunned, Katie had difficulty responding. Not knowing what to say, she bit her lower lip. With the world spinning in front of her and heaviness in her chest, she was surprised how much it affected her.
“Sweetie, are you still there?”
Teagan’s words sounded distant.
“Katie, honey.”
“I’m here. I’m…I…Teagan, I’m—”
“Sweetie, give me half an hour, and I’ll be there.”
“No.” She hesitated. “I mean, please don’t. You’ve been looking forward to this evening out with Declan the whole week. I’m going to the beach barbeque, and I’ll be fine.”
“Nonsense. I’ll be there.”
Before Katie was able to reply, Teagan had already hung up. Staring at the phone, she contemplated calling Ty, but decided not to. What would she say? He probably didn’t want to hear from her anyway.
With a big sigh, she stood and walked over to the shelf where she picked up a photo of Paige. The pain from that day she’d lost her sister emerged inside her. She wiped away a few tears, and hoped for Tyson to have all his friends’ support, just as much as she’d had when going through this difficult time. Holding the photo close to her chest, she whispered, I miss you.
She stared at her phone and contemplated calling Tyson, but in the end thought it’d be
selfish to pop up in his life again.
***
Tyson’s world had been pulled from underneath his feet within only twenty-four hours. One day he’d been watching tennis with his dad, the next day he was gone. Just like that. No warning.
His father, James, had suffered another heart attack. This time, though, the doctors hadn’t been able to help him and that night he was gone. It was a kick in Tyson’s gut. A kick of such force he threw up until there was nothing left, yet the pain was still there.
Over the next days, Tyson felt lost. The empty feeling inside him made him lose all focus. He was confused, worn out, and defeated.
His mother had suffered most and needed medical care. His sister grieved in her own way, but gathered all her strength to care for her little daughter, Cailyn, to make her understand Grandpa had gone. His brother-in-law and Grandma Hazel were the rocks in the family during the following days, organising and doing most of what had to be done.
Tyson felt guilty for his weakness, but Hazel assured him there was no reason to be ashamed of his grief. Everyone dealt with it in different ways. They had long conversations these days, and he was grateful for having her close. Ty retreated into silence and solitude, focusing on his family, especially his mother, and neglected his off-season training. Markus and Oliver were regulars at his house, checking on his well-being, helping to organise the funeral with Ty’s brother-in-law. The appreciation he felt didn’t need to be spoken. His friends knew.
The doorbell rang late morning the day after the service. Tyson was still in bed. He ignored it and after a heavy knock at the door, the intruder seemed to have given up.
He nearly jumped, when he suddenly heard his grandmother calling through the house. “Darling? Are you home?”