The End of Cuthbert Close

by Cassie Hamer

  ‘Did all what for me, baby girl?’ He took her chin in his hands.

  ‘Got rid of them for you, Daddy.’ She thrust a look in the direction of Cara, Beth and Alex. ‘They were moving in on our turf, and you know what we always say, the main threats are the ones you never see coming, except I did see this coming, so I did something about it.’

  Cara felt winded. What was Talia talking about now? Surely not … ‘You lit the fire in the shed, didn’t you? You could have killed someone.’

  Talia gave her a disdainful look. ‘To be honest, I’d hoped for a little more damage. But, whatever.’ She shrugged. ‘My friendly local council was more than happy to talk to me … They take food poisoning extremely seriously.’

  ‘So, the complaint to the council came from you too?’ said Alex.

  Talia folded her arms. ‘For a lawyer, Alex, you’re not exactly careful with your words, are you now? The internet is forever, didn’t you know. That’s what you adults are always telling us.’

  Charlie took a step towards her daughter. ‘Talia, I understand that you’re upset with me, but I want you to apologise now. These women are not our enemies. They’ve done nothing wrong.’

  Talia turned to her, eyes streaming with tears. ‘And I did nothing wrong either—’ her voice broke ‘—but I lost everything.’

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Apart from the sound of knife on board and the bubbling pot on the stove, Cara’s shed was quiet, with a kind of stunned silence sitting over it like a cloud of steam.

  ‘I still can’t quite believe it,’ said Beth in wonder.

  ‘I believe it,’ said Alex. ‘There was something about that family that was off from the start.’

  ‘But you thought it was Charlie, not Talia. You asked her to babysit the boys. You trusted her,’ Cara pointed out.

  ‘Yes, well. We all make mistakes.’ Alex hacked away at a carrot for the next batch of cassoulet.

  ‘We all trusted Talia, really,’ said Beth.

  Alex shook her head. ‘And she turned out to be a psycho.’

  ‘I don’t know about psychopath …’ Beth turned down the hob on the stove. ‘She’s definitely a very mixed-up, sad little girl. And it makes sense, really, when you think about everything she’s gone through. I mean, who’d have thought the Primal Guy was a total fraud. All this time he was preaching clean living to his followers, when on the side he was partying like a madman.’

  ‘Sniffing too much of his own protein powder,’ said Alex.

  ‘It’s funny, isn’t it, how you can live less than twenty feet from someone else’s front door and yet never really know what goes on behind it?’ remarked Cara.

  ‘I’m not sure if it’s funny or depressing,’ said Beth. ‘I thought Cuthbert Close was different, special somehow. We do all like each other, don’t we?’

  ‘Well, we do. I can’t speak for the rest of the street. But you ladies are like sisters to me,’ said Cara.

  ‘I feel the same,’ said Beth.

  ‘Ha! Sisters and neighbours – you don’t get to choose either of them!’ said Alex.

  Beth stirred slowly. ‘The one I really feel sorry for is Charlie. I mean, where do you go from here? A business that’s obviously in trouble, a drug-addicted husband in rehab and a daughter who needs urgent psychological treatment. Maybe there’s some way we could help her?’

  ‘Are you kidding? Her daughter nearly killed your business, and you want to help her? For a minute, you thought she was having an affair with Max. What about that?’

  Beth reddened. ‘I was wrong. I still think he’s up to something, but not with Charlie. She’s too … wounded, and dealing with too many other problems to be messing around with Max. Look at how ashamed she seemed to be, and she did manage to get the council to lift the shut-down order. I think she had a sense all along that Talia was troubled, and that’s why she tried to keep her distance. She obviously worked out straight away that Talia had made the complaint and rang the council to withdraw it.’

  ‘It was the least she could do, given all the dramas her daughter’s caused,’ grumbled Alex. ‘Besides, look at us now, nearly midnight and we’re still here cooking another bloody cassoulet.’

  ‘Go home. Please. You really don’t have to be here.’ Beth placed her hand on Alex’s arm.

  ‘I’m not sure I could sleep.’

  ‘I’m a bit the same,’ said Cara. ‘I feel like I should be relieved, or something.’ She dipped a spoon into the cassoulet and tasted. ‘But … I don’t know. I get this sense that something’s still not quite right … It’s silly.’

  ‘Nope. I get it,’ said Alex. ‘Noah might not have stolen Beth’s ring or cut Poppy’s hair, but he did trash his classroom at school, and now I have no job, and everything’s pretty shitty.’ She patted her stomach. ‘Sorry, baby.’

  ‘And my husband is still, possibly, having an affair, even if it’s not with Charlie,’ said Beth. ‘Nothing Talia has done changes that at all.’

  ‘And your anniversary party is only a few weeks away, isn’t it. Are you still planning to wait till then to confront him?’ said Alex.

  ‘I think so,’ said Beth.

  ‘Look at us. Bunch of sad sacks if ever I saw one,’ said Alex. ‘Let’s look on the bright side. We’re here. We’re healthy. We still live in one of this city’s nicest streets, at least for the moment. We’re making beautiful food that’s going to nourish dozens of families. And we have each other. I say that calls for celebration.’

  She looked at the other women for confirmation.

  ‘Maybe,’ Beth said with uncertainty.

  ‘I could open a bottle of wine or a block of chocolate or something,’ said Cara, looking about the shed. ‘On second thought, why don’t we try some of the pork cassoulet? We’ve made a mountain of it and I’m completely famished.’

  As she stood, there was a knock at the door.

  ‘Probably James or Max coming to check up on us,’ yawned Alex.

  Cara opened the door. ‘Charlie,’ she said in surprise. The last she’d seen was Charlie hustling Ryan and Talia inside the house and closing the front door firmly as Cara, Alex and Beth stood open-mouthed on the street, trying to digest everything that had happened.

  ‘I’ve come to apologise,’ said Charlie, her head hung low, shoulders hunched under an oversized grey hoodie and loose tracksuit pants. Her fingers clutched nervously at her earlobe. No earring, Cara noticed with a start.

  ‘Oh, hey, you’ve lost one of your diamonds. Must have fallen out,’ She gestured to Charlie’s left ear, the naked one.

  ‘These?’ Her hand went to the other earlobe, the one that still sparkled. ‘They’re fake … Junk jewellery. Don’t worry about it.’ She waved a hand wearily.

  ‘Oh.’ Cara was still. What exactly about this woman was real? She had a sense they were about to find out. ‘Please, come in.’

  She stood aside and Charlie shuffled in, acknowledging Beth and Alex with a small nod.

  ‘I’m not sure where to begin.’ She sighed, defeated.

  ‘You don’t have to explain,’ said Beth.

  ‘Let her speak, Beth … Some of us are interested.’ Alex gestured for Charlie to sit.

  ‘I don’t blame you for being angry.’ Charlie looked down and took a seat. ‘I thought Cuthbert Close would be a fresh start for us. Get away from the craziness of everything in Brisbane. I just wanted peace and quiet …’

  ‘And to be left alone,’ added Beth.

  ‘Yes.’ Charlie gave a weak smile. ‘You were all so kind and welcoming, and I appreciated it, I truly did.’ She looked at them earnestly. ‘But I was afraid about you getting too close to us. I knew Talia wasn’t … Well, she wasn’t herself. She adored her dad and when he went into treatment, she just sort of … fell apart. Got mixed up in a bad crowd. Started dabbling with drinking … At the same time, I was trying to sell the business so that we could cover the costs of Ryan’s treatment … I just thought it would be safer for everyone if we got away, cam
e somewhere new and kept to ourselves.’

  ‘But Talia thought otherwise,’ said Alex.

  Charlie looked troubled. ‘She’s so like her father. So determined. I knew she didn’t want to come here, I just didn’t realise how much. She was so angry and I guess she thought that if she created enough chaos I’d have no choice but to take her back to Queensland. I’m so sorry you had to get caught up in it.’

  As Charlie spoke, there’d been a thawing in the tense atmosphere of the shed. Beth, Alex and Cara had all leant closer as she spoke. Now, Beth rose and put her hand on Charlie’s shoulder. ‘None of this is your fault. You were trying to do the right thing, and you were doing the right thing. But teenagers don’t always appreciate that.’

  ‘Thank you, Beth,’ said Charlie. ‘That’s very sweet.’

  Alex sighed in exasperation. ‘Why does parenting have to be so bloody hard. It would be so much easier if someone just told you what to do.’ Her eyes locked onto Charlie. ‘You know what? I actually owe you an apology. When you came to Cuthbert Close, I assumed you were a bit stuck-up because your husband was famous and you thought you were better than all of us.’

  Charlie shook her head but said nothing.

  ‘I judged you and I’m sorry.’

  ‘Really, there’s nothing to forgive.’ Charlie raised her eyebrows. ‘You had a right to be wary. And, for the record, I don’t think you’re a bad mother. I think you’re amazing. You’re a self-made woman, something I’ve never been.’ She turned. ‘And you too, Cara. I think Nourish is a fabulous idea, and I have a feeling it’s going to be a wonderful success for you and Beth.’

  ‘Thank you, Charlie, and speaking of Nourish, we were just about to have some pork cassoulet, if you’d like some too?’ Cara stopped herself. ‘Sorry, wait, no. You don’t eat meat, do you.’ She started opening cupboards. ‘You know, I might have some crackers here somewhere.’

  ‘Actually, pork cassoulet would be lovely,’ said Charlie.

  ‘Wonderful,’ enthused Beth, pulling out an extra bowl. ‘If this doesn’t make you feel a little better, nothing will.’

  Alex was first to dip her spoon in, and she moaned as it went into her mouth. ‘This is so good. I can’t believe I helped make it.’

  Charlie sniffed appreciatively and chewed thoughtfully. ‘I’d forgotten just how delicious pork could be.’

  ‘Why did you stop eating it then?’ asked Alex.

  Charlie made a face. ‘Ryan was always the strict one about eating. He was so persuasive, in all areas, really. I guess I fell under his spell. Focused on the business side of things while he had the big vision.’ She paused. ‘But being away from him for this past month has opened my eyes to just how insane it all really was.’ At that moment, Charlie’s pocket bleeped. She pulled out her phone and a frown returned to her forehead. ‘Sorry, it’s Talia. I’d better go.’ She took the empty bowl to the sink. ‘Thank you. That was totally delicious. And unexpected,’ she added.

  Cara walked her to the door of the shed. ‘What will you do now?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’ Charlie stopped. ‘I don’t think we can stay here. Maybe we’ll go back to Queensland.’

  ‘Don’t feel you have to leave on account of us. I meant what I said about you having nothing to apologise for,’ said Beth, clearing the other bowls.

  ‘I know, and I don’t want Talia to think she’s gotten her way … but I do think she needs help, and I have family there. I could supervise visits with Ryan.’ She looked into the distance, where their house was. ‘To me, home is wherever Talia is, and she’s made it pretty clear that it can’t be here.’

  ‘That makes sense to me,’ said Cara, as Charlie gave her a grateful smile.

  ‘Thank you … all of you. You’ve all been very generous, and kind.’

  Cara watched after her and only once the small grey figure had disappeared did she shut the door. ‘Do you think we’ll ever see them again?’

  ‘Who? Talia and Charlie? They can’t just disappear overnight, can they? They’ll need time to pack and get removalists,’ said Beth.

  ‘They never really moved in though, did they? I mean, you saw all those boxes in their house,’ said Alex.

  Beth shuddered. ‘I just don’t like the idea of people disappearing out of this street without us all having a proper goodbye.’

  ‘I’m not sure Talia will want a going-away party. Or Ryan, for that matter,’ said Alex.

  The shed was silent.

  ‘I’ve got an idea,’ said Cara. ‘Let’s take a photo.’

  ‘A what?’ said Alex. ‘A photo? Why? I’d rather forget this night ever happened.’

  ‘I disagree.’ Cara shook her head firmly. ‘Five years from now we’ll look back on this crazy night and laugh about it and we’ll remember how it bonded us forever. Chaos has a habit of doing that.’

  ‘I wonder where we’ll all be living then?’ mused Alex.

  ‘Who knows, so let’s just do this now.’ Cara set the pot of cassoulet on the table. ‘Now, let’s make sure this delicious food gets in the shot.’

  ‘Yes! It might be the first and last time I make cassoulet and I may need photographic evidence that it ever happened at all,’ said Alex.

  The women sat at Cara’s small wooden table and put their arms around each other.

  ‘Ready? One, two, three.’ Cara held out the phone, then studied the image and tapped it. ‘We look a little ridiculous, but the food looks incredible.’

  Alex studied the photo. ‘You know, you ladies should put this on your Instagram for Nourish.’

  ‘Goodness, no. I look like a wreck.’ Beth clutched her throat.

  ‘I don’t think I have any time to photoshop it,’ said Cara. ‘We’ve got to get these meals packed.’

  Alex shook her head. ‘No photoshop. No filters. There’s so much bullshit out there.’ She pointed to the photo. ‘This is life. Three mums, working their arses off at midnight, looking like shit, but doing it for our families, and for each other.’

  Cara nodded. ‘I think you’re right,’ she said slowly. ‘We’re about real food. So why don’t we show our customers a bit of real life to go with it.’

  ‘Exactly.’ Alex clapped her hands.

  ‘Are you sure you couldn’t add just a little bit of colour to my lips,’ said Beth. ‘I look terribly washed out.’

  ‘You look fucking amazing. You always do, and I wish you could see that.’ Alex patted her hand.

  Beth beamed. ‘All right then. Go for it, Cara.’

  She started tapping away and, after a couple of minutes, held up her phone to show Alex and Beth.

  Real food. Real friends. Real life. #nofilter #nourish

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  Alex stood over Noah and Jasper and the ball of fluff that was licking them to death. ‘Guys, come on, stop letting the dog bite you and put your shoes on. The party’s already begun.’

  ‘Mummy, can we bring Bailey?’ Jasper pleaded.

  ‘Yes, please Mummy,’ said Noah, bringing the little labra-doodle up under his chin.

  Six big brown eyes beseeched her. ‘No! She’ll chew everyone’s shoes and eat all the party pies. Absolutely not.’

  The puppy was the twins’ top pick of sixth birthday gift and came highly recommended by the psychologist. It was proven, she said, that dogs (not guinea pigs) tended to reduce stress in anxious children. Pity she forgot to mention the additional stress that having a poo-producing and shoe-munching machine in the house would cause the parents.

  Last night, when they’d woken to hear the puppy crying and been forced to bring it into the bedroom, James had remarked to Alex that it was good practice for having a baby in the house again, for the two were remarkably similar.

  Yes, when the baby comes we’ll rub its nose in its own wee and feed it nothing but dried pellets for dinner.

  She knew he was just trying to make her feel more positive about the dog, and in fact, after only one week, Alex needed little convincing.

  Noah a
dored Bailey. He chatted to the puppy like a friend, and when the two of them curled up on the couch together, he relaxed in a way that Alex had never witnessed before.

  Of course, it wasn’t just the dog. Alex couldn’t fail to notice how much Noah and Jasper had revelled in her being around more.

  Already, in the few weeks since Alex had quit Macauley, Noah’s teacher had reported a marked improvement in his behaviour at school, not to mention his academic work. It’s been quite remarkable … I’m not quite sure what you’re doing, but whatever it is seems to be working.

  Alex mentally had fist-pumped the air.

  One day she would go back to work. She’d be partner at a firm that understood that flexibility meant giving options to staff, and wasn’t about stretching them to breaking point. But right now, a partnership of any kind wasn’t convenient. She needed to be with her boys and to enjoy her pregnancy. James had done his bit and now it was her turn to be there for them – and she was bloody lucky to be able to make that choice, one her parents had never been able to make because of the financial pressures.

  ‘Unless the dress code for this party is shoes-optional, then we seem to have a slight problem here.’ James approached with a smile and slung his arm casually around Alex’s waist while the boys continued to gambol on the lawn with Bailey.

  ‘I don’t suppose you’ve seen the matching one?’ Alex held up her black sandal.

  ‘Have you checked Bailey’s hidey-hole?’

  The puppy had taken to collecting an odd assortment of household objects and placing them at the bottom of the garden in a specially dug hole. So far, random inspections had turned up the TV remote, a therapeutic neck pillow, an eye mask, a few odd teabags and a tube of moisturiser.

  He’s a dog that likes to be pampered. What can you do, James had shrugged.

  Half with hope and half with dread, Alex crossed the lawn to see if her sandal had made it to Bailey’s not-so-secret hiding place.

  It had. She held it up. Only a few minor bite marks. A bit slobbered on. All in all, not too bad. She’d dealt with worse bodily fluids from the boys, and no doubt would again when the baby came. The thought of it made her smile. A new little human being to have and to hold. This time she’d get it right.