Polly hid a smile. “Good to know. As a friend, what’s your advice about Reece?”
“Oh, ah, I’m not. I’d need. It’s not.”
Oh my God. Audrey glared at Les in shock. Mia was more articulate and she was slow to talk.
Polly pulled on Flip’s ponytail again. “Flipper, why don’t you take over from Reece so he can talk to Audrey and I’ll intro Les to the girls.” He raised a hand in the air in question. “That okay with you?”
“Oh, I, ah—”
Audrey cut Les off. “That’d be great.”
Polly bent to speak to Flip and Audrey cut Les a look. She tried to make it say be cool, but it probably said could you stop being such a complete moron. She’d seen Les tear strips off people at work who fouled up, reducing them to heaving lumps of snot, and she’d seen her tongue-tied before, but never so badly. And yes, Polly was an incredible specimen up close. The hair, cropped skull close on the sides and tufted on top, the ear plug, the tattoos. He normalised Reece’s size by being almost as big, but he had a different intensity about him. If Reece was a lion gentle with a cub, Polly was more your average croc lurking hidden in shallow water ready to drown you, hide you under a rock shelf and eat you later.
Flip skipped off and Polly motioned to Les to follow him. Audrey gave her a none too subtle shove, in a throwing a live chook to a penned prehistoric reptile manner, to get her moving. Les gave her a very obviously nervous I’m dinner grimace. And then Reece was there and it was just the two of them.
God he had great eyes. The shape, the glossy jade colour, the heavy black lashes that matched his thick hair. Not that his eyes had anything to do with his qualification as a child care worker. Other than that he wasn’t a blind child care worker, which made them an asset. Oh God. The other applicants all had eyes in working order but not so pretty.
“Are you okay?” he said.
Good Lord, she’d been infected with Les’ wandering thought syndrome. “I’m fine.” She met those jade eyes. “This is a great playground. We come here, but there are usually so many bigger kids I don’t let Mia on the equipment.”
“It’s better during the week. All the bigger kids are at school. Do you miss not having weekdays with Mia? The weekends can be so frantic.”
“I remember from maternity leave how they were different, a different pace, not so loud and competitive.”
But full of different kinds of frustration. The abject fear she was getting this motherhood thing all wrong. The full realisation she was in this on her own and the anxiety about returning to work and being able to be the same person with the same performance standards after a 2am feed and a 4am crying jag.
“The parks and cafes around here are all little kid friendly during the week. There’s even a session at the movies for kids and carers. All the kids grizzle together.”
“Would you want to take Mia?” It was hard to imagine saying no to anything Reece wanted to do. Oh, this was not good.
“Only if you wanted that. The DVD and download versions of all the kids’ stuff come out so close to the theatre releases now.”
“Yes, she likes to watch things over and over at home.”
“Flip still does that. And if Etta watches The Fault in Our Stars or Dirty Dancing one more time,” he palmed his face, laughing. “Was it a mistake to bring the family? Did Polly say anything to put you off? Did Flip? Maybe that was a mistake?”
He hadn’t made any mistakes. He’d worked harder than any of the other applicants. He’d known he had to.
He was her in reverse.
He cast a quick glance over his shoulder to where Les and Polly stood with his sisters. “I should introduce you to Sky.”
Audrey shook off her dream-like state. “Why is this job so important to you?”
“It’s what I want to do and I like Mia, she’s a sweetheart.”
“She can be an unholy demon who spits fire and vomits catastrophe. She can also be as boring as rocks.”
“She’s not a twin, she’s one kid at one time. And I’m qualified for this. The pay is better than I’ll get working similar hours at a kindy, not that the local kindys are that keen on male staff.” He looked away. “I’ve had trouble getting a permanent child care job since the Flannery boys. I don’t want to lay any more bricks. They’re the real dumb rocks.”
He held his hand out to shake. He wore a resigned expression. And yes, they were done here. It was decision time.
“I’ve done everything I can think of to help you get comfortable with me, Audrey.”
She took his hand, and he didn’t squeeze or pump or make her feel in any way that he was bigger, stronger, better. He made her feel certain.
He smiled, but it was rueful. “I understand if you’d rather hire someone else. But I’m not going to pretend to be happy if you do.”
7: Moving On
Reece walked Audrey, Mia and Les to Audrey’s car. But the conversation was so general and his sense of having hot-wired the situation to blow up so strong, he had a severe case of the shits by the time they drove away.
He’d pushed it too hard when he should’ve played it cool. He’d gone for awe when he’d needed quiet acceptance. What kind of a dickhead brings six people along to their play date interview?
He took his time rejoining the others, not in the mood for their stirring. Life would be easier if he continued in the building trade, or maybe he should go add a year’s study and head for the schoolroom. The world didn’t come to an end if he didn’t get this job. There were always more bricks. And Charlie could get him casual waitstaff work at the hotel. He should be grateful he had options and no pressing need for cash. But he’d have to work on gratitude, because right now he was irritated.
His gender, and yeah, his body, were stopping him from doing what he most wanted to do, and that blew chunks, sucked gas and went against everything Charlie had ever drummed into him and the girls.
They’d been raised to think if you put your head down, worked hard enough, you could stand in line, put your hand up, and you had as good a chance as anyone else of getting what you wanted.
Charlie had worn a school uniform when she was pregnant with him, but she’d finished school at night, cared for a baby with help from his grandparents, and then slowly worked her way from single parent, and then widow, to functions director at one of the city’s biggest hotels. Twins didn’t stop her. Illness didn’t either. And neither did the opinions of people who thought she was trash. She’d faced prejudice and discrimination and she’d rolled over them. He’d be less if he didn’t do the same. Didn’t mean he had to be dancing about it.
Sky was on the court when he got back to the others. Etta had her head in her phone screen. Gin and Flip watched the game. Neev tossed a coin over and over and watched him with I’ve got a chance at a new bedroom eyes. He snatched the coin out of the air and put it in his pocket.
She air-swiped. “Hey. That’s mine. Give it back.”
“He screwed up,” said Etta, without lifting her head.
Gin and Flip made airplane crashing noises.
Polly back-slapped him. “There’ll be another one.”
Polly’s mouth made those words, but the guy couldn’t hide the fact he was a sideline hater. He’d rolled with Reece doing child care at uni while he went to trade school because working in the industry had seemed a long way off, now Reece had chosen child care over bricklaying, Polly had taken the rejection personally. If he mentioned casual building site labouring in the next breath, Reece would ask him where exactly he could get a next breath from while his trachea was being throttled.
“Sky is winning, if you care,” said Etta.
Sky always won. He leaned on the sandstone wall between Etta and Polly and watched her take another point. Sky was as relentless on the volleyball court as she was going after anything else she wanted. He was still amazed she’d agreed to go out with him two years on. He put his hands to his mouth funnel-style and shouted. “Take it, Sky.”
She gave him the quickest flick of her eyes to let him know she’d heard, but otherwise she existed for the ball, the net, the outline of the court in the sand, and taking down her opponent.
Her focus, her competitiveness were the qualities that made her a good market analyst. He believed her when she said she’d have her own brokerage firm one day, but he’d made the mistake of laughing when she suggested he buy a childminding centre rather than be a child care worker. It was still a sore spot between them and a point of alliance between Sky and Polly. They both wanted to see him doing something else.
She scored again and he stuck a circled thumb and first finger in his mouth and whistled. The sound was hard and loud and drew attention their way. And Sky knew it was for her.
Etta grunted. “That’s so embarrassing. Why can’t you cheer like normal people?” Next to her Neev sprayed her own knees with spittle, trying to emulate the whistle. “Gross.”
Theme for the day. Why couldn’t he get a job like a normal man? Move in with his delectable girlfriend like a normal man? No normal man his age lived at home and wanted to work looking after little kids.
Fuck normal. It was overrated.
“Come on, I have to get you lot home.” The girls shifted. He turned to Polly. They had plans; those plans involved alcohol and sleepovers with not much sleep and not much planning except a good time. “I’ll see you there.” They clasped hands.
“I invited Les.”
“What?”
“You know, Les. Audrey’s friend.”
“Okay, but, ah, why?”
Polly shrugged. “I thought it would help. You know butter up the wingwoman.”
He stared out at the sea. Was there anything good about this? “Jesus.”
Neev put her hand in his pocket and took her dollar coin back. “Jesus loves you. No swearing.”
Polly ran his hand over the gelled tufts of his hair. “That was wrong, right?”
“Moron,” Etta snickered.
“Geek.” Polly made a grab for her and she scarpered.
Reece shook his head. Les was a huge hat, sunglasses, and a baggy t-shirt. She’d been on her phone the whole time. It felt like a bad idea. “What’s the plan then?”
“Dinner, karaoke and a fine time had by all. Sky approved it.”
Reece grimaced. Felt like he was being set up, but he had no idea what for. Nothing he could do about it now though. He signalled to Sky on the court sideline. She had another match to play and they’d meet at the pub.
He hustled the girls to the car. Gin was breathing easier, and laughed without wheezing when Etta, with her eyes on her phone, walked into a light pole. She and Neeva sang along with the radio in the car. Flip got the words wrong.
Charlie was waiting on the front steps. Coffee mug in hand. She looked tired. There was a big society wedding at the hotel so she’d had to go in to work today. The girls filed past and she checked each of them.
“Etta, can you make the mash potato please. Neeva, homework?”
“No.”
“Neeva.”
“Okay, I’m doing it.”
“Ginnette, towel.”
“I didn’t.”
“Well, someone else used your towel and left it on the bathroom floor. Go pick it up.”
“Pippa.” Mum considered. She held a twig from the garden in between the fingers of her right hand. Her substitute cigarette. She’d given up when the twins were born, before they knew about Gin’s asthma, but she still craved. “You’re perfect. Go read a book. Reece.” He sat beside her. “You’re too soft on them. How’d it go?”
“Flip did good. Polly poured the charm like wet cement. Mia is such a cutie. She’s at the fairy dress stage. But I’m not going to get it.”
“Why not?”
“Other candidates, better...” he trailed off. Yeah, that wasn’t the fucking reason. If there were better candidates, he would never have made it to the play date round. “It’s too hard to hire me. It’s easier to hire a chick. I make Audrey nervous. I’m better off sticking to jobs with boys.”
“You know that’s discrimination.”
“Yeah, but what can I do about it? People don’t hire you to look after their kids if you scare them shitless.”
Charlie leant her head on his shoulder. “Oh honey, I’m sorry. I worry about the girls experiencing this kind of thing. It never occurred to me you would.”
“No biggie. I’ve got options.”
“You do. Doesn’t make it right though. You came into this world knowing how to look after people, and somehow being born my son didn’t grind it out of you.”
“Please don’t say you’re proud of me. I’m too big to squirm.”
She took hold of his head and leaned in so she could kiss his cheek. “You’re never too big to squirm.”
He squirmed. “Mum!” She kissed him again. “Charlie!”
She laughed and let him go. He’d gone through a phase after Flip was born where he’d resented her so much he’d stopped calling her Mum. He was seventeen and potty training was cramping his style. Now he only called her Mum for effect and he only called her Charlotte when she was really pissing him off.
“Are you seeing Sky tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you going to tell me why you’re not moving in with her?”
“No.”
Charlie flicked the twig into the garden bed. It was thick with weeds. If he could get the girls to help they could have it all cleaned up in an hour. “Come on, buddy. She’s hot and you’re into each other.”
He tapped down a squirm. “Are you desperate to reassign my room too?”
“No. You know I hated it when you lived with Polly those years. You can stay as long as you like. I’ll never kick you out.”
“Etta would.”
“Etta doesn’t yet pay rent like you do.”
“There is that.”
“You’re restless. I’m wondering about that.”
“I’m twenty-seven. I live with a bunch of hormonal women.”
She swatted his leg. “I worry you think you have to stay. You don’t. I’ve got this now. No more study. I’m healthy. My job is stable. Gin is doing fine. You don’t have to be a parent anymore. You’re allowed to go have your own life.”
During the three years he’d lived party central with Polly, Gin was hospitalised five times, Mum had pneumonia twice and Flip broke her arm. After he gave up the fighting cage and enrolled at uni, he’d moved home because he was more often there than not. But that was four years ago. He should want to sleep with Sky every night, all night. He should want to be more than a shelf in her bathroom cabinet and a drawer in her wardrobe. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He should want to tie their two lives in strong knots. And Sky was getting sick of his presence being transitory.
“It’s complicated, Charlotte.”
“That’s what you always say.”
“I’m allowed. It’s generational.” Only just, there was only sixteen years between them.
She leaned against him again. “All right. I’ll give it up.”
“No you won’t.”
“No, I won’t. But I won’t annoy you any more now.”
From deep inside the house they heard the TV turn on. Then Flip and Gin arguing. Then Flip, “Muuum, Muuum.” There was a pause then, “Reeeeeece.”
They both laughed and Charlie stood up. She ruffled his hair. “I got this.” She went inside and he sat on. He really did need to move out. He needed to sort it with Sky. He needed a shower, a shave and a job where he didn’t wear a tool belt.
Hours later, sitting with Polly in the beer garden waiting for Sky, he wasn’t any closer to answers. Polly brought Sophie and she brought Del and then the group expanded some more and by the time Sky arrived there were twenty or more of them ordering dinner in the bistro.
He tapped Polly’s shoulder. “Are you keeping an eye out for Les?”
“Who?”
Shit. What a disaster.
“Les.”
“Oh yeah.” Polly scanned the room. “Stuffed if I know what she looks like without the sun camo. Shortie. Cute. That’s all I remember. Ah, she’ll find us.”
Reece deadset hoped she didn’t. And by the time Sky arrived, late, so he’d started to worry, especially when she didn’t answer her phone, he was only checking out the edges of the room every other fifteen minutes, and Polly had Sophie on his lap, so there was no way he’d remembered Les.
When the karaoke started he had an extra drink. He didn’t usually sing, but he felt like cutting loose, which meant he had to chase a buzz. He bought a round while Sophie and Del did Beyoncé’s Put A Ring On It. Polly was at him to do Blurred Lines. He wanted to dedicate it to Les. If Reece could get a little blurry that might be on.
Meanwhile he had some catching up to do with Sky. He pulled her to his lap and she settled in. She looked crazy hot tonight. He ran his hand up her leg to the edge of her short skirt and she lay her head on his chest.
“You tired?” She’d played six games of beach volleyball, she had a right to be. She’d worked late three times this week.
“No, baby, I’m good. Did you hear anything after your play date?”
“Nah. Don’t have a good feeling about it.”
She turned to face him, put her hands to his chest. “You’re staying with me tonight, yes?”
He bent to kiss her forehead. “Couldn’t stop me.”
“And tomorrow we’ll hang out.”
He nuzzled the side of her face, “Ah-ha,” wrapped his arms around her and let one hand rest on her tight little arse. When she didn’t protest he left it there.
“And you won’t run away to do something for one of the girls?”
He deserved that doubt. That’s what he’d done last weekend. Answered his phone to a tearful Flip and gone home to sort out the broken window before Charlie got back from a shopping trip with Etta.
“Flip can bust the front door off its hinges and Neeva can set the house on fire and I promise I won’t dump on you.”
Sky was adamant his family used him. The Minh family were so different. Sky’s parents were divorced. Her mother had moved to Paris. Her father ran an import business and spent his time travelling between Vietnam and Sydney. She was close to her brother David, but he was older so she had no family responsibilities. She thought the girls were noisy, selfish and demanding. They were, but he loved them for it. Sky tolerated them well in small doses, while they idolised her, especially Etta.
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