The Importance of Ernestine

by Elizabeth Dunk

  John took a deep breath to fight down his panic. If Alec had followed Cecily home, then C. Carter was indeed both the girl Alec was after and his CC. The CC that he had told Gwen was his male mentee.

  How the hell had he missed that Cecily and Gwen lived in the same building? And how was he going to stop the two of them from meeting?

  Gwen, meanwhile, had kept talking. ‘I can’t believe he did that. It’s stalking. It’s reprehensible. I’m going to tear him up over this.’

  ‘You can’t do what he wants, Gwen. You can’t give him any information about this girl.’

  ‘Absolutely I will not,’ Gwen said. ‘What shall I tell him so he doesn’t continue?’

  ‘Tell him you met C. Carter but they don’t work in Parliament House and it isn’t a girl. Don’t worry about the girl. I’ll tell him she has no interest in him whatsoever and he needs to just go find someone else to flirt with.’

  ‘I will,’ Gwen said. ‘But not tonight. Monday at work. I’ll make it seem that I went and found C. Carter over the weekend, and they’re just a public servant and not at all interesting. What will you tell him about CC and who you left the dinner with?’

  ‘I’ll tell him the truth about CC.’ The truth as Gwen knew it anyway. ‘He’ll tease the crap out of me but it will stop him going on about it. As for who I left dinner with—a woman who turned out to be married. I didn’t know it at the time and now I regret having gone with her. Again, he’ll tease the crap out of me about it but it will stop his obsession. I’ll need to do that now, I’m afraid, or he won’t leave me alone.’

  ‘Do it.’ Gwen came and gave him a kiss. ‘Join me on the balcony for some wine when you’re done.’ She picked up her robe from where it was cast over a chair and headed out.

  John started texting. ‘You are a great and glorious man.’

  Alec’s response was instantaneous. ‘Who is she?’

  ‘Doesn’t matter who she is. She’s not interested in you.’

  ‘Idiot. I didn’t tell you to talk me up. I told you to find out who she is. I can do my own talking.’

  ‘No point. She’s a died-in-the-wool party supporter. Unless you’re planning on coming to the dark side, she won’t have anything to do with you.’

  ‘Maybe she’s worth it.’

  John couldn’t have Alec thinking that way. ‘Excellent. Because I know Senator Mulholland needs a new COS. Quiet job. Generally just have to keep him awake for question time.’

  ‘Sounds good to me.’

  ‘Oh, and there’s his fortnightly newsletter extolling the values of a Christian life and bemoaning same-sex relationships.’

  ‘She really doesn’t like me?’

  ‘Really, really doesn’t like you.’

  ‘Damn. Well, I hope you can deliver better news about CC.’

  ‘You are a prick. Very well. CC is my mentee. Each election, I try to help a newcomer to Canberra find their way. I didn’t tell you because you are a horrible little man who doesn’t care for anyone and wouldn’t understand such a selfless idea.’

  ‘Mentor John. Sounds like a character from a fantasy novel.’

  John rolled his eyes. ‘Moving on.’

  ‘Oh, not yet. Do you do lessons? Give tests? Does your pupil have to pass or fail to get another year in Canberra?’

  ‘Yes, you are very clever. And proving why I didn’t tell you in the first place.’

  ‘I will stop, but only because discussing this with you face to face will be so much more rewarding. Finally—who did you leave the dinner with, you wily fox?’

  ‘You are right—I left with a woman. I thought she was single and free to indulge, but it turned out she was married. I felt stupid and foolish and I didn’t want you to know. There. Are you satisfied?’

  ‘I would have been more so if the beauty would have me, but all in all I have to say it has been a pleasurable evening. Have fun with C. Carter. C stands for Christopher, I guess.’

  John stared at the phone as the meaning of Alec’s words sank in. Alec knew he was in the building. Thankfully, he assumed John was with his mentor and not Gwen.

  ‘Will do.’

  John put his phone down, took a deep breath and let it out. Then he pulled his trousers on and went out on the balcony.

  ‘Alec knows I’m here. In the building that is, not with you.’

  Gwen slowly put down the glass she was holding. ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘He must have seen me come in when he followed the girl. He thinks C. Carter is my mentee—it’s not, he lives elsewhere—and that’s where I am.’

  Gwen looked out. Her balcony had a view onto apartments on the other side of the street. Not a good view, but there were few people at home on the other side so it was quiet.

  ‘That’s too close,’ she murmured.

  ‘He doesn’t know, and there’s no reason for him to ever find out. He’s happy with the story I told about the dinner. He’ll never suspect you.’

  ‘Until when?’ Gwen turned to him.

  The conversation he wasn’t ready to have. ‘Like I said, no reason for him to ever find out.’

  ‘What if we fall in love? What if we decide to be together? Alec will have to find out then.’

  ‘Well, that’s different.’ John reached for the other glass and the wine.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because we’ll be a couple. People will accept that. Nothing to worry about.’

  ‘Will they? Me on my side, you on yours. Will they accept that? They don’t really like power couples on the same side.’

  Funny. John had just told Alec that he had no chance with Cecily because they were on different sides. Now, he was facing the same with Gwen.

  ‘Maybe we won’t be on other sides by then,’ John said.

  ‘Really? Are you coming over? Because I’m not joining your team.’

  ‘Why not? Sure, we have some different policies, but they’re good policies. The best policies for Australia.’

  Gwen’s back snapped stiff. ‘You can’t really think that.’

  ‘I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if I didn’t believe it was the right thing to do.’

  ‘Lord. They tell you to ask about condoms and sexual history before you sleep with someone, but no one mentioned you need to firm up their politics as well.’

  John frowned. ‘You knew from the beginning what I am.’

  ‘We’ve never talked politics. I didn’t realise you were serious.’

  ‘I didn’t realise you were either.’

  A pause, that lengthened and deepened until it became a chasm between them.

  ‘I don’t want this to end,’ John said.

  ‘I don’t see the point in continuing,’ Gwen said.

  That was that. John drained the glass of wine, stood and went into the bedroom. He dressed, and let himself out of the flat. On the street outside, he looked up. Gwen’s balcony was dark.

  He almost considered ringing Cecily’s doorbell, but this wasn’t something to talk to her about. Dejected, John went walking in search of a taxi.

  Gwendolen

  Gwen drank herself into oblivion after John left, and spent much of Saturday regretting the action. But by late afternoon, she had recovered enough to be able to think clearly.

  Breaking up with John was the right thing to do. He was intoxicating, interesting, fun to be around and the sex was great. But there was no future, not with the difference in their politics. She’d been stupid to start it in the first place, but everyone made mistakes. Thankfully, this would be a private one.

  As for Alec—the fact that he’d followed the woman here made Gwen’s blood run cold. It was difficult enough being a woman in this world, but when men took it upon themselves to invade your privacy like that...

  Gwen needed to find the dream girl and make sure she was well and truly warned off Alec Moncrieff. And then she would tell Alec what she’d done and make clear that if he did anything like that again, she would leave and report him for harassment as she did s
o.

  Except—how to find her? There were 22 apartments in the complex—did she go knock on every door?

  Needing time to think, Gwen partook in one of her favourite pastimes—she headed up to the roof. There was a garden there, and outdoor furniture and sun lounges. It was a lovely place. Normally she came up here at night, after work, to look at the stars and relax. But on a sunny Autumn Saturday afternoon, it was the perfect thinking location.

  Gwen headed to the sun lounges but stopped when she saw a woman there, reading. She was exceptionally pretty with dark hair. The colour of her eyes was hidden by her sunglasses but... Could this be Alec’s mystery woman? Had Gwen been this lucky?

  Gwen sat on the sun lounge next to her. ‘Hi.’

  The woman looked at her, confusion across her features. ‘Gwen, right?’

  It took Gwen a moment to twig. The woman with the red suit. ‘Tina. Tina Carter. I didn’t know you lived here.’

  ‘Nor I you.’

  Gwen then remembered Paula had said Tina worked at Parliament House. Could she be …

  ‘If you are who I think you are, I need to talk to you about Alec Moncrieff.’

  ‘Really?’ Tina frowned. ‘And if I am who you think I am, what do you need to say about Alec Moncrieff?’

  ‘I must warn you to stay away from him. He is not to be trusted. He is all about playing games, and you don’t want to be caught up in it.’

  Tina pushed her sunglasses up onto her head, revealing her green eyes. Yes, definitely Alec’s mystery woman. ‘You sound like you have been hurt by him.’

  ‘No. I work for him. I have seen him in action and I wouldn’t trust him with anyone. I’m sorry to say that, but it’s true. You are the girl he met last night at a party mixer, right?’

  Tina nodded. ‘I am.’

  Gwen smiled. ‘I’m Barry Fisher’s EA and thus I work for Alec. Are you related to C. Carter on the list downstairs?’

  ‘My aunt. I’m staying in her place while she is overseas.’ Tina frowned. ‘How did you know I was the woman Alec met last night?’

  She needed to know everything. ‘He followed you here last night. Not to your apartment, but to the building. He knew I lived here, so tasked me with finding you. I decided I would, but only to make sure you avoid him.’

  ‘He followed me?’ Tina’s face showed the disgust that Gwen felt. ‘What a creep.’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘Am I going to have to move now?’

  ‘Hopefully not. I am going to impress upon him that he has no future with you, and what he did was wrong. But I’ll keep an eye on him and if he continues to be obsessed with you, I will let you know.’

  ‘Thank you, Gwen. As awful as it is to find you’ve been followed like this, it’s nice to find someone who is on your side.’

  ‘Any time you feel unsafe, come see me. Apartment 3C. I know we’re on the opposite side of politics, but sometimes being a woman transcends that.’

  ‘Absolutely. I’m Apartment 4E.’

  Gwen held out her hand and Tina shook it. ‘Well, I’ll leave you to enjoy your book. Sorry to ruin your Saturday afternoon like this.’

  ‘Thank you for finding me and being honest. I really appreciate it.’

  Gwen went back to her apartment hoping she had done the right thing in telling Tina the truth about Alec.

  ***

  Gwen waited until Sunday afternoon to text Alec.

  ‘I found her.’

  He must have had his phone in his hands, his answer came back so quickly. Hopefully not waiting for a response from her. How obsessive. ‘You wonderful woman. Tell me everything.’

  ‘She cannot stand you and wants nothing to do with you.’

  ‘What? You did talk me up, didn’t you?’

  ‘Why would I do that? Right now, I can’t stand you either.’

  ‘Why? What have I done? Is it so bad to ask you to find her once I knew where she lived?’

  ‘Alec, you don’t follow a woman home. Ever. That’s creepy and awful and makes you a horrible, terrible man.’

  Instead of a text, the phone rang. Gwen stared at it for a moment and then answered.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I didn’t follow her home. Jesus, I would never do that. I followed John, and just so happened to see her walk into the building. Coincidence. Fate. I was destined to know her.’

  ‘You followed John? Less creepy, but still wrong.’

  ‘He was talking to someone who knew me, and making plans to meet them and I had a flash of inspiration that maybe it was the girl from the dinner, so I followed him to see who he was meeting. Turns out it was C. Carter. At least, I thought it was C. Carter. Did you look into that?’

  ‘The C. Carter in this building is a middle-aged woman currently on holiday. Her niece told me. Not the CC you are so obsessed with.’

  ‘Then who was John visiting in that building? Who in there knows me and...’

  Gwen sank back against the lounge with a moan. Alec had just worked it out.

  ‘You. You’re the woman who John hooked up with at the dinner. That’s how he got into my computer—it was you!’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Gwen hoped bluffing would get her out of this.

  ‘Don’t lie to me, Gwendolen Fairford. You concocted the ridiculous Caroline Curtis story, didn’t you? I bet you never even looked at any photos.’

  There was no point. ‘You can’t blame me.’

  ‘Of course not. I’d do the exact same thing in your case. Wow. So you and John. I have to say, he’s a bit serious, Gwen. You could do better.’

  ‘I already worked that out myself.’

  ‘Ouch. Are you okay?’

  That sounded like actual concern in Alec’s voice. ‘I will be.’

  ‘How about I come get you and we go have some drinks and you can unburden yourself?’

  ‘I’ve had enough alcohol this weekend. And I don’t want to give you any more ammunition against John than you already have.’

  ‘Let me beat him down for you, Gwen. He must pay for breaking your heart.’

  ‘He didn’t break my heart. I realised it was a pointless endeavour and ended it before my heart was involved. And you need to not start a thing with this girl. The opposite sides of politics should not mix.’

  ‘Can you find her and tell her that I didn’t follow her home? I’m not that creep, and if she says to you that she definitely isn’t interested, then I will never bother her again.’

  ‘Don’t, Alec. She’s them. We’re us. It won’t work.’

  ‘Don’t set me a challenge, Gwen. I relish a good challenge.’

  ‘You do not. Too much work. Honestly, the amount of running around you’ve been doing lately, I’m surprised you haven’t asked for some time off to recover.’

  ‘Not fair, sweet Gwen. I am a hard working, reliable chap.’

  ‘Where hard working equates to getting off the lounge and putting on a suit.’

  ‘It’s more than some people manage.’

  ‘Good bye, Alec.’ Gwen hung up and put the phone down with a sigh. There, Alec knew and actually, he’d been sympathetic. Sure, John was going to get it, but she was safe. And Alec wasn’t a total creepazoid.

  She considered not passing that information on to Tina, but decided the woman deserved to feel safe in her own home. So she went up to Apartment 4E.

  ‘Gwen.’ Tina didn’t smile. ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘I am, and you are too. I wanted to let you know that Alec didn’t follow you home. He was following someone else, and just happened to be here when you got home to see it was where you live. He’s sworn he won’t bother you again.’

  ‘He followed someone else?’

  ‘A friend. A male friend. Someone who was keeping a secret from him and Alec was trying to uncover it. Definitely not a woman-follower.’

  Tina nodded. ‘Well, that is good to know.’

  ‘I still say you should stay away. It’s just too hard.’

  ‘I
’d already decided to do just that. But thank you for telling me I don’t need to worry. It has been unsettling.’

  Gwen went home, glad that everything had been sorted and that Tina was going to be okay.

  Act Two

  Alec

  The first thing Alec did Monday morning was check his diary. Ridiculous habit to have got into, although now it seemed it was Gwen who had put all those lunch meetings in his diary, not John. Thankfully, his day looked blissfully clear. So he started making notes for Barry.

  A noise outside announced Gwen’s arrival. He got the flowers he had picked up on his way to work and headed out.

  ‘Good morning.’ He put the flowers on her desk.

  She looked at them and when her eyes lifted to meet his, they were satisfyingly moist. ‘Thank you. That’s very kind of you.’

  ‘I am going to tear him a new one for you, Gwen. Just say the word and I will destroy him.’

  ‘No need.’ Gwen picked up the flowers.

  ‘How did you get into my computer? You don’t have my password?’

  ‘John guessed it.’

  ‘Of course he did. Bastard.’

  ‘You did pay him back with the great blueberry disaster.’

  ‘It did, but it occurs to me I haven’t paid you back...’

  Gwen waved the flowers. ‘Broken heart, remember?’

  ‘Yes. I suppose having to sleep with John, even if only for a few days, is punishment enough for your misdeeds. Don’t do it again.’

  ‘I intend not to.’

  Glad that Gwen was going to be okay, Alec continued with his day. He set the usual lunch date with John, and got Barry out the door and into the chamber to try and damage the Government.

  Then he had the peace and quiet to work on the policy for the postnatal depression service. Lois Bailey had got things moving quickly. The PM had strong-armed the Minister for Health into listening to what Alec was proposing. The Minister has passed it onto the Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health for perusal. That was disappointing, but Alec was sure that Lois Bailey would make her husband follow it up.

  Alec had the entire system worked out and for a budget that he had devised based on the knowledge he’d had during their time in government. But things had changed since then, even though it was only six months. Ferreting out the truth of the real budget situation in the Department of Health was a difficult thing to do from opposition.