John marched away, stopping when he found a bench near one of the windows that looked onto a garden courtyard. There, he slumped, uncaring of who saw.
He missed Gwen. The pain he was feeling surprised him. They’d been dating less than two weeks. Sure, the sex had been fantastic, but that didn’t account for the fact he missed her smile, her wit, her intelligence.
Was Alec right? Could you make a mixed relationship work? And if so, could he and Gwen be the right people to do so?
Right now, Gwen obviously thought not. And he had a sneaking suspicion if he just went to her and said that he wanted to give them another try and with work they could resolve the problem, Gwen would tell him no. In her mind, it was an insurmountable barrier. She wouldn’t give them another chance until the barrier was removed.
Inspiration struck. What if he convinced Gwen the barrier no longer existed, even though it did? They could continue the relationship, he could slowly re-introduce it and by then, they’d be able to see their way around it.
There was only one way to do that—tell her he was thinking of changing sides. That he was starting to feel that she was more important than politics. Maybe her side was the better. If they could spend time together, if he could come to understand it better, then maybe they could...
Would she buy that?
Another idea—what if he convinced her to pretend that the politics didn’t exist? They didn’t work at Parliament House, they weren’t political staffers, they were just two people. They would get to know each other better, solidify their relationship, and then when the horror raised its ugly head again, they would be in a position to work it out.
John nodded. He preferred that idea. It involved not lying to Gwen, and he was already lying to her about one thing.
He got out his phone and texted. ‘What if the politics didn’t exist?’
‘It does,’ she texted back.
‘What if it didn’t? If you and I were normal people, not true believers, the fact you believe one thing and I believe another wouldn’t stop the relationship.’
‘It wouldn’t be good for it either.’
‘But we could work things out. Work around it. Celebrate the things that bring us together, rather than the things that divide us.’
‘But we aren’t normal people. We are true believers.’
‘What if we pretended we weren’t?’
‘Have you gone mad?’
‘Not at all, thinking very clearly. Here’s my idea. For us, politics doesn’t exist. We pretend we don’t do what we do. When we’re together, we talk everything but politics and work. We have a relationship totally excluding our jobs.’
‘They aren’t just jobs. They are a passion too.’
‘Do you think politics 24/7?’
A pause. ‘No.’
John smiled. That pause meant she was starting to be won over. ‘Then why not spend the time you aren’t thinking about it with me?’
‘That doesn’t change the issue of what will happen when people here find out.’
‘How will they find out? The only person you and I have in common here is Alec, and he knows. If we are circumspect enough, we can have the whole thing worked out and be comfortable and committed before anyone here knows, and then we help each other deal with any flak.’
Another pause. ‘I’ll think about it.’
John pocketed his phone with a smile. He didn’t doubt that Gwen would agree—she was missing him too; the fact she’d indulged that conversation without shutting him down proved that. They’d be together again, and then let things happen as they must.
Gwendolen
Gwen was still thinking about John’s proposal as she got home. It was a ridiculous idea—how could you completely divorce yourself from your career? And it wasn’t just the career problem—her father would kill her for dating someone from the other side. But it was also tempting—she missed John dreadfully.
She stopped to check her mail on the way from the basement to her apartment. Despite the No Junk Mail sign, there was plenty of junk mail and she had to go through it in search of proper mail.
Nothing. She dumped the entire thing in the bin and turned to head to the stairs. The front door opened and in stepped Tina.
‘Hello.’ Gwen smiled.
‘Good evening. It’s nice on the non-sitting weeks to come home at a reasonable hour.’
‘Absolutely. I think you’d have the worst of it, working for a Senator. All those committees.’
Tina laughed. ‘Yes. Much as I like Michelle, maybe I should move to the other side of the house.’
‘Yes, come join us. We have cupcakes.’
‘Done.’ Both women laughed.
‘Don’t tell me you’re so into health that you walk to work.’ Gwen nodded her head at the front door, which wasn’t how you entered when you parked your car downstairs.
‘Lord, no. I catch the bus.’
‘You don’t drive?’
Tina shook her head. ‘One of those things I just never got the time for, and now it seems a bit silly, an adult learning to drive. In between buses, taxis and friends, I get by.’
It occurred to Gwen that Tina, a woman working in parliament, might have some insight into her predicament. ‘I don’t suppose you’d be interested in joining me for a glass of wine and some cheese.’
‘Actually, that sounds a perfect way to end the day.’
Gwen led her upstairs. In her apartment, she showed Tina the balcony and then got the wine, cheese and glasses and joined her.
‘You can see the flag from here.’ Tina pointed to the massive flagpole above Parliament House, visible down the street.
‘Sometimes at night, when it’s lit up, I look at it and have a moment of fear it’s going to turn into the bat signal, summoning me back.’
Tina laughed. ‘My apartment is on the other side of the building, so I don’t have anything to remind me of work. I can close my door and shut it all out.’
What a wonderful segue onto what Gwen wanted to discuss. She poured the wine. ‘It’s something I try to do as much as possible, and in fact a lot of the time when I’m out here I don’t even see the flag. Some sort of selective blindness saving me, perhaps.’
‘Here’s to selective blindness.’ Tina lifted her glass in a toast.
‘It’s important to be able to take a complete break from work, don’t you think?’
‘Absolutely,’ Tina said. ‘I think I’d go mad if it was at me all the time. Not that we get to take a complete break, thanks to mobile phones and mad bosses freaking about red suits at three in the morning.’
‘Oh, do tell,’ Gwen said.
‘Well, my boss got caught out a few weeks ago by a now infamous photo of her chasing a hat across the carpark—’
‘Hat chase lady,’ Gwen butted in with a smile. ‘One of my fave pics of the year.’
‘It’s people like you that are causing me all the headaches,’ Cecily said. ‘She’s now obsessed with looking perfect every time she steps out the door.’
‘You know that pretty much guarantees it will happen again. She needs to embrace it.’
‘Something she isn’t ready to believe yet,’ Cecily said. ‘And something that isn’t stopping her from calling me at three in the morning in a tizzy about her favourite suit not fitting her.’
‘Canberra spread,’ Gwen said. ‘Happens to the best of us. Although you appear to have escaped.’
‘Thank you.’ Tina spread her hands down her stomach. ‘Well, I had to talk her down and convince her that she had an equally interesting thing to wear.’
‘And the suit?’
‘I told her to leave it with me and I’d deal with it. She thought I’d tear the drycleaner a new one. What I did, as you know, was get Paula to let it out.’
‘Well done you. Brilliant solution.’
‘What does your boss get up to?’
‘Barry’s a dear. It’s not about clothes with him. When he goes back to the electorate, he likes to put
on dinners for people. Barbecues. The right quality meat is very important. I’ll get calls Thursday night. He’s got home, gone right to the fridge, not happy with the meat, and I spend Friday getting him better.’
‘Oh, that’s nice.’
‘He is lovely. A bit like a grandfather, you know what I mean?’
Tina’s nose did a strange little twist. ‘Sure.’
There was a pause in the conversation that led Gwen to believe she’d said something wrong, although what she couldn’t know. ‘I know what you mean about wanting a sanctuary. It’s like when I’m here, I can forget what I do, what it means, all the pressure, and just be me.’
‘Exactly,’ Tina said. ‘Of course, you are you at work, but it’s like you’re an uber you there. Here, you can be regular you.’
‘Likes to listen to loud music you.’
‘Likes to watch movies you.’
‘Likes to drink wine you.’
‘The best you of all.’ They clinked glasses. ‘I couldn’t survive without the sanity break,’ Tina said.
‘Do you think it’s possible to have two political people in the same space and they can both forget what they do?’
‘We didn’t manage,’ Tina said. They both laughed. ‘Do you mean in a relationship sort of thing?’
‘Exactly,’ Gwen said.
‘Theoretically, it sounds possible. If you are both able to completely shut off that part of your life and not let it intrude. And it meant you would have a partner who understands the need to be trying to find butchers late at night.’
‘Not to mention the late night sittings.’
Tina shuddered. ‘Hate those. But it would also increase the chances of the world intruding, having two people trying to hide from it. I think it is better to date outside the workplace.’
‘But you do think it’s possible?’
Tina put her glass down. ‘This isn’t just a hypothetical, is it? You’ve met someone.’
Gwen sighed. ‘I have. And I think it won’t work, because of the politics, but he wants us to try to forget the politics and just be a couple. It’s nice that he wants to be with me so much.’
‘It is, but you can’t let your feelings overtake you. Not with the potential for so much heartbreak.’
Gwen nodded. ‘We’ve already broken up once, and that hurt, but it was only after a couple of weeks. What if we get back together, really fall in love, but the hurdle of the politics is insurmountable?’
‘Well, in that case, it doesn’t matter, does it? Being in love, in a committed relationship, that’s an entirely different thing. No reason for you to want to hide from the politics because you’ll be there to support each other.’ Tina considered Gwen for a moment and Gwen felt like the truth was written all over her face. ‘Unless he’s on my side of politics?’
Gwen nodded. Tina leant forward and patted her hand. ‘Gwen, I really think you shouldn’t do it. Pretending you’re not in politics with someone of your own political persuasion is one thing, but this is like keeping secrets from each other, and no relationship can be built on secrets. And what do you do if your particular politicians end up in direct opposition to each other?’
‘That can happen within a party as well,’ Gwen pointed out. ‘They’re not always happy families.’
‘And you prove my point. You know our bosses demand our loyalty. How is your boss going to react to you sleeping with the enemy? You could lose your job over it.’
When put like that, Gwen could see the absolute right in what Tina was saying. ‘Damn.’
‘I’m sorry. Someone will come along, I’m sure. You’re super. For, you know, someone on your side.’
Gwen smiled, although she didn’t really feel like it. Fake it til you make it. ‘Ditto. Let’s drink to that. Another bottle, I think.’
‘Sounds smashing,’ Tina said.
***
That night, feeling decidedly tipsy, Gwen got out her phone and texted John, telling him it wouldn’t work and he should forget it. Then she went to bed, for the first time leaving her phone in the lounge room. If Barry called, bad luck. She needed space to mend.
Alec
‘What is your side like?’
Alec almost spat out the mouthful of amazing laksa he’d just taken. Sacrilege. He chewed slowly, swallowed then looked at John.
‘What did you just say?’
‘I was just wondering. It pays to have an open mind, you know. Maybe I’ve not given your side enough of a go. Maybe, if I looked at it, I could be one of you.’
Alec scoffed. ‘You could no more come to our side than the PM. Where is this coming from?’
John stirred his Tom Yum. ‘Just... thinking.’
‘Stop it. Thinking never did anyone any good.’ Alec took another mouthful. The chilli hit his tongue and the heat seemed to loosen something in his mind. ‘This isn’t about Gwen, is it?’
‘I proposed that we forget who we are, what we do and just have a relationship. The theory being we’d get to really know each other, bond, and when the whole enemy thing arose we’d be strong enough to deal with it together. But she said no. So now I’m considering alternatives.’
‘Wow.’ Alec put his fork and spoon down. ‘You would seriously change sides for Gwen? I like the girl, but is she worth that?’
‘I’m starting to think she is,’ John said morosely.
‘Poor chap.’ Alec looked at his laksa. How could he not feel like eating? ‘Damn it, Worthing, your ridiculousness is ruining my appetite.’
‘Not doing much for mine either.’ John pushed his soup away.
‘Then we’d better fix this, because I refuse to give up eating for you. You are definitely not worth that sacrifice.’
‘But what can we do? You’re right—I’d never fit in with your side. Your side sucks.’
Alec let his mind roam free. ‘Maybe you don’t have to actually come over. Maybe all you need to do is convince Gwen you are thinking seriously about it. Spin that out for long enough to establish the relationship, then decide you can’t, it just doesn’t work for you and then the two of you can work things out.’
‘God damn, Alec, you’re brilliant.’
Alec shrugged. ‘From time to time. When I get back to the office, I’ll tell Gwen about this conversation and—’
‘What?’ John sat bolt upright.
‘Not that you’re going to Bunbury her, idiot. Just that you were asking me about the party, and talking about whether you should give it a thought. I’ll tell her that, and that it must mean you are really serious about her. That will lay the ground work for you to begin.’
‘Thank you, Alec. You are a good friend.’
‘I don’t know why. You don’t deserve it.’ Alec resumed eating his soup. ‘Ah, Laksa. Mouthful of heaven. Never ruin my lunch again, John.’
‘I won’t. Scouts honour.’
‘God, you weren’t actually a scout, were you?’
‘No. You bought me the bloody hat.’
Alec grinned. ‘I did, didn’t I? How is Mentor John going?’
‘Not telling. Actually, I’m not doing much mentoring any more. CC pretty much has a hold on things.’
‘So, you’re left to wander the corridors aimlessly, scout hat on, looking for your next victim?’
‘I take back the good friend comment. You’re a bastard.’
‘Cheers.’
***
Gwen was typing away madly when Alec arrived back at the office. He perched on the edge of her desk and when she looked up at him, gave her his brightest, most engaging smile.
Gwen shook her head. ‘What have you done now?’
The smile disappeared. ‘I come bearing news of hope for you, and that is the welcome I get?’
‘You can’t blame me. That smile nearly always means “I’ve done something that’s going to make you work until the early hours, Gwen”.’
Alec pushed away his dislike of being so easily read. ‘Well, my darling, you don’t need to work tonight. In fact
, I think I can guarantee that work will be the furthest thing from your mind tonight.’
‘That is not a comforting sentence.’
‘You really make it difficult for a guy to be a good chap, Gwen. Okay, here it is. John Worthing is going to switch parties for you.’
Gwen’s body stiffened. ‘Get out.’
‘Get in. We were having lunch and he started asking about the party, wondering if maybe he gave us a good look he might change his mind. Of course I talked us up, but when I enquired why this sudden change of heart, he grew coy and wouldn’t say. But it must be about you, Gwen. You’ve inspired him to change sides.’
Gwen’s eyes narrowed. ‘He never said it was about me?’
‘No, but what other reason could it be? He’s been a dyed-in-the-wool idiot supporter, and now suddenly he wants to come to the light?’
Gwen tapped her fingers on the table. ‘He was just asking. It might not mean anything.’
‘He was asking, Gwen. He actually voiced, to me of all people, an interest in our party. That’s akin to Menzies joining a union. It has never happened. It shouldn’t happen. It should be impossible. But you have brought him to this pass. Hmm, maybe we should deploy you as a secret weapon. You can date all their staffers, bring them all over to our side. Like a secret agent.’
‘Stop it, Alec.’ But Gwen was smiling. ‘You really think he’s serious?’
‘I really do,’ Alec said. ‘And I really think it’s for you. So if he calls you, Gwen, and wants to get back together or even just talk, perhaps you should give him another try?’
‘Perhaps I should,’ Gwen mused.
Satisfied that he had set John and Gwen on a path to—maybe not true happiness but at least temporary contentment—Alec went into his office to check his emails.
There was one from a designer and he clicked it open. Before him was a banner—Cecily Carter for PM. With an Australian flag in one corner, and the slogan ‘Smart, sophisticated, perfect’.
Alec smiled. He knew he didn’t have a chance with Cecily—she had made that very clear, and he wasn’t one to continue to bother a girl when she’d said no. But he had seen something in that corridor encounter, something in her eye that made him believe and he wanted her to know that.
The Importance of Ernestine Page 12
