by Jane Frances
“Not particularly,” Lisa said in a small voice.
“Why not?”
“You can be so dim sometimes Joel. Cathy is the ex that dropped into my yard on Friday.”
Joel shot Lisa a look of disbelief. “That was the Cathy?” He grinned and patted her on the shoulder. “Girlfriend, it’s nice to know you used to have good taste.” His expression sobered. “So what’s the problem?”
“I don’t want to work for her—or her girlfriend.”
“Toni is Cathy’s girlfriend?”
Lisa nodded. Joel really must have walked through the whole hour with his eyes closed. “Think about it Joel. Cathy and Toni work together all week. Then Cathy and Toni are together on the weekend. And Cathy included Toni in all the decisions about the tiling.” To Lisa it was obvious, she had cut herself out of the blueprint but Cathy had continued with her plans, filling the gap with Toni. “Didn’t you see the way Toni looked at Cathy? She’s head over heels in love.”
“Maybe so. But if anything, I’d say Cathy couldn’t keep her eyes off you.”
“She was probably trying to send a message not to mention I was her ex. Knowing Cathy she won’t have told Toni.”
“Ooh. Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?” Joel’s eyes narrowed. “Methinks you’re not over this woman.”
“Get real Joel.” Lisa turned the key in the ignition, to signal that this conversation was over. “I’m way over Cathy. She’s ancient history.”
“So what’s the problem with doing the work then?”
“Joel,” Lisa pleaded. “Can we please just drop it? For once in my life I don’t want to do a job. It’s not like we’re starving for work.”
“I wish you women would get your act together. I don’t have a problem with the men I’ve been with.”
“Just as well,” Lisa quipped. She could tell Joel was pissed off and she wanted to lighten the tone. “You’d have to avoid half of Perth.”
“Ha ha.” The cab door opened, and Joel slid out. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.” Lisa spoke to an already shut door. She reversed out of her parking space without checking the rearview mirror. A passing car honked and an angry fist shook at her. Lisa waved an apology, cursing herself for her stupidity. Wiping her mind clear, she concentrated on making the drive home safely.
Chapter Five
Lisa hid the bunch of roses she carried behind her back and pressed on the doorbell. She still held a key to the Federation-style house that had been her parents’ home since they migrated` from England when she was a toddler, but she only used it if no one was home when she visited.
The lead-lighted door opened and Lisa was immediately hit with the smell of her mum’s home cooking. Her initial apprehension at keeping this dinner date faded as her stomach growled. “Here you go.” Lisa said, theatrically sweeping the bouquet of roses into view.
“These are lovely darling.” Her mum gave the light pink blooms an admiring once-over. “From your garden?”
“Of course.” Lisa swelled with pride. The Queen Elizabeth roses planted in her front yard last autumn had lived up to their promise of being vigorous growers, rewarding Lisa for her regular dollops of sheep poo with a continual flush of flowers. “They’re about this high now.” Lisa indicated a height around her mum’s shoulder level, just a dash below her own. “But they’re getting a bit leggy. I’ll have to get dad to show me how to prune them properly this winter.”
Lisa got the reaction she wanted, her mum huffing. It was common knowledge she was the rose expert in the family, a good amount of her time spent lovingly tending the heritage rose beds she had established in her own front garden.
“Go say hello to your father.” Lisa was bustled toward the kitchen. “I’ll find a vase for these.”
Instead of doing as she was told, Lisa followed her mum into the combined lounge and dining room. “Mum,” she ventured, wanting to get her major news over and done with.
“Yes darling.”
“Janice and I broke up.”
“Oh honey.” Her mum spun from her vase hunt in the antique dresser, and folded her arms around Lisa. “I’m sorry.”
Later that evening, once dinner had been demolished and the dishes done, Lisa and her mum sat at the kitchen table, cups of tea at their elbows. Muffled television voices came from across the hall, her father having begged the excuse of wanting to watch the late news. Lisa knew his escape was imminent from the time he asked of Janice’s welfare over dessert.
“Dad hasn’t changed.” Lisa toyed with the handle on her cup. “He still makes himself scarce when he senses another one of my crises.”
“He just knows what we’re like when we start nattering.” A warm hand was placed over Lisa’s. “Give him some credit Lisa. He loves you very much you know.”
“I know.” Lisa sighed, knowing he was still struggling with her lesbianism. She couldn’t blame him really. Since her coming out at age seventeen he had witnessed more than a few tears. Her flights home to cry on her mother’s shoulder must have reinforced his view that a lesbian lifestyle could not be a happy lifestyle. But her mother was right. She had to give him credit. He may wish the “friends” she brought home would one day turn out to be of the opposite sex—his hopes had certainly been raised by Joel’s appear-ance—but not once did he make any of them feel less than welcome. He had especially taken a liking to Cathy. Lisa could still picture them bent over the Sunday paper, arguing over the cryptic crossword clues. She quickly shook the image from her head. Her mum was waiting for the lowdown on Janice, and here she was thinking about Cathy. Again.
“So Lisa,” Her mum said as she gave a slight squeeze to her daughter’s hand. “How are you coping?”
“Fine mum.”
“Really?”
“Yes . . . no . . . not really.” Lisa shuffled her feet under the table. “Actually, life sucks at the moment.”
“Do you want to tell me what happened?” she asked gently.
“There’s not much to tell. Things just didn’t work out.”
“Okay darling.” Questions hung in the air, but remained unasked. “I have a bit of news you might be interested in. I bumped into Mrs. Parkinson while I was out shopping the other day.”
“Really!” Mrs. Parkinson had been Lisa’s accounting and economics teacher for her final two years of school. One of the few non-nun teachers at the private Catholic school Lisa had begrudgingly attended, Mrs. Parkinson was soon Lisa’s favorite. Actually, she’d had a queen-sized crush on her. Her devotion spurred Lisa onto a straight-A average for accounting and economics. Not having any idea what she wanted to do with her working life, her grades had been the major influence in her decision to study commerce at University. “How is she? Is she still teaching?”
“Yes. She’s still at your old school. She asked after you.”
“That’s nice. I always liked Mrs. Parkinson. God,” Lisa said as she did a mental count, “It’s been over thirteen years since I’ve seen her.”
“I know. She mentioned the reunion of your class was coming up in the next few months. And she said she hoped to see you there—since you missed the seven-year one.”
“Mum!” Lisa gave a derisive snort, and not only because her classmates chose such unusual intervals for their reunions. Once one of the popular girls, Lisa’s final months at school were lonely and virtually friendless. It had been her own fault really. She let her raging teenage hormones get the best of her. In addition to her crush on Mrs. Parkinson, she harbored a secret devotion to her best friend, Simone. During one Saturday night party, Simone was distraught after having been dumped by yet another boyfriend. A deep and meaningful arm-in-arm talk on the back step drove Lisa to distraction. Unable to control herself, she pressed her lips to Simone’s. There was one glorious moment of response, then a horrified look.
“You’re sick.” Simone said, and left.
After that fateful night, Simone refused to take Lisa’s calls and turned her back on Lisa before c
lass on Monday. Although Simone wouldn’t speak to her, she certainly spoke to everyone else. As Lisa’s infamy grew, her base of friends diminished. No one wanted to be associated with the “fucking dyke”. Unable to give her parents a reasonable excuse for wanting to change schools so late in the piece, Lisa bent to her work, willing the exams to come so she could make her escape. When the final day did arrive, she emptied her locker, walked out of the grounds, and never looked back. “You know why I don’t go to those things.”
“Thirteen years is a long time, love. I think you may find attitudes have changed quite a bit since then.”
“Mum!” Lisa couldn’t believe her mum actually considered she might go. “Even if attitudes have changed I will never forgive those bitches for the hell they put me through. As far as I’m concerned, the chapter is closed on my school life.”
“Okay.” Lisa’s mum held her hand up in surrender.
“And don’t think you can answer the invitation on my behalf and expect me to go,” Lisa warned.
“I won’t.”
“Good.” Annoyed at the trend that was developing (why did everyone want her to reopen old wounds all of a sudden?) Lisa collected the empty cups, turning her back to her mum as she made a big deal of rinsing them out. The sponge was given a thorough squeeze and draped over the tap. The tea towel was also carefully rearranged so it hung neatly over its railing. Lisa’s index finger stabbed at a crumb that had missed the wipe down. She flicked it into the sink. With nothing left to occupy her, an unexpected tear trickled down her cheek. Still facing the sink, she fought back a rush of tears.
The scrape of a chair was notice her mum heard her sniveling. Turning to reveal a tear-stained face, Lisa blurted, “I found her fucking someone else on my kitchen table.”
If shocked at Lisa’s language, her mum didn’t show it. Again she drew Lisa into her arms, rubbing her back and making comforting little clucking sounds. “Oh honey.”
Tears dried, but still clutching onto a tissue, Lisa stared into the steam of a fresh cup of tea. Alone with her thoughts—her mum had taken some tea and Tim Tams in for her dad—Lisa turned them to Joel and the ongoing saga of “to quote or not to quote.” Joel thought she was being ridiculous. What was the problem with working for a past lover? Especially one from so long ago. Attempts to explain had been unsuccessful, Lisa getting twisted up inside and her words coming out all wrong. As a result, their working relations were suitably strained.
“God,” Lisa voiced her thoughts out loud. “When things stuff up, they really stuff up.”
“What was that darling?”
Lisa startled; she thought she was still alone. She tossed up the idea of landing another bolt from the blue on her mum. Hell, why not? Get everything out in one visit. “I saw Cathy on Monday.”
“Really.” Her mum sat down, genuine interest sparkling in her eyes. Lisa’s dad hadn’t been the only one to take a liking to Cathy. Her mum thought her the best thing since sliced bread. “How is she?”
“Fine. She has an accountancy practice in South Perth. She needs some tiling done.”
“And she thought of you. Darling, that’s wonderful.”
“Mum,” Lisa prickled. Had mum forgotten she and Cathy hadn’t spoken in years? “She didn’t know it would be me. I imagine we were picked at random from the phone book.”
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. When are you going to start? You have quite a full schedule over the next weeks haven’t you?”
“Pretty much.” Lisa agreed. “Actually, we haven’t even put a quote in yet.”
The mother instinct pulled Lisa up immediately. “You are going to put a quote?”
“I don’t think so. It’s a bit difficult.”
“Why?”
“Come on mum. Cathy and I were going to be business partners. How do you think I’d feel working for her?”
“Lisa. That’s silly. It’s no different than if you went to Cathy to get your taxes done. Then she’d be working for you.”
“It’s not the same.” Lisa folded her arms. Any hope of support flew out the window. She wished she’d just kept her mouth shut. “Can we drop it please?”
“Lisa,” Just like Joel, her mum threw her hands in the air in despair. “Don’t you think you’re taking this flight thing a bit to the extreme?”
Lisa looked blankly at her mum, “What?”
“Fight or flight. Darling, life isn’t a series of discrete compartments you can just put away once you’re through with them. Every time something goes wrong you pack up your whole life and start again.”
“I do not!” Lisa flamed. True, she no longer mixed with anyone from school. Who would want to? And true, she hadn’t just dropped out of Uni when she left Cathy, but lost contact with that circle of friends, as well. “If I did that, I would have sold my house instead of just kicking Janice out.”
“Darling, you’re missing the point. I don’t expect you to even want to see Janice after what she did. But what’s the harm in doing a job, a professional job, for Cathy? You never know, you may find you can be friends.”
“It’s not that easy.” Lisa pouted. Since she felt more like a child getting a scolding than a grown woman, she may as well act like one. “Cathy’s latest girlfriend not only works with her, she lives behind me.”
“Lisa, Cathy’s girlfriend is going to live behind you whether you take the job or not.”
“Okay, okay.” Lisa couldn’t fight that logic. “Point taken. I’ll keep what you said in mind.” She stood, stretching her hands high and forcing a yawn. “I’d better get going. I’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
Lisa said her good-byes to her father, stooping to peck him on the cheek as he dozed in front of the television. Her mum met her at the front door, Tupperware container of leftover roast in hand. “Thanks mum.” Lisa held her arms out for one more hug before she left. “Thanks for everything.”
“Give my regards to Cathy.” Her mum smiled in the way mums do when they assume their advice will be taken.
Lisa tugged the door open. “I’ll give you a call soon.”
The next day, Lisa followed the tinny strains of the transistor radio to the back veranda of the house they were working at. She had spent the morning affixing fittings in a bathroom they finished grouting the prior day. She found Joel sprawled out on the concrete, munching on his usual morning tea, two huge cinnamon buns and a carton of chocolate milk.
“All finished?” He glanced up to Lisa in between bites.
“Yep.”
Joel picked up the piece of paper that fluttered onto his lap. “What’s this?”
“That quote you’ve been sulking over for the last two days.” Lisa plopped down next to Joel and eyed his bun. “I just wanted you to give it the once over. So you can’t blame me if we don’t get the job.”
“I trust you implicitly Leese.” Joel grinned, traces of pink icing around his lips. He studied the neatly handwritten sheet Lisa had worked on after she returned home from her parents. He shook his head and said, “You’ve missed something.”
“What?” Lisa peered at the figures and frowned. “Where?”
“The extra two hundred and forty dollars Toni owes you for your pot.”
Lisa laughed. “I must say I was tempted to put it in under sundries or something, but I’m just so honest I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Anyhow, I imagine Cathy would be paying for the tiling.”
“That’s my Leese—beyond corruption.” Joel offered his bun. Now that he had got his way about submitting a quote, Lisa was once again invited to share his morning tea. He had kept his buns to himself the past two days. “What made you change your mind?”
“Why, your marvelous powers of persuasion of course.” Lisa tore off a section thick with icing. “And cinnamon withdrawal.”
Joel pocketed the sheet. “I’ll drop this in now.” With Lisa’s look he grinned, “It’s not that I think you’ll forget to post it or anything. I just want to make sure we get it in on time. We
promised it by the end of the week.”
With nothing left of the buns but crumbs, Joel stood, brushing down his hairy thighs. “Do you want to come for a ride?”
“No thanks. Someone has to keep the wheels of this machine turning.”
“Are you sure?” Joel batted his eyelashes. “I’m sure Sexy Sue and Jumpy Julie would loooove to see you.”
Lisa gave him a withering look, and said, “Just go—before I change my mind again.”
Chapter Six
Toni flipped through the stack of mail on her desk. An envelope with the distinctive logo of her credit card company was set aside for later. She was not looking forward to opening it. A very late night in front of the television had introduced Toni to the joys of home shopping. How could she refuse the promise of equipment that would give her tight buns and abs of steel in just thirty days? Or the copper-based stainless steel cookware guaranteed to turn crap into cuisine, thus making the exercise equipment even more necessary?
Ignoring all the other correspondence, Toni ripped open a small white envelope, unfolded the enclosed sheet and did a quick scan.
Frowning, she searched through her in-tray for the other two quotes. Laying them side by side, Toni frowned again. Two hovered around the same figure. One was vastly lower in price. Damn. Instead of exulting over the price difference, Toni cursed under her breath. On the previous Thursday she had hardly been able to hide her delight when Sue presented her with a quote personally delivered by Joel. The cost was far above the figure given by the second tiler. Toni initially thought Cathy’s prediction had been spot on. Lisa and Joel did not want the job. Which suited Toni just fine.
The appearance of this final quote exploded that theory. The figure was within a hairs breadth of Lisa and Joel’s, indicating the other was either desperate for work, or had no idea what he was doing. On reflection Toni assumed it to be the latter. Unlike the others, this fellow, Brett, gave a quote on the spot, measuring up in double quick time, punching a few buttons on a small calculator and presenting Toni with a single figure scribbled on the back of his business card.
