by C. J. Lau
Chapter 5
“Maggie! How nice. How are you?” I curse when Emma answers.
“Emma… Is Solo there?” I ask, calmly as I can.
“No. Best you call his mobile,” Emma’s chuckle infuriates me. “He’s drowning his lonely heart at the bar.”
What have I done to you? I want to ask. Why are you being a bitch? Instead I say, “Thanks.” Before hanging up.
Why is she being so mean? We’d been team-mates in Wollongong. Was this her way of dealing with Cat’s accident?
No answers.
I dial Solo’s mobile quickly before any more thoughts of Cat can interrupt.
The phone rang. And rang, and rang. I close my eyes, picture my name on his phone, and pray I’m not too late.
“Hello. Solomon’s phone.” One of Solo’s clearly drunk friends. Over loud bar music shouts, “Solomon’s in the loo, please hold.”
My ears fill with drunken mumblings, the clinking of glasses, too-loud music. The phone probably left on the table.
“Hey Solo, you bulldozer!” someone shouts, “your phone!”
Laughter, before another brisk voice. “Transferring you now.”
“Thank you my lovely secretaries.” Hearing his voice fills me. Excitement and regret. “Hang-on-whoever-you-are.”
Why did I wait so long to call back? The music disappearing as the feelings intensify. I could have lost him. Have I?
“Right, what’s up?”
“Solo? Maggie.” Suddenly forgetting everything I planned on saying, “How many have you had?”
My eyes still closed, desperate to know it isn’t too late.
“Maggie, oh,” he answers. “Hi. Um, about… a few.”
I pour everything out too quickly. “I just called to say I’m sorry. I want to see you, hug you, and kiss you more than ever.”
But the man of my dreams is drunk, I wasn’t sure I’ll be able to make sense to him.
“I thought you’d never call. Thought I’d lost you f’rever.” Solo’s words slurred, tripping over each other. “I’m not gonna let’cha go…easily next time.”
“Solo, please say goodbye for tonight and get away from the bar,” I beg, “I love you.”
“Hang on.” Solo’s voice makes a magical transformation.
Loud music, then Solo’s voice again. “Alex, Roachey, I’m outta here.”
“Got some action? Lucky bastard!” one of them shouts, “—be over yer ex in no time!”
“Yeah, whatever,” I hear him reply. The music stopping again. “Oh wait… You heard that.”
“It’s okay.” I haven’t lost him. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Nursing a hangover most definitely.”
“I want to come down and see you three. Like one big happy family. You deserve to have me accept Emma’s choice.” I rush, getting out what I’ve planned. “I’ll deal with my feelings for Cat.”
A smile forces its way out, the happy tears forming. I could go right now if he wanted.
“Uh, they’re flying out to Tasmania tonight. So it’ll be just you and me. And my headache.”
He can’t see it, but his news brings a wider smile. We’ll rekindle things in private, and I can put off seeing Mark and Emma a little while longer.
“Are you sure you’ll be up to it?”
“Yeah, I’ll be okay. So, see you at 10?”
“Sounds fantastic.” A catch in my throat as tears start flowing.
“Don’t cry, babe. I love you.” His words stir me in ways I never imagined. “I’d better stumble home and clean up. Bye for now.”
I prepare to hang up. “I love you too, Solo. See you tomorrow.”
Click.
Thank heavens for my day! First a crushing victory for the team, then Solo. The rollercoaster of my life on its way up again.
Three weeks until Round 3 in Queanbeyan. A monumental challenge against the team who knocked us out last year. The girls will need to face the past and overcome.
But the cheer ringing out across my empty house is for something even closer to my heart than my girls.
