The Art of Friendship

by Lisa Ireland

  ‘Really? I don’t think I’d recognise them now.’

  ‘Oh, you will. Tanya especially. She’s barely changed. Come on, we’ll go find them.’

  Half an hour later Kit wondered why she’d been worried about the party. It was turning out to be great. She was on her second champers when Harry sidled up to her. ‘Hey, Aunty Kit, happy birthday.’ He pecked her on the cheek.

  ‘Hey, Harry. Good to see you. You know it’s not really my birthday today, don’t you?’

  ‘Yeah, I know, but I won’t see you on the day. I’ll be at school, so I thought I’d do it now.’

  ‘Well, thank you. Speaking of school, how is it?’

  He shrugged. ‘Okay, I guess.’

  ‘Are you missing home?’

  He looked up with a kind of sheepish expression. ‘Not really. But don’t tell Mum I said that.’

  Kit grinned. ‘Your secret is safe with me. So what’s so good about this new place?’

  ‘The school part – you know, the classes and stuff – that’s pretty much the same as every other school. But I really like boarding. I’ve made a few friends and it’s great to be able to spend the whole day with them. We get to do a lot of stuff together, and our dorm master is really cool. He makes sure we have everything we need and helps us to sort things out if there’s a problem.’

  ‘I’m happy for you, mate.’

  ‘Aunty Kit, um, this is kind of embarrassing but I was wondering . . .’

  ‘Yes?’

  Harry blushed a deep shade of red. ‘Is Mr Quinlan your boyfriend now?’

  Kit’s stomach clenched. She’d been so worried about Libby’s reaction to John that she hadn’t stopped to think about Harry’s feelings. ‘Well, we have been seeing each other a bit, so yeah, I guess he is. Does that bother you?’

  Harry looked confused. ‘What? Oh, no. Not at all. It’s just, well, I feel kind of embarrassed about what happened at Claybourne. I was a bit of an arse when I was there, and I don’t know . . . I just thought maybe you could tell him I said sorry.’

  Kit’s heart swelled with love and gratitude. ‘That’s very grown-up of you, Harry, but you know what an even more mature thing would be? If you went over to John and apologised yourself. I’ll come with you if you like.’

  Harry didn’t hesitate. ‘Sure. If you think he won’t mind.’

  ‘I know for a fact he won’t.’

  They made their way across the room, weaving through the crowd until they found John chatting to someone near the kitchen counter. He smiled at her. ‘Hey, you. I thought I’d lost you to your adoring admirers.’

  She made an apologetic face. ‘Sorry to leave you to your own devices for so long. John, you remember Harry Reynolds, I’m sure.’

  Harry stepped forward and held out his hand for John to shake.

  A flicker of surprise crossed John’s face, but he quickly composed himself and extended his hand. ‘Hello, Harry. Nice to see you again. How are things with you? Are you enjoying your new school?’

  ‘Yes, thank you, Mr Quinlan.’

  ‘Oh, there’s no need for formality now you are not a student at Claybourne, son. Please feel free to call me John.’

  Kit touched Harry gently on the forearm for encouragement. He responded with a brief nod before dropping his gaze. ‘The thing is, Mr . . . er . . . John, I really just wanted to apologise to you for what happened at Claybourne. I’m a bit . . . um . . . embarrassed about, well, you know, and I just wanted to say sorry.’

  John smiled broadly and reached over to give Harry an encouraging pat on the shoulder. ‘It takes a big man to own up to his mistakes and apologise. I appreciate it, Harry, and I want you to know that the incident is water under the bridge as far as I’m concerned.’

  ‘Harry!’ Libby’s voice cut in. ‘Would you please go and check on Lottie?’

  ‘She’s fine, Mum. I just checked on her twenty minutes ago.’

  ‘Now, please.’ Her tone was not one to argue with.

  Harry shrugged. ‘Whatever.’ He exchanged a glance with Kit as he left to follow his mother’s command.

  Libby looked directly at Kit, failing to acknowledge John’s presence. Her face was flushed. ‘Could I have a word with you privately, please?’

  Kit nodded. ‘Of course.’ She turned to John. ‘Back in a minute.’ She followed Libby down the hallway to the master bedroom.

  Libby shut the door and turned to face her, anger flashing in her eyes. ‘How could you?’ Her voice was low, but her fury unmistakable.

  Kit furrowed her brow. ‘How could I what?’

  ‘Force Harry to apologise to that man?’

  ‘What? No, Libby, that’s not what happened, truly. Harry wanted to apologise. It was his idea. I thought it was very mature of him.’

  ‘I don’t believe that for a minute. I heard it. Harry was clearly uncomfortable speaking to him.’

  ‘If Harry was uncomfortable it was because apologising is a hard thing to do for anyone, and Harry’s a teenage boy. I promise you I did not make him apologise. I would never do something like that.’

  Libby shook her head. ‘I thought I could handle having him here, but I can’t. I really don’t want that man in my house, and I really don’t want him near my son.’

  ‘So you’re asking us to leave?’

  ‘Not you. Of course I’m not asking you to leave. But I don’t think it’s fair of you to expect me to stand by and watch my son being lectured by the man who forced him out of his school.’

  ‘That’s not what happened, Libby.’

  ‘I don’t want to hear about what you think happened. I’m sure your boyfriend has given you his version of events, but I would have thought that you valued our friendship enough to accept my account of what happened.’

  ‘I do value our friendship but –’

  ‘But nothing! I can’t believe you would even think about starting a relationship with him after what he did. And I really can’t believe that you thought it was okay to let him talk to Harry, let alone make Harry apologise. Honestly, Kit, sometimes you are so fucking selfish.’

  Kit winced. Libby had never sworn at her before – well, not in anger. She realised then that the party was a colossal mistake. She’d been stupid to agree to it. She’d known that bringing John here tonight was a risky move but she’d kidded herself that it would all be okay because that’s what she wanted to believe. Libby wasn’t ready to accept John yet. She’d been stupid to try to force the issue.

  ‘You know what? You’re right. We shouldn’t have come here tonight. It was a mistake. John and I will leave. Happy birthday. I hope you enjoy your party.’

  Libby’s mouth dropped open, but Kit didn’t wait to hear any response. Instead she walked back down the hallway and into the main living area. She weaved her way through the crowd to John, who was talking to Maureen, and interrupted him mid-sentence. ‘Can you see if we can get an Uber ASAP?’

  John looked startled. ‘What, now? We haven’t even been here an hour.’

  ‘Yep, now. This party was a mistake. I just want to go home.’

  Maureen looked at her. ‘You can’t be bloody serious. You’re the birthday girl. What about all your friends?’

  Tears of frustration pricked Kit’s eyes but she blinked them back. ‘Libby’s pissed off with me and I just don’t want to stay here any longer.’

  John and Maureen exchanged a glance, and the tears resurfaced. She felt like a misunderstood toddler, and she was afraid if she stayed things might deteriorate even further.

  John slid his arm around her waist. ‘Of course. As long as you’re sure that’s what you want.’

  She nodded. ‘I think it’s for the best.’

  John took her glass from her and placed it on the table behind them. ‘Let’s go then. Nice talking to you, Maureen.’

  As they turned to
leave, their path was blocked by Cameron, who thrust out his hand to shake John’s. ‘Mr Quinlan,’ he said in a voice loud enough to carry over the sounds of ‘Eagle Rock’ playing in the background. ‘You probably don’t remember me, but we met at the beginning of the school year. I’m Cameron Reynolds, Harry’s dad. Welcome to my home.’

  John accepted his hand. ‘Thank you, Cameron. I do recall you, as a matter of fact. And please call me John.’

  Cam leaned in and placed a kiss on Kit’s cheek. ‘Happy birthday, Kit.’ He looked at their empty hands. ‘Why are we not drinking? I’ll grab a waiter, shall I?’

  Kit shook her head. ‘Actually, Cam, something’s come up. John and I are going to have to get going, unfortunately.’

  Cam looked at her and if she didn’t know better she would have sworn there was sympathy in his eyes. ‘I’m sorry to hear that. Perhaps we can just let John here have one for the road, because I’d love to chat with you privately if you can spare me just a minute. Please?’

  Kit hesitated. In all the time she’d known him Cameron had never once asked her for anything. Right now his eyes were pleading with her. ‘Okay,’ she relented. ‘But make it quick, okay? I really do need to get out of here.’

  Cam nodded and signalled for a waiter. ‘Get my buddy John whatever he likes,’ Cam instructed the waiter. He turned his attention back to Kit. ‘Come into the lounge room. We can talk there.’

  Kit followed Cam out of the main living area and into the formal lounge. She perched herself on one of the uncomfortable leather armchairs and thought back to Christmas Day when she and Libby had sat on the floor in this room. It seemed like such a long time ago now. ‘What’s on your mind, Cam?’

  ‘I overheard your conversation with Libby. I was in the walk-in robe when you two came in.’ He tugged at his t-shirt. ‘I had a red wine incident and had to change my shirt. So I heard most of your discussion and I came out to intervene but you’d already walked away. Kit, I’m sorry about what Libby said. This thing with Harry is a real sore point for her. I wanted to apologise for what she said and to let you know that as far as I am concerned, John is a most welcome guest in our home.’

  Kit was momentarily speechless. In her wildest dreams she would never have imagined Cam saying these words. ‘Thank you, but it really isn’t up to you to apologise. You didn’t do anything wrong. And if I’m being totally honest I need to take some of the blame. I knew Libby was less than thrilled about John being here. I thought she’d be a bit prickly about the whole thing, but I figured once she got to know him better she’d relax and maybe put the past behind her. I want you to know, Cam, I didn’t mean for this thing between John and me to happen. When it started out it was just a fling. I thought Libby would never have to know, but somewhere along the way it became more than that, and John’s in my life now. This is supposed to be my birthday party too and John is my boyfriend.’ She paused for a minute. ‘God, that sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Do forty-year-old women even have boyfriends?’

  Cam laughed. ‘Of course they do. And good for you, Kitster. Don’t worry about Libby, she’ll come around.’

  Kit couldn’t remember the last time he’d called her that. She smiled. ‘Thanks, Cam, I appreciate the support, really I do. It’s just . . . I don’t know. I’m not sure Libby will come around. Something’s not right between us. It’s like whatever we had, whatever that magical thing was that kept our friendship going for all these years, it evaporated when you guys moved down here. Sometimes I feel like I don’t even know Libby anymore.’

  ‘Maybe you don’t.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Maybe the Libby you knew doesn’t exist anymore, or maybe she never did.’

  Kit shook her head in confusion. ‘Sorry Cam, you’ve lost me.’

  ‘I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, but I think Libby has cultivated a version of her life – of herself – that she thinks you will approve of. That was easy enough to maintain with some distance between you. Now? Not so much.’

  Kit shook her head in disbelief. ‘You mean she lies to me? Why would she do that?’

  Cam shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t say lies exactly. It’s more a massaging of the truth. It really gives me the shits, if you must know. It’s like our lives are not good enough for you so she has to create a version of herself, of our family, that meets your high standards.’

  Kit sank back into the chair. ‘She thinks I’m judging her life?’

  Cam shrugged again. ‘Aren’t you?’

  Kit’s mouth dropped open a fraction. She didn’t know what to say. Sure she told Libby a few home truths every now and then, but wasn’t that what friends did for each other? Wasn’t honesty in friendship the most important thing? ‘I give Libby my opinion when she asks for it, but I’m trying to be honest. To give advice. I don’t mean to come across as disapproving.’

  Cam let out a long slow breath. ‘Look, I’m not having a go at you. We all make judgements about other people at times, but Libby needs you to think the best of her. You know Libby. She just wants everyone to love her. If you do love her, Kit, you won’t leave tonight. I’m worried for her, to be honest. I feel like she’s lost somehow. I took this job for her, because I thought she’d be happy down here. I thought being closer to you would be good for her, and I also thought that the lack of any financial pressure would mean she could relax a bit and be herself, but she doesn’t seem happy at all. First there was the whole thing with Harry, and now that’s settled a bit, she seems to be caught up in impressing these other women.’

  ‘But that’s for you, isn’t it? She told me that your job depends on her making a good impression. Harry too.’

  Cam rubbed the palms of his hands over his face and shook his head. ‘That’s all in her head and I can’t seem to convince her otherwise. My job has nothing to do with her. I mean, sure, I was anxious to make a good impression at first, but Libby seems to have taken impressing the other wives to a ridiculous level. I’ve repeatedly told her it’s not necessary. Of course I want her to fit in here and make friends, but that’s for her sake, not mine. I have to say it’s a bit depressing that she has so little faith in my ability to hold a job on my own merit.’

  Was this true? Maybe Cam was a lot more perceptive than she’d given him credit for. ‘I don’t really know what to say, Cam. I’ve known Libby most of my life and, yes, I do know she is overly concerned with people’s opinion of her. But I’ve always thought she was a basically honest and authentic person.’

  ‘I don’t think she’s being deliberately dishonest. I think in her mind she believes what she says at the time she says it. Or maybe she doesn’t, but she thinks the end justifies the means, if you get what I’m saying. She just wants everyone to be happy.’

  ‘But it doesn’t really change anything as far as tonight goes, does it? She’s pissed off at me and she clearly doesn’t want John here. I think it would be better for everyone if we just cut our losses and left. This whole joint party was a mistake. I should never have agreed to it.’

  ‘Don’t go. What about all your guests? How are they going to feel if you disappear? And Libby will calm down, I promise. I’ll talk to her. Cut her some slack, Kit, please. If not for her sake then for Harry’s and mine. If you walk out tonight I’m afraid that will cause a rift that can’t be healed between the two of you.’ He reached over and gently laid his hand on her arm. ‘I’d really hate to see that happen.’

  There was real emotion in Cam’s voice. A wave of guilt washed over her, brought on by the realisation that all the terrible things she’d thought about him over the years may not have been true. She wondered how many times Libby had used him as an excuse. Did she blame him rather than tell Kit when she disagreed with her or didn’t want to do something? Did she routinely voice her opinion by pretending it was Cam’s?

  ‘Look, Cam, Libby and I go back a long way. She’s like family to me, but I can’t force
myself on her.’

  ‘I respect that, but why don’t we just take it one step at a time, eh? Let’s just get through tonight. You stay for a couple of hours, and I’ll talk to Libby and make sure she’s not going to chuck a fit. Let’s see how that goes, okay?’

  ‘Okay, but I won’t stand for any more drama. If she says anything else, John and I are leaving, and I won’t be talked out of it next time.’

  Cam nodded. ‘I understand.’

  Chapter 24

  Libby gulped the remainder of her champagne and grabbed another from the tray of a passing waiter. She was trying hard to concentrate on the story Georgina was telling – something about a mix-up at the airport on her recent shopping trip to Dubai – but she was still reeling from the confrontation with Kit. She couldn’t believe Kit would even consider dating that man who’d treated Harry so unfairly, let alone bring him to her home and expect her to act as though everything was okay. She’d always thought Kit loved Harry as much as if he were her own child. In fact sometimes she’d actually been a tiny bit jealous of the close relationship Kit and Harry shared. How could she just push those feelings aside for the sake of a fling? And it would be a fling. Kit’s relationships with men were never anything but. And then storming off like that. Like a child, for heaven’s sake. What was Libby supposed to do with all Kit’s guests? It wasn’t as if they were seamlessly blending in as it was. They all seemed to be gathered in a couple of tight groups rather than mixing with the other guests. Would they all leave too once they realised their guest of honour had departed? The whole incident had the potential to ruin the party she’d gone to so much trouble to organise.

  Maybe Kit had been right all along. Maybe the party was a stupid idea. All she’d wanted was a nice night with all her friends in the one place. She’d been disappointed that none of her Sydney friends had been able to make the trip. They’d all had plausible excuses of course, but nevertheless the fact that none of them had made the effort made her think that perhaps, despite everyone’s good intentions, the friendship she’d shared with those women would not last the distance.