The Changing Room

by Christine Sykes

  ‘There’s no point talking to you when you’re this way. I have to go right now.’

  Anthony and his bags left. The foyer was empty. Claire collapsed onto the floor. She wanted to run after him, to pull him back, but she couldn’t move.

  Claire lay on the floor. She was frightened. What if no one came to find her there? What if she died of dehydration or starvation? She knew she was being silly. Lauren was due home later that day and, if worse came to worst, Theresa was coming the next day to clean the house.

  She wriggled herself into a different position and found lying on a cool tile floor with her knees bent was rather comfortable. While lying there, she noticed how different the foyer looked from the floor. The sculpture she’d bought for Anthony was ugly. It looked like a devil from underneath. Perhaps that’s what I’ve done, Claire thought, made a pact with the devil for my so-called perfect life.

  Claire had spent so much time and energy building her life, collecting objects and people, she’d never taken time out to reflect. Lying on the floor, she had no choice.

  Thoughts wafted through her mind about a life without Anthony and her children. Maybe she would have travelled or lived in France. Perhaps she’d have done something creative – she’d been good at art in school. More likely she’d have found another Anthony and filled her life with different objects and projects.

  From her position she could see under the hall stand and realised there was not one speck of dust there. What an efficient cleaner Theresa was and how strange she’d never thought about how clean her house was. No dirt or dirty secrets had sullied her door.

  How would she cope if Anthony was leaving her or if he had an affair? Could she live alone like Anna, who seemed to have no family in her life? What would happen if Anna couldn’t get up off the floor and how long would it take for someone to find her?

  After some hours, Claire heard the front door open and turned her head to see Lauren enter.

  ‘Mum, what’s happened?’

  ‘I can’t get up. My back.’

  Lauren rang the ambulance, ran to get a pillow for her mother’s head and sat beside her.

  ‘What happened, Mum?’

  ‘Your father left, and I collapsed.’

  ‘Sorry, Mum. He told me he was going today, to stay in a hotel near the airport. Said he’d ring me later.’

  Lauren rang Genevieve and told her what had happened.

  The ambulance paramedics arrived soon after and checked Claire’s vital signs. They gave her an injection, saying she would be fine but she should rest and relax. They moved her into the living room and the ambulance left.

  ‘What the heck have you done to yourself?’ asked Genevieve when she arrived a few minutes later. ‘You look terrible and you frightened Lauren.’

  Claire wanted to retort with a smart remark, but instead she cried.

  ‘There, there, you’ll be all right. Come on, you’re made of sterner stuff than this.’ Genevieve wiped her brow with a warm cloth. ‘It’s the pain that’s making it harder for you.’ Genevieve helped Claire practise the exercise the pain management therapist had recommended.

  ‘I don’t know if Anthony will come back to me.’

  ‘Trust me, you’ll be all right either way. And there’s nothing you can do about that now. But we do need to do something about Suitability, so wipe your tears and let’s get organised.’

  Genevieve rang Anna and, when she didn’t answer, sent an urgent text. Lauren called the board members to ask those who were available to come to Claire’s house. When they arrived, Genevieve called them to attention.

  ‘We have two critical things to do today. The first is to support Claire. The second is to decide what to do about Suitability.’

  Anna and the committee members arranged themselves around the lounge-room table and Genevieve sat on the armchair beside Claire.

  Claire took a large gulp of water. This was the last thing she wanted to deal with. She wished the whole thing would go away. She wished everyone would disappear into the carpet and she could have the space again to think about her own life.

  ‘We still haven’t secured premises,’ said Genevieve. ‘One option is that we close the doors of Suitability.’

  ‘Let’s get it over and done with,’ said Claire. ‘All this struggle and worry. And what for? To be defeated by a silly building.’

  ‘Claire, how can you say that?’ said Alice. ‘Surely there’s something we can do.’

  Claire looked at Anna, hoping she’d come up with some other options. But Anna looked stupefied, almost as if it was her fault Suitability might close. If Suitability closed, what else would Anna have? And what about the clients, the women they’d already helped and those they could help in the future? Claire’s head cleared. Would it mean the whole exercise had been nothing but a diversion from her real life?

  Lauren dashed in and turned on the TV. An image of Anna filled the screen. Lauren turned the volume up. With her brown eyes and her hair in a short bob, Anna looked elegant. Anna held her composure when asked a tricky question and conveyed the key messages clearly. Claire was surprised at how well she came across on the screen.

  Anna’s interview was followed by an interview with the chief executive officer of a job support agency saying what a great service Suitability provided, and how many clients had been assisted. A local politician praised their efforts and suggested they apply to the local council for funds. This led to an interview with a former client, Kelly, who had come forward voluntarily and said that after attending Suitability she had been successful in getting a traineeship with a bank.

  Claire’s phone rang and she and the rest of the group spent the afternoon answering phone calls from people who had seen the program and wanted to help. There were calls from individuals pledging money and clothes, from corporations offering support, and from former clients asking how they could help.

  Anna had mentioned the gala event during her interview and women were calling to book tickets. However, they still didn’t have a venue so they had to take down the women’s contact details and tell them they’d be notified once the event had been finalised.

  Anna mumbled something about being sorry.

  ‘What are you sorry for, Anna?’ asked Claire. ‘You’ve done so much to help us and I don’t know what we’d have done without you.’

  ‘But I’ve ruined –’ Anna was interrupted by Genevieve whooping and dancing around the floor.

  ‘He’s done it; he’s come through for us,’ she sang. ‘Ted tried to contact you several times, Anna. Are you ignoring his calls?’

  Anna nodded. She’d turned her phone to silent when she reached Claire’s place.

  ‘I’m going to have to take you aside, my girl, and give you a good talking to.’

  ‘Can you do that another time?’ said Claire. ‘What did Ted say?’

  ‘The owner of the warehouse saw the program and wants to revise the arrangements for the rental in our favour. Also, Ted has put together documents to show that both the company and the offer are above board and we can use the warehouse for the clothing sale, whether we take the premises for the long-term or not.’

  ‘That’s amazing. What’s the catch?’ asked Alice.

  ‘Ted says there’s no catch,’ said Genevieve. ‘I knew something would turn up.’

  Someone from an events management company offered to run the whole day gratis and suggested they include a high-end event in the evening. They put together an additional VIP package for styling and makeup sessions, followed by an exclusive cocktail function. Catherine Beaufort, the actress, agreed to make a guest appearance and donate a dress. One of the media outlets rang to offer a pass to the Paris fashion show. They also agreed to run an auction at the gala event.

  Claire rang Molly to ask for a favour.

  ‘Molly, it’s Claire. How are you going?’

  ‘I’m okay. Still sad about Joe but getting through the days and nights. What’s up?’

  ‘Well, you know abou
t our Chic and Champagne fundraising event?’

  ‘Yes, Anna mentioned it. I thought there were problems with the venue.’

  ‘There were, but they’re solved and we’re going full steam ahead. But we need you to do us one more favour.’ Claire paused and heard Molly take a deep breath. ‘Molly, could you speak about your experience with Suitability? People love hearing the client’s view.’

  ‘You mean stand up in front of people and talk? I’m not sure I can do that.’

  Claire tried to imagine what it would be like for Molly to stand on a stage facing a room full of strangers and tell her story. As polished as she was at public speaking, Claire was still nervous if she had to talk about herself.

  ‘I’ll help you with your speech and you don’t have to say anything too personal if you don’t want.’

  ‘I dunno.’

  ‘Come on Molly, I know it’s hard, but we really need you. I’ll be there on stage beside you. Please.’

  Claire waited. She imagined Molly thinking about how much she owed Suitability and how she didn’t want to let Claire down. She hated herself for putting this pressure on Molly and was about to say not to worry about it, when Molly mumbled, ‘Okay. ‘I’ll have a go.’

  ‘Thanks, Molly, thanks so much. You won’t regret it.’

  When they’d done as much as they could, Claire suggested champagne.

  ‘I think we all need some sparkle. I certainly do,’ she said.

  Lauren pulled out the glasses and Genevieve opened the champagne bottle.

  ‘Now, Anna. What’s going on with you and Ted?’ asked Genevieve as they relaxed into the sofa.

  Anna blushed. ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Has something happened between you two?’ said Claire.

  ‘He ... he tried to kiss me.’

  ‘Oooh, do I hear romance in the air?’ said Genevieve.

  ‘I don’t know if I want romance. I thought I had true love once, but it was a sham,’ mumbled Anna. ‘I’ve learnt so much from you all and I don’t think I can go through that again.’

  ‘What do you want, Anna?’ asked Genevieve.

  ‘I’ve never thought about it. I’ve spent my life worrying about what other people wanted. I thought I wanted a peaceful, ordered life.’

  ‘That’s unlikely to happen. You’ll get little peace around us, will she, Claire?’

  ‘And I thought I wanted my former life back,’ said Anna. ‘That’s even less likely,’ said Genevieve. ‘In my experience, former lives are not worth the effort, even if you could recreate them. Better off to suck it up and face the future. And from what I’ve seen, you could do anything you wanted, couldn’t she, Claire?’

  ‘She could. Anna, you and I are at a crossroads and we could follow any one of many paths. We just have to work out what we want.’

  ‘Well, there is one thing I know I want,’ said Anna. ‘I want this function to be a success and then to travel to France and see what’s left of my family.’

  ‘Good on you, girl.’ Genevieve laughed. ‘And our dear Claire, what do you want?’

  At that moment, Claire wanted to have a decent night’s sleep and wake up without a backache. ‘My dear Genevieve,’ she said. ‘I, too, want Chic and Champagne to be successful and to that end, we’d better get some rest so we can fight another day.’

  That night, Claire felt lonely for the first time she could recall. How had she come to this point?

  Maybe her constant striving for perfection had affected Anthony. In retrospect, she’d never been fully satisfied with just being them and always sought more. More people, more challenges, more possessions, as if an emptiness had threatened to invade the space between them. She wrapped a blanket around her and sat on the terrace for a while, gazing at the city lights and the star-studded sky, listening to the sounds of clinking boats and feeling a cool breeze ruffle her hair.

  She realised the new space was full of possibilities.

  27

  CHIC AND CHAMPAGNE

  Molly arrived at the warehouse at 8 am for the Chic and Champagne fundraising event. She wore a dress that was now too big for her, with a slip underneath so she could try clothes on. As a former client and volunteer at the event, she had first choice of clothes and she’d saved money to get herself a new outfit.

  At the front of the warehouse were boxes of bargain clothes selling for five dollars a bag, and behind them were racks of clothes selling for five dollars each. The designer clothes were in a screened-off area at the back of the warehouse, to be brought out later in the day and priced from twenty to fifty dollars per garment. Some were new and had been donated by an upmarket retail company, end-of-season clothes that were still in style. Molly found several items that suited her.

  She stored her bags of clothes safely in the back room and joined Claire at the desk in the front reception area. The late-winter sun streamed in through the glass windows.

  ‘Molly, I’m so glad you agreed to help us out today.’ Claire unpacked the box of items they would need for the day – lists of participants, a credit card reader.

  ‘That’s all right. Actually, I wanted to share some news with you.’

  ‘Good news, I hope,’ said Claire.

  ‘Yeah. I guess it is. The solicitor said the house is through probate. It’s mine.’

  ‘How wonderful, Molly. I know it’s sad your grandmother died, but at least now you have security,’ Claire gave Molly a hug. ‘Will you stay in the house?’

  ‘That’s sort of worrying me. I love it and want to, but its gonna be expensive with rates and all. Plus, Steve said it’ll need serious repairs soon. Lindy reckons the house is worth a bomb and I should sell and move to a cheaper place.’

  ‘They call it asset rich but cash poor. The main thing is that now you have options. All I can suggest is you don’t rush into a decision. I’m happy to be a sounding board if you like, or to get someone with more expertise on these matters to talk with you.

  ‘That’d be great. Thanks.’

  When they opened the doors for clients at 10 am, there were about a dozen women already waiting. Molly knew some of them and Claire knew most of them.

  Customers streamed in and out, each one leaving with at least one full bag of clothes, and many with several.

  ‘Thank you so much for organising this,’ said Jacqueline, one of Claire’s former clients. ‘Now I have enough clothes for the next six months at work.’

  They had planned to finish the morning session at midday but extended it to one o’clock. This left them only an hour to reset the racks for the afternoon session, which was open to the public.

  ‘We’ve already raised over a thousand dollars,’ said Claire to Molly. ‘I’m stunned. We didn’t expect the first session to raise much.’

  ‘So, lemme work it out,’ said Molly. ‘That’s about two hundred bags of clothes. It’s brilliant so many of our old clients can give back to the organisation.’

  ‘And get some great bargains. But we’re still a long way from what we need to stay afloat. Let’s hope we have an even bigger response this afternoon.’

  The afternoon was slow with only a few women arriving when they re-opened the doors at two o’clock. Claire, on reception with Molly, kept looking at her watch. Molly wondered whether Claire could fix things this time or whether Suitability would close. Genevieve and Alice came out several times to see if there were any people waiting. They called people who had promised to come.

  *

  Anna was in the showroom and was relieved it was quieter than the morning when she’d been rushed off her feet. She’d enjoyed seeing the former clients and hearing what had happened to them. Laura had gained a lecturing position at a university near her home and was able to balance work with looking after her children. Anna was especially pleased to see Kelly, who had been her first client and was interviewed on TV. Kelly had finished her traineeship with the bank and was now employed full-time.

  When Anna went to the back of the showroom to check on supplies, sh
e saw Ted, who’d offered to help with the ‘grunt work’, as he called it. He was sorting clothes to bring into the showroom to top up the racks.

  ‘How is it going out here?’

  ‘Great,’ Ted stopped and gave her a grin. ‘We’ve gone through many boxes and are now preparing the more expensive clothes for later.’

  ‘Oh, there you are, Ted,’ said Alice. ‘Someone just dropped this off. I don’t recognise the label and I wondered what you thought it might be worth?’

  Ted looked at the tailored suit, the fabric and the seams.

  ‘It’s couturier, from Italy, and would’ve cost several thousand dollars. Not worn very much. I think it’s an auction piece, with a reserve of at least five hundred dollars.’

  ‘Thanks. You really do know your clothing,’ said Alice.

  ‘Thanks to all the time spent in tailoring with my father,’ replied Ted.

  Anna beamed. Seeing the way Ted treated the women involved in Suitability, she recognised his gentle and caring nature. Her mother would have said he was a real gentleman. She decided she’d overreacted to his fumbling advances at their awkward meeting.

  ‘Anna, would you like to relieve Claire at the front desk?’ asked Alice. ‘It’ll give you a chance to sit down and Claire needs a break and has to prepare for this evening.’

  Anna gave Ted a quick peck on the cheek and joined Molly at reception.

  ‘How is it going out here?’ Anna hadn’t had any time alone with Molly since their heated discussion following Joe’s death.

  ‘Quiet at the moment. Sorry I was so rude to ya. Are we good?’

  ‘Of course we are. Molly, you were being honest and sometimes it’s hard to hear, but necessary. Do you forgive me for the things I said?’

  ‘’Course. You’re my fairy grandmother – that’s what I told the kids, ya know.’

  ‘Oh Molly, how lovely.’ Anna wiped away a tear. ‘Oh dear, all this crying and blushing I do now.’

  At around three o’clock more women arrived, coming from family outings, a number with small children. The women from Claire’s French group arrived with their family and friends. Venera brought women from her community organisation and a large group from the welfare agency came with Sophie. Valda arrived with her daughter and granddaughter. She kissed Anna on both cheeks and hugged Molly.