“Fine Kaz, let’s just agree to disagree at this stage and talk about it tomorrow. Whatever, I’ve accepted the role.”
“We’ll just have to tighten our belts a little, which would no doubt significantly reduce the world’s consumption problems, assuming you cut back your expenditure accordingly,” Paul would have liked to have said to Kaz, but he was sick of the constant bickering, so he kept it to himself.
But what he did say, almost as a kill shot was, “By the way, I’ve put a limit on your credit card. You’ve got a max of ten grand per month from this month onward. You’re going to have to rein in your spending.”
“You can’t do that!” snapped Kaz. “I’ve got commitments, and I still have to live.”
“Too late. I’ve already done it. You’ve got a little over three thousand to last you to the end of the month, then that’s it.”
Conversation over.
Paul pushed his chair back, scraping it across the tiled floor of their living area as he stood up. Glancing across the table at his irate wife, he promptly turned his back on her and walked outside, totally deaf to her continuing objections. Paul’s thoughts wandered to bigger and better things, Kaz’s superficial concerns parking themselves in the trash can inside his head. He was more concerned with how he would make a difference to the world’s dispossessed.
“Yes, I can do this, whether you’re with me or against me, Kaz. I will make a difference,” Paul said confidently to himself.
“I know how those letches who rip off the aid money think. I know how they move their money around. I know where they park it. And I know how to either hit their sweet spot or hit them between the eyes with all guns blazing.”
Paul grinned like a Cheshire cat. “Yes . . . I really can do this.”
“Dad, I don’t want you and Mum to flip out but I’m going to take a volunteer position in Laos helping build a school for the Hmong hill tribe kids outside of Luang Prabang,” said Dec to his father as they sat in the bar at the yacht club waiting for the others to join them after the race. He’d been like a cat on a hot tin roof all day trying to find a good time to break the news to G.
“There’s a group from uni going at the end of next month during the long break and I’ve decided to put my name down as a volunteer. And like, I’m going, okay? I’ll be gone for about five or six weeks.”
G was immediately impressed with Dec’s decision because it was something he could have done himself in his youth. Even so, he decided to play along with it a bit, just to determine how serious Dec was. The impetuosity of his son’s choice wasn’t of any concern to G as he still remembered to this day what university was like.
“Dad when you were at uni, like, it was so last century. We’ve moved forward from the flower power days of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll,” Dec had said many times in the past when G sprouted his homilies about ‘what it was like to be at university in the 1970’s.’” According to Dec, it was so last century that it should be in the history books.
And Jools and G had made a conscious decision early on to actively encourage their children to see the world in a warts-and-all way while they were still on that impressionable early twenties learning curve. It’s what they both did after uni and the experience had served them in good stead for the rest of their lives, so their general idiom was,”Go for it guys, before you get caught up with a career, a mortgage, and a humdrum life in the ‘burbs.”
Dec and Cait had been on holidays to Asia numerous times with their parents and they had already both separately backpacked around America and Europe, initially on school trips and then in their own right, so it wasn’t as if throwing a pack on his back and traveling to Asia was going to be a first for Dec. Only three years ago Dec followed in his sister’s footsteps and had taken a gap year before commencing university. En route to the States, Dec went on a three-week whirlwind tour of Europe before he lived and worked in America in summer camps for three months, then spent a further two months traveling on his own as he traversed the length and breadth of the southern states. After being beaten up, ripped off, and conned by the best of them he quickly learned to stand on his own two feet and be accountable, so he already had the runs on the board when it came to being streetwise and fending for himself.
Which all meant that G had no concerns about Dec’s ability to safely travel the world.
“So tell me, why Laos?” asked G.
The flip side of the coin was that Dec of course assumed his parents would pay for the trip. As far as Dec was concerned, all he had to do now was convince them that he needed to go so they would come through with the airfares and maybe a bit of extra spending money. Otherwise, Dec had a few thousand dollars in the bank that he had saved from here and there, so all was good on the cash side. All he had to do was get to Laos.
“Like, it’s really important that I go, Dad. For my social development,” Dec replied, thinking that what he just said sounded a bit basic and trite, but it was the first thing that came out of his mouth.
“Have you talked to Jools about this?”
“No, not yet. You know I always speak to you first.”
“Yeah, okay. So tell me about it. You realize that you’ll miss out on the summer sailing series?”
“Oh duh, Dad. Of course I realize that. I’m not stupid, you know.”
“So why should we pay for you to go to Laos, and for how long, as I’m sure you’ll tack on a side trip somewhere along the line? And to build a school? I need more information.”
Dec had always been able to talk to his father, so he felt comfortable speaking his mind.
“Okay, I know it sounds weird, but when Rishi died it was, like, things happened inside my head. I couldn’t stop thinking about how senseless his death was. And then when I was talking to Paul about his new job last Friday night when he came over to our place, I sort of thought, well, I think I need to do something too, and then I saw this advert on the noticeboard at uni, and that’s sort of it really. I made up my mind then and there that I’d join them. So I went and checked it out and it looks great. I’ll be able to help out and really make a difference, but also have a good time doing it. Dad, it’s a worthwhile project. Trust me. I’ve got all the guff on it at home, but I wanted to talk to you about it first before I showed you the info.”
In that moment in time G was immensely proud of his son, as he realized that he was now looking at the man, no longer the boy. Rishi’s death had obviously been the catalyst that had enabled Dec to break through the selfish “it’s all about me” side of growing up a millennial and take that quantum leap to adulthood, leaving the constraints of his youth behind. And he was even developing a social conscience along the way, which was pleasing to see.
“I’ll talk to Jools about it, but so far it all sounds good. Just give me the info on it first so Jools and I can get a heads-up on what it’s all about. Then I’ll give you the final decision. You okay with that?”
“Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate it.”
“And we’ll want to know about where you intend to go afterward. I’m sure it won’t be straight home.”
“Yeah, well I was talking to a few of the guys and we thought that since we fly in and out of Vientiane, that instead of flying Luang Prabang-Vientiane on the way home, we’d catch the local bus. There’s a place called Vang Vieng that’s about halfway between the two that’s supposed to be a hoot. It’s a five-hour bus ride, and then another three or four hours later on to get to Vientiane.”
“Yeah, I’ve read about it. One of the hottest places on the backpacker trail at present. You stay and party in guesthouses in Vang Vieng at night and go tubing down the river during the day.”
Dec was amazed that G had even heard of Vang Vieng, let alone knew anything about it. Then again, G was pretty cool for an old guy.
As soon as he had decided to go, Dec hit Facebook and had spoken to a few of his mates about the place and it was apparently party central. The number one place to go in Asia at present.
In fact, one of Dec’s school friend’s older brother was currently on the Asian backpacker trail and he had just been to Vang Vieng, so Dec Facebooked him and received a reply next day.
“Hey Dec? wots up boi? great to hear from u been in vang vieng for the past week really sick place whoop whoop best destination i’ve been to in asia so far shits all over full moon koh phangan total carnage body is slowly shutting down and the liver has taken a real pounding lol u better get ur arse over here like right now dude tubing down the nam song river stopping off at bars on the banks then get to the end and catch a tuk tuk back up and start all over again the place is amazing super cheap and the laos locals are really friendly so much partying oh, and beautiful scenery, forgot about that ha ha place is full of brits and aussies and lotsa hot girls good to hear from u mate gimme the news from home.”
And that sealed the deal for Dec. He could get the warm fuzzies by helping build a school for three weeks, then spend a week or three on the backpacker trail as he worked his way south to Vientiane, and then home.
“Mate, I’m a poor man now the Carlton project’s got new owners,” kidded Sean. “I’m no longer a big shot anymore. Just a shitkicker like you guys, working for the minimum wage.”
Sean let loose his usual infectious laugh, slapping a few backs with his giant paw. “You can shout the next round of drinks.”
Sean plopped himself down at the table where Dec and G had been talking about Dec’s proposed trip to Laos without having any sensitivity or regard for the fact that maybe G had been discussing something important with his son. After all, this was the yacht club and no place to get serious. Unless of course it was about boats and yacht racing. He grabbed a clean glass and poured himself the last of the beer from the jug on the table and then shoved the empty vessel very obviously in the direction of the other crew members who had followed him into the bar.
“And a bowl or two of fresh chips with a bit of tomato sauce on the side if you don’t mind.” Sean was his usual larger-than-life self and none of the crew took offense at his apparent gruffness. They all knew that as sure as the sun would rise tomorrow, the next minute Sean would be shooting the shit with them as he liked to say, telling jokes, laughing and giving as good as he got.
With Bec’s support and encouragement behind the scenes, the shock of Steve’s takeover of their Carlton development was well and truly behind him now. In fact, he was glad to be free of it. While Sean was obligated as part of the revised takeover agreement that, to have his security released, he had to complete Stage One of the project, he was also free to pursue other interests and he had just purchased a block of dirt in Elwood with Bec where they were going to build a five-unit townhouse development.
So Sean was a happy camper once again. He was his own agent. No partners.
Kylie came into the bar last after having been to the ladies’ room to”powder her nose.”
“Kylie, you’re telling porkies again,” said Sean. He loved stirring her up. “I don’t see any powder on that shiny hooter of yours.”
“Piss off, you big Irish oaf,” replied Kylie, knowing that Sean was joking. “I went for a piss, okay? Unlike you, I can’t flop my dick over the side of the boat, if you hadn’t noticed, so I waited until I got ashore.”
“I always knew something was different about you, lassie.”
“Woof, woof,” mocked Kylie.
Kylie pulled up a chair and as usual sat next to G.
“So Kylie, any news from your copper friends about Rishi’s murder?” Sean was being serious for a change. “G said you were threatening water torture to the detectives in Homicide if they didn’t get off their arses and get a result.”
“Yeah, ha ha Sean. As if.”
“Well from what I heard on the grapevine, apparently you told them that you’d fill their respective partners in on their indiscretions if they didn’t pull their fingers out and get a result.”
“Well not quite, but I can be quite persuasive when I need to be. And I’ve got a bee in my bonnet about this Rishi’s murder, so I’m not letting it slide.”
Sean knew how dogmatic and pedantic Kylie could be, so he pitied the coppers who she was needling. Kylie was like a dog with a bone when she got her teeth into a cause. She never gave up.
“So, what’s happening Kylie? They going to make an arrest?” said Dec excitedly. He had been listening in on their conversation. Dec tended to hang on to Kylie’s words; she always stood her ground and nothing ever seemed to faze her. And besides, the barneys she had with Sean were legendary.
“Well Dec, funny you should ask that, but I was speaking to my source only yesterday and they think they may have a lead. They’ve apparently had a tip-off which they’re pursuing. But you must keep this strictly to the ears at this table. Okay?”
Silence.
“I said okay . . . Dec, Sean, you understand? That’s privileged information so it doesn’t go past this table.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay Kylie,” said Dec eagerly. “Mum’s the word.”
Sean looked at Kylie and she could tell that even though he didn’t say a word, his nod was enough to mean he understood. They may fight like cat and dog, but at the same time there was a deep-seated respect between the two of them. They were like prize fighters who were best of friends outside of the ring, but as soon as the gloves went on, friendship went out the window. And this wasn’t one of those times.
“So I can’t really say any more other than that I’m on Rishi’s case. What I can tell you, as God’s my witness, I won’t let go of this one until we either get a conclusion or it ends up a total dead end. Trust me. I’m on it.”
Sean may have been wary of Kylie, but also empathized with how she was so deeply principled, just like himself, and a bit of a lefty to boot, so in his opinion, even though he’d never admit it to her face, she was an all right person. He often thought that with her fiery temper, acerbic tongue, and sharp wit that she must have had some Irish blood in her from somewhere in the past.
She can’t be just a Brit. They’re too bloody conservative. And apart from all that, she’s a bloody good sailor, thought Sean to himself as she was speaking.
But he’d never let her know his innermost thoughts. Never. She’d crucify him if she got an inkling that he thought she was a bit of okay.
“You want to come over tonight and have a home-cooked meal? I’m cooking lasagna and the kids will all be here for a change,” Kaz said. She was feeling a tad guilty about what had transpired between Paul and herself after the Carlton development crashed, and even though she wouldn’t admit it, Kaz missed her husband’s company.
“No, sorry, I can’t. I’m flying to Canberra on a seventeen fifty flight this afternoon. Have to get there early to prepare for my meeting with the Bangladeshi High Commissioner tomorrow at nine thirty.”
“Paul, you know that twenty-four-hour clock stuff is all gobbledygook to me. What does that mean?”
“Ten to six. Tonight. I’m out of here.”
Since Paul had left Kaz and moved out to a small apartment while they sorted their relationship issues out he had discovered a newfound freedom in just enjoying his own company and getting on with his life.
Not that he didn’t want to see his kids. Far from it. What he realized he missed most was not having daily contact with them. But having a time-out from Kaz while they sorted out their future life together was Paul’s priority right now. The kids were old enough to understand.
“Kids, life hasn’t been easy for all of us over the past few months,” Paul had told Jason, Justin, and Sammy just before he left. “You don’t have to be blind to know your mother and I have had a few issues lately. Well, I’ve decided to put a bit of distance between us to give Kaz and me time to work out our differences. So I’ll be moving out of home for a while.”
Paul had been genuinely upset, almost close to tears, but he held his resolve, as it was the only
way he could see the family unit having any chance of getting back together again.
“My big regret is that I won’t be able to see you guys on a daily basis. So please, don’t drop out of my life. I really love you guys heaps. You mean so much to me. Please stay in constant contact. I’ll be there for you twenty-four seven.”
In the past eight weeks, Paul had started a new job, moved out of the marital home, and begun to rediscover himself. And he liked what he found. He was currently like a kid in a candy store, except instead of sweets he was picking and choosing what he wanted to do with his life without the constraints of having Kaz in his ear constantly nitpicking.
The new job as CEO of Care The World was unbelievably demanding, but Paul had become obsessed with it. It allowed him for the first time in nearly thirty years to be true to his inner self and his real beliefs.
On one of the rare occasions when Paul found the time to sit and reflect, he had a light-bulb moment that he willingly divulged to the clinking ice in his bourbon he was currently swishing around, his mind drifting: “No bottom line anymore. What a bonus! The financial controller looks after all that. Nah, I’m a social warrior now.”
Which was exactly why the selection panel at Care The World had chosen Paul for the position. His past experience, high-level contacts, and business skills were a bonus, but when he was interviewed the panel saw in Paul’s eyes a fire. They saw the passion they were searching for that made him stand head and shoulders above the other applicants. There were plenty of applicants whose background and skill set were more closely aligned to the requirements of the role, but none who exhibited Paul’s innate enthusiasm. Paul won the interview panel over in the first five minutes and they basically gave him the job on the spot.
“Then after Canberra I’m off to Malaysia on Monday to talk about the refugee crisis with their foreign office, then back via Jakarta and home. Try me in about ten days, okay. I should be back by then.”
The Cait Lennox Box Set Page 28
