‘I’d like to invite the Honourable Geoffrey Marshall MP to speak to us about Rob’s life,’ the priest said.
Geoff appeared from somewhere behind her, buttoning the jacket of his navy suit as he walked up the steps to the lectern and took his time to adjust the microphone.Nel could sense the congregation lean in.
She was so used to seeing him on TV that it was strange to see him in person.In recent years he’d become the media’s go-to politician for a pithy soundbite against anything progressive.Immigration policy.Climate change.Trans rights.Nel didn’t agree with his politics, but he’d been a loyal friend to her father.
He looked up and spoke steadily.‘Robert Foley was a great man …’ He paused for effect.‘And it was an honour to call him my friend.’
His delivery was that of a seasoned politician, the cadences mastered over a long career in the public eye.Maddie used to impersonate him, exaggerating the pauses, the emphasis, imitating the lectures he gave whenever she was in trouble, which was often.Nel felt the sudden urge to laugh bubble up inside her and she bit her top lip, trying to block out Geoff Marshall’s voice.What the hell was wrong with her?
When the feeling passed, she looked in the direction where he’d been sitting, a couple of rows back on the other side, searching for Faye.Finding her profile, Nel watched her, sitting motionless, eyes downcast.As though she could sense Nel’s gaze, she looked up and their eyes met.For a moment, it was like they were connected by an invisible thread across the church.
Nel was about to turn away when she noticed Ryan Warner sitting behind Faye.His small dark eyes met hers, a slight smirk playing on his lips.Her skin prickled all over.
*
Nel sat in the middle seat, sandwiched between two Warner boys, watching Maddie’s hand caress Ryan’s thigh as he drove.Green-grey scrub flashed past the car window.How much further out was this place?Maddie had made it sound like it was just out of town.Nel flattened herself against the seat as Dylan leaned across her to take a handful of hot chips from the carton on Lachie’s lap.
She shouldn’t have come.She didn’t even like parties, but Maddie had begged.‘Please, Nellie?’she’d said, putting her hands together in prayer beneath her chin and making puppy-dog eyes.‘Mum won’t let me go unless you come too.’Nel was powerless to say no to Maddie.
It had been three weeks since Maddie had kissed Ryan Warner at the end-of-season party at the surf club and they’d been inseparable ever since.Faye was struggling with her fourteen-year-old daughter being in a relationship with a Year 11 boy.Nel had overheard Faye telling her own mum that she didn’t know why Maddie couldn’t find a boyfriend her own age.
Cath had reassured Faye.‘At least he’s from a good family,’ she’d said.
Maddie had laughed when Nel relayed the conversation.‘Have you seen Year 8 boys?’she’d said, sticking a finger down her throat, pretending to gag.
Nel shifted position, trying to make herself smaller, but Lachie just let his knee lean further against hers.The car started to slow as Ryan turned onto a dirt road and stopped at a farm gate.
‘Can you do the honours?’Ryan said to Maddie, who unclipped her seatbelt and jumped out.She pushed open the gate, then put one hand on her hip and playfully waved them through with the other, her striking red hair cascading over her shoulders.The engine idled as she shut the gate.
As she reached the car and put out a hand to open the passenger door, the car lurched forward.
‘Ryan!’she exclaimed, running to catch up with the car.
Lachie and Dylan cracked up.Ryan sniggered, watching her in the rear-view mirror as she approached the car.
When she reached out to open the door, he hit the accelerator again.Dylan hooted.Lachie threw his head back, laughing.Nel turned around to look at Maddie.She was walking this time, smiling good-naturedly.When she reached for the handle, the car lurched forward again.
‘Ryan!’
He did it twice more.Lachie clutched his stomach as though he was in pain from laughing.Maddie’s smile had dropped slightly.Her arms hung by her sides.As she approached the car for the fifth time, Nel willed him not to do it again, but again, the car lurched forward.
‘Stop it, Ryan!’Nel said.‘It’s not funny.’Her tone was sharper than intended.
‘Oh great, the fun police are here,’ he muttered.
‘Jesus Christ,’ Dylan said, wiping tears from his eyes.‘It’s just a fucking joke.’
As Maddie approached the car again, Ryan’s eyes met Nel’s in the rear-view mirror.He held her gaze as he did it again.Nel’s eyes felt hot.She pinched the back of her hand and told herself not to cry.She would never live that down.
The next time, he let Maddie in.
She punched his tanned bicep playfully.‘Bloody hell, Ryan!’
‘You know what I like about you, Maddie?’he said.‘You know how to take a joke.’
He kissed her on the mouth.Nel looked down at the carpet between her knees.
Lachie threw the empty chip carton at Ryan’s head.‘Knock it off, mate!’
