I pick at a strip of peeling paint on the gym wall.‘He broke up with me the day we got back to Sydney.’
There’s a beat.Then, ‘Shit.I’m sorry.’
‘No, you’re not,’ I say, smiling faintly.‘But thanks.’
‘I could’ve at least checked in earlier.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.You had your hands full with Daisy arriving early.My dating drama is the least of your worries.’I flick the paint off my finger.
Ella sighs into the speaker.‘Maybe I need a distraction from all the crying.’
I smile.‘Your wish is my command.’
‘Thanks for sending the food hamper by the way.’A distant scream ricochets through the call but Ella soldiers on.‘It arrived yesterday, and Darcy is already eyeing off the cookies.’
‘Tough titties.Those cookies are for you only.’
The phone crackles for a second as Ella starts cooing.The screaming eventually settles before she asks, ‘So how are you?’
‘Yeah, I’m fine.’I mumble then kick a loose pebble across the path.
She waits, doesn’t press.She knows me well enough for that.
I sigh.‘It’s for the best, honestly.Dylan used the moment – right after I told him about the whole Luke situation – to confess that he’s bisexual and that he’s been terrified of telling me.Said this was a sign we should both stop pretending.’
I can picture Ella wincing as she says, ‘Wow.’
‘Yeah.I mean, I was fake-dating a guy who quoted Shakespeare during sex.I should’ve seen it coming.’
‘Obviously,’ Ella says, amused, and then she sighs.‘I am sorry for missing your call earlier.Daisy is incredible, but it’s been … a lot.’
‘If you want me to cancel my flight next weekend, I can—’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Ella huffs.‘I’ll always want to see you.
Especially now that my parents have left and Abbey said she can’t get time off work until May.’
‘I know.But if it’s too soon after having a baby, I totally get it.’
‘It’s not that.I’m super appreciative that you guys are taking so much time off to come and support me.Daisy is a dream for the most part and Darcy has been wonderful.’
‘But?’
Silence.
‘Ella?’
She exhales.‘Luke’s dad passed away.’
My stomach flips.
‘The funeral might be next weekend,’ she adds.‘Which is fine, because we can make it work.You can be Daisy’s babysitter.We’ll pack everything in case we stay the night at Luke’s, which means a million nappies.If you want to reschedule, I get it.But don’t worry, nothing’s confirmed yet.I’ll keep you posted.’
Her voice trails off as if she’s slipped into thought.Grief or worry or both.
‘You still there?’she asks.
‘Yeah,’ I say softly.‘I’m here.’
