My Never: a novella (5 page)

“You’ll be fine.”

She took a deep breath
and held it for a beat then exhaled. “Let’s get started.”

The phone rang,
incessant, as I unlocked my door. “Hold on,” I said as if the caller could hear
me. I dumped my bag on the table and grabbed the receiver. “Hello?”

“Moni!”

The sound of Ruby’s voice
brought a smile to my face. “Hey Rubes. How’s things?” I kicked off my heels
and padded into the kitchen, a cheap bottle of wine under one arm.

“Daddy misses you a lot.
He’s been moping around the house.” She giggled.

“I have not,” said Troy,
in the background.

My smile widened. “How was
school?”

“Boring.”

“Hm. More homework?”

“Tonnes.” She paused.
“Dad wants to talk to you. Bye Moni!”

“Bye, Sweetheart.”

A moment later, Troy came
on the line. “How was work?”

I sighed and twisted the
cap off the bottle. “Busy.” I retrieved a glass from the cabinet. “You?”

“I started cleaning out
the spare room.”

I gulped wine.

“I’ve been helping!” Ruby’s
voice filled the line.

He chuckled. “She has.
And I was wondering if you wanted to wait to pick out the desk and other office
things?”

“Sure. We can do that when
I get back,” I said.

Someone tapped on my
door.

“Hang on a sec,” I said
to him then ambled over. I peeked through the security hole.

Kate.

I cursed under my breath.
Should I pretend to be out? Unwillingly, my fingers twisted the handle.

“Hi,” she said, “Can I
come in?”

“What do you want?”

“My
Blue October
shirt. I left it here last time.”

“Fine. And you can give
me two grand for the hotel room.” I struggled to hide a smirk.

She dropped her eyes to
the floor. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not. You
would have apologised sooner if you were.”

She was silent for a
moment.

“Is that all?” I said.

She nodded and I shut the
door in her face.

Troy’s voice floated
through the receiver. “Was that Kate?”

I should have picked up a
bottle of Jack instead. “Ah-ha.” My hands balled.

“What did she want?”

“Her stupid band shirt.”

“And your counter point?”

I kicked a box. “She can
have it for two thousand bucks. I pre-paid for that room.”

“Did she offer to pay?”

“Of course not. It’s
Kate. She’s so self-absorbed that-” My teeth clenched and a guttural sound
slipped from my throat.

“Take a deep breath,” he
said.

I gulped half a glass of
wine.

“Better?” he said.

“Much.”

“Go and relax. Have a
bath. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“And Mon?”

“Yes?” I said.

“Love you.”

“Hm, you’re okay,” I
teased.

“Huh. You’re lucky I’m
not in Perth.”

“Why?”

“Would’ve tickled you for
that.”

“Raincheck?” I said.

“Sure. Bye.”

“Love you.”

*
* *

I kicked the car door
shut, balancing my dinner and cola on a binder, and crossed the lot. I swiped
my card through the reader and pushed the door open. My mailbox flap was ajar,
an express post bag peeking out. “Yee!” Ruby’s drawing! I dumped my bag and
food on the nearby bench and grabbed the package. I weighed it in my palm -
heavier than a piece of paper. I flipped it over. Sender: Troy and Ruby
DeGaris. I grinned and tore it open.

Inside was a crayon
drawing of a girl in a purple dress with a gold crown. My name was scrawled
next to her in pink. My grin widened and I hugged it to my chest. Only a week
and a half until I see Troy. Two weeks until I see Ruby. Too long.

There was something else.
I reached my hand in and retrieved an envelope and a box of champagne chocolate
truffles. Yum. I gathered my things then punched the up button. The elevator
dinged and the doors opened.

In my apartment, I deposited
everything on the kitchen counter and ripped open the envelope. I unfolded the
two pieces of paper - a letter from Troy. My eyes studied the first page,
drinking in every word. One paragraph stuck out. I re-read it.

I never stopped
thinking about you, Mon. Even after that stupid fight we had a couple of years
ago. I never stopped loving you - never will. You’re the one for me. And I’m so
happy to be your husband one day.

I swiped at the moisture
in my eyes and hauled out my phone.

Troy answered after three
rings. “What’d ya think?”

“It’s not fair, you’re a
writer.” I sniffled.

He chuckled. “But I mean
every word.”

“I know.” I pulled out a
container.

“What’s for dinner?”

“Burger and fries. I’m
beat.”

“Tough day?”

“Yep. I sifted through
résumés from the temp agency - none of which Diane thought were a suitable
replacement for me.”

“That’s ‘cause Moni
Cullen can’t be replaced.”

I carted my food over to
the couch. “Not even temporarily.” I shoved fries into my mouth. “Do you have
Ruby today?”

“She’s at a friend’s
birthday party.”

“Tell her I love the
drawing.”

“I will.”

“And make sure you check
her for any illegal substances as she comes through the door. Have her take a
sobriety test.”

“Mon, she’s seven.”

“We were just five years
older when we had our first cigarette behind my parent’s shed.”

“You love her.”

I could hear the smile in
his voice. “I do.”

“Good.” He was silent for
a moment. “I’ll let you go. Sweet dreams.”

“You also. Oh, and thanks
for the chocolates. Just what I needed.”

“You’re welcome, as
always. Love you.”

“Love you.” I tossed the
phone onto the cushion beside me.

My heart ached for him. I
hadn’t missed anyone like this before. It was bizarre, and
liberating at the same time. I’d rather walk on hot coals
than be separated from him for another se
cond. This week had better go
quick.

*
* *

“Need any help, Dear?”
said Mum as I unloaded boxes from my car.

“Nah.”

“I can make coffee.”

“I’m good.”

“Tea? Cake?”

I heaved a sigh and
dropped a box at my feet. “Mum, what’s up?”

She was silent for a
moment. “It’s all come so sudden - this fight with Kate and getting married and
moving to Queensland.”

My face dropped at the
mention of my ex-best friend.

Her eyes flicked over my
face. “Oh, I’m sorry Honey.” She hugged me. “But are you sure things can’t be
patched up between you two?”

“No, Mum. It’s over.” It
felt a bit like a break-up. I wanted to indulge in a tub of ice cream and watch
sappy movies all day. But I had too much to do. I shrugged out of her hold.
“What cake have you got?”

“That’s my girl!”

I followed her into the
kitchen.

Mum cut me a slice. “It’s
butterscotch.”

“Cool.” I forked some
into my mouth.

“How’s Troy?”

“He’s good,” I said, “He’s
flying in next week.” Four days, three hours and counting.

She gasped. “I must meet
him!”

“You already met him.”

“Yes, but that was
twenty-five
years ago. And he was just a little boy
then.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Great!” Her fingers
tapped on the counter.

“Is there something
else?”

“Can I throw you an
engagement party?”

“Well, uh.”

“Please. It would mean so
much to me.”

How can I say no when
she’s cornered me like this? “Fine, okay.” I finished the cake then unloaded
the rest of the boxes. “Where do you want them?”

“Put them in your old
bedroom,” she said, “Are you sure you don’t want help?”

“I’m fine, Ma.” I
adjusted my grip.

“Okay.” She raised her
hands in surrender and stepped aside.

My eyes roamed over the
purple walls of my childhood bedroom. It was just how I had left it.

She traced a finger over
the stencilled hearts. “Seems just yesterday you were starting kindergarten.”

I deposited a box in the
corner. “Mum, I’m not dying or moving to Rio. You don’t need to reminisce.”

“But-” She sighed, her
shoulders slumped. “You’re right.”

I wrapped an arm around
her. “I feel like some coffee. How about you?”

“I could go for a cup. Or
three.”

I smiled. “That’s my
girl.”

That afternoon, I
borrowed Dad’s old Ute and parked it in my lot.

A blue Commodore pulled
in next to me. The window rolled down. “Hey, Stranger.”

My head snapped up at the
sound of the familiar voice. “Jay?” I stepped out.

“Yep.” His eyes assessed
the vehicle. “I see you updated from your Prius.”

“Yep. Lovely shade of
green, isn’t it?” I chuckled. “I have all this furniture to get rid of.”

He lifted an eyebrow.
“Furniture?”

“Yeah. I’m getting
married, moving to Cairns.”

“Wow. Exciting stuff.” He
punched my shoulder. “Haven’t seen you in what - three weeks? Everything’s
changin’ Mon.” He placed has hands on his hips. “I can take some furniture off
your hands.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. My brother just
moved out, he has nothin’.”

“Awesome - I mean, not
about Shaun not having furniture.”

“Ah, strangely enough, he
likes it.”

“Does he cook?”

“Ramen noodles.”

I arched an eyebrow.
“Ah-ha.”

“Hey, not everyone can whip
up three course meals at eighteen - except a certain Cullen girl.” He winked.

“Hm. Yeah, but at least
you were never starving.”

“Man, sometimes I wish we
still lived together. College was awesome with you.” He mussed my hair. “Hey,
Bestie?”

“I miss our Friday beer
and steak nights.”

“Yeah? It’s still pretty
much the only thing I can cook.” He guffawed.

“You should teach Shaun.”

“Good idea.”

“We had better get the
furniture. Looks like it’s going to start pouring any minute.”

He cut his eyes to the
heavy clouds. “Yep. Cats and dogs.” He followed me into the foyer. “So, who’s
the lucky guy?”

“Troy.”

His eyebrows shot up.
“DeGaris?”

“Ah-ha.”

The elevator doors
opened.

He let me pass. “I
remember how heartbroken he was when you two split.”

“The feeling was mutual.”

He was quiet for a
moment, his eyes searching my face. “Sorry. But he’s never stopped loving you.”

The doors opened again.

My head swivelled in his
direction. “You’ve spoken to Troy? I wasn’t aware you two were still friends.”
I fished my key out and swiped it through the reader.

He nodded once, solemn.

“You knew he had a
child?”

His eyes slid to me. “You
didn’t?”

I shook my head.

“Wow. Sorry.”

I breathed deep. Did I
actually buy that bottle of whiskey?

“So,” said Jay, “What
furniture can my brother have?”

“Take your pick.” I
gestured to the room. “The remainders will be donated.”

“I really appreciate
this.”

“No problem.”

“Guess it’s tough giving
your belongings away?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “I
try to think of what I’ll be gaining in return.”

He draped an arm over my
shoulders. “You’re the lucky ones.”

A half-hour later, we had
the Ute loaded with my couch, bed, tables and chairs.

I dropped the keys into
Jay’s palm. “Drive safe.” I pointed a finger at him. “You crash my dad’s truck,
I’ll kill you.”

He smirked. “Noted.”

“Be back by five.” My
phone chirped as I watched him leave. “Hello?”