Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
‘ I want to talk to you about something,’ Matthew said later that night in bed.
I put down my book and turned to face him. ‘Please not about my parents.’
‘No, but really it’s up to them if they want to get married again.’
I shook my head. ‘No.’
‘You’re being very one-eyed, Kate. As Pip said, they’re adults. Anyway, it’s about the business. An opportunity’s come up in Auckland.’
‘An opportunity? What kind of opportunity?’
‘A contract for a couple of years… give or take.’
‘For you to work there? Leave us?’
‘Of course not! We’d all go.’
‘What?’ I blinked. ‘Auckland?’
Relocating abroad reared its ugly head every couple of years. I always managed to beat it off with a heavy thick stick. This time would be no different.
‘Not now, Matt, especially after the night we’ve endured. I can’t believe you’re even bringing it up. There’s the kids’ schooling, Mum, Robyn.’
He sighed. ‘You’re always putting other people first. Always. Except me. You never put me first. I’m always way down on your list of priorities.’
‘You, Matthew? What about me? When do I get a look-in? It’s not as if I’m swinging from the chandeliers having the time of my life. I’m barely hanging on.’ Wobbling on a tightrope without a safety net below.
‘No matter what I say, you always manage to turn the conversation back to you. Your needs. Your family. What about me? You won’t even listen.’
I pushed my back up further against the bedhead. ‘I am listening. Go to New Zealand. Stay there for all I care. It’s not like I’ll miss the sex.’
‘Very mature, Kate. Very mature.’ He exhaled. ‘What sex?’
‘Exactly! You want me to uproot the family, move overseas and we don’t even sleep together anymore.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Wow, this conversation escalated quickly.’
‘It’s not a joke, Matt.’
‘I know. But why would we have sex? You’re always angry.’
‘Not true. I’d call it politely indifferent. Anyway, what about you? You’re never here, and when you are you’re only interested in the cricket, or tennis, or whatever sport is on TV.’
‘And you’re always on about your mother or Robyn or the kids.’
‘Ah, that would be because they’re my family. But you pay no attention. And if you haven’t noticed, Angus is developing a temper, Lexi has a strange boyfriend, Mum’s remarrying my father, and as for Robyn… It’s too much. And it’s fucking Christmas! We don’t have fairy lights. Or a tree. And you… you’ ve not even asked about the magazine. I don’t remember the last time you told me you loved?—’
‘You’re ranting. Again.’ Matthew rolled over as far away and quickly as he could.
And I lay thinking. Thinking about how it had come to this.
Saturday morning was no better. Matthew wasn’t talking to me because of my ranting; Lexi wasn’t talking to me because, once again, I’d destroyed her life – this time by not letting her be my mother’s bridesmaid; and Angus thought somewhere along the line, he’d been diddled out of sweets.
But even though I was the wife/mother/daughter/sister from hell, it was still up to me to find clean clothes for everyone and tidy the house. I also had to get Angus to soccer on time. Matthew couldn’t take him – again. Why? A Christmas charity golf tournament with clients. Convenient? I think so.
Cups of tea and juice were banged down on the table and toast was flung in the general direction of plates. The only ones oblivious to the hostility were the marauding animals awaiting whatever scraps fell their way.
‘Angus, don’t feed Rupert under the table.’
He glared at me and kept passing crusts to the panting dog.
‘So, you’re playing the Cowboys today? I’m sure you’ll beat them,’ I said, hoping to win back his love.
‘I’ll come to soccer this morning, Mum,’ Lexi said.
‘Pardon?’
‘Soccer. I’ll come. That’s okay, isn’t it?’
I regarded her suspiciously. Normally on a weekend, she was never out of bed before ten, yet here she was, dressed and at the breakfast table at seven fifteen.
‘She only wants to because Hunter’s brother plays for the Cowboys and we’re playing at their home ground,’ Angus said. ‘Lexi and Hunter kissing in a tree?—’
‘Angus!’ Lexi and I shrieked at the same time.
Dressed in lurid checked golfing trousers, Matthew silently got up from the table, kissed Lexi and Angus and stalked off.
I headed upstairs and walked past Lexi’s room. A piggery. Past Angus’s room. Ditto. I wandered into our bedroom, made the bed, picked up Matthew’s wet towel and clothes, then showered. My mind was racing like I was on speed. Not that I’d ever taken speed. I didn’t even know where to buy speed. I’m sure Lexi would know. And Hunter.
Driving to soccer, Lexi studied her phone, Angus played with his Nintendo and I had time to think. Like it or not, Mum and Dad would probably get married again. Mum was determined. But why so soon? And at Christmas when there was so much else going on, not that I’d planned anything.
And Matthew? I wondered if he was serious about the move. Perhaps he was saying it to wind me up further. Theoretically, he could commute. In hindsight, maybe last night wasn’t the best time to mention our non-existent sex life.
And on top of that we were having dinner at Fern’s. I wondered whether Matthew would even come. He might have already booked his flight to Auckland, leaving me alone to deal with the kids and pets. So much for a pleasant weekend. Yep! Old dramas moved down the list of importance as new ones took their place.