Chapter Five
“Sure you don’t need a hand over there?” Pete asked.
Tim shook his head. “Nah, thanks, mate.” He motioned to the handful of boxes in the flatbed of his ute, a silver HiLux he’d had for ten years that still ran like a dream. “It’s all there.” He hefted his suitcase into the back as well, careful not to disturb his bubble-wrapped surfboard.
Pete, his cousin on his dad’s side, nodded.
He was a barrel-shaped man with dirty blond hair that was almost a mullet.
“We’ll see you in a couple of weeks for the barbie once you’re all settled?
Everyone’s excited to see ya.” Now that he was out of his orange tradie uniform, he wore his typical shorts, thongs, and Dockers T-shirt.
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Pete’s wife, Nisha, said, “Fair warning: Petey’s mum is probably inviting every single woman she knows in WA.”
Tim managed a laugh and gamely said, “Maybe she’ll introduce me to the next Mrs. Bullock.”
Nisha was short and chubby with brown skin and hair and a typically bright smile, though she was frowning now. “Even after all these years, it’s still hard to believe you and Maria split. You always seemed so happy.”
“We had our problems like anyone, but we were,” Tim said truthfully. “’Til we weren’t.”
Nisha looped her arm through Petey’s. She and Pete had grown up together in Armadale and had been together now longer than Tim and Maria. “I admit, part of me’s hoping now you might give it another chance. She said—” She cut herself off. “Sorry. None of our business.”
Though Tim was sure Maria wouldn’t tell tales about him, his heart still skipped a beat. When they’d opened their marriage, they’d agreed to keep that private. His cousins and other family didn’t need to know about swingers parties and his…exploration.
Tim forced a smile. “Hope she’s not too hard on me.”
Nisha’s face softened. “She wants you to be happy.”
“I want the same for her, and as far as I know, she and Woz are doing well.”
“They are. She worries about Ryan, but that’s a mum’s job, isn’t it?” Nisha said. “I’m sure you and he will mend fences now that you’re back.”
“Hope so.” Tim had avoided the subject for the few days he’d been staying with Pete and Nisha and their kids, and he didn’t want to get into it now.
And he understood friends and family were still curious even seven years on about why he’d left Maria, but he couldn’t tell them without spilling all of it. It still felt like stabbing her in the back to make it public.
“Right, I’m off. Thanks again.” He extended his hand to Pete, and they shook and moved into a half hug before Tim kissed Nisha’s cheek.
He listened to a footy podcast on the drive to Barking, the hosts discussing the ACL tear of St. Kilda’s best midfielder and why Carlton was under the pump.
Hadn’t Liam Fox torn his ACL back when he was the star player for the Eagles?
Tim was pretty sure it’d been a knee injury that had ended his career before it had really started.
Strange to think that now Tim was going to be living in Liam’s granny flat. He followed the GPS instructions to the quiet street a few blocks back from the beach. Eucalyptus trees lined the street of bungalows and the odd new-build McMansion squeezed in.
He pulled into the left side of Liam’s driveway beside an SUV, and a minute later, Cody and Liam appeared barefoot in the door of the bungalow in shorts and T-shirts.
“Hiya!” Cody called. “Welcome.”
“G’day.” Tim went to shake their hands as a large goldendoodle rushed out, tail wagging joyfully. “And who’s this?” Nudging his knees, the dog smiled up at him as if he was the most amazing thing it had ever seen in its life.
“This is Charlene, and she’s very enthusiastic,” Cody said with a grin.
Tim let her smell his hand before petting her soft curls. “What a gorgeous girl.”
“She is. Just don’t let her convince you we never feed her,” Liam said as he headed to the back of the ute. “We’ll give you a hand.”
Carrying his surfboard with Charlene at his heels, the bubble wrap squeaking under his arm, Tim followed through the carport past a couple of bicycles, the rubbish bins, and gardening equipment.
In the back, there was only a small plot of grass but a large shaded al fresco patio area and raised flowerbeds.
At the rear of the small yard a few meters beyond the al fresco was Tim’s home for at least the next three months.
The pod was a gray-clad rectangle with black trim, sitting on a new concrete foundation with a door set towards the left.
About six meters long and a couple wide, to the left of the front door inside the pod contained a toilet, sink, and shower.
The frosted glass door to the bathroom opened out next to a kitchen bench top with a sink and enough room for a hot plate and three cupboards above.
Cody grabbed Charlene’s collar to stop her exploring and motioned to the hot plate, explaining it was induction, whatever that meant. “I’m afraid there’s not much counter space. We thought about getting one of those trolleys with a cutting board on top, but there’s not really enough room.”
“I’m not much of a cook,” Tim said with a laugh. “This’ll do me just fine.”
“The windows are double glazed, so we’re hoping sound won’t travel too much between the house and here,” Liam said. He quickly added, “Not that we reckon you’ll be noisy.”
“All good.”
The rest of the rectangular space to the right held a double bed at the far end with a side table attached to the wall.
If someone was sleeping over, they’d have to crawl to the far side, the bed fitting snugly into the space, the head on the left and foot the right.
A small TV hung on the wall at the foot of the bed.
Don’t think about anyone sleeping over.
There was just enough space for a chair, and there were four high windows, two on each long side, one with an air-con unit.
A rug in blues matched the bedspread, and the floor was luxury vinyl in a dark wood tone.
The walls were creamy white, and an ocean scene print was framed over the bed on the far end.
There were drawers under the bed and a few hooks on walls.
Cody said, “You’re the first person who’s stayed here, so please let us know if there are any issues or practical things you need. It’s hard to know until you actually live in a space. We were going to try it ourselves, but then Teddy mentioned you’d need a temporary spot.”
“It’s perfect, mate.”
Whining and straining against Cody’s grip, Charlene leaned toward Tim. “Sorry,” Cody said. “She just loves people.”
“I could use some love,” Tim said, and Cody let her go so she could skid over to him by the bed for more scratches.
He clocked Liam and Cody sharing a glance as he squatted.
Charlene licked his cheek as he rubbed her head, her tail thwacking against Liam’s shins.
“Just mean that I’m keen on dogs. Our old girl passed a couple of years ago. ”
“I’m sorry,” Cody said. “Anytime you want to hang with Char, she’ll be thrilled.”
“I’ll take you up on that. Cheers.”
Liam said, “We wanted to have you for dinner, but we’ve got to go to my brother’s. My niece Olivia’s turning two next week, so we’re doing our celebration today. If my parents—” He broke off, jaw clenching. “Never mind.”
Cody reached out for Liam’s hand. “We don’t see Liam’s parents, but we’re close with Greg and his wife, Cora.”
“Ah.” Tim recalled from Liam’s big TV interview that his parents were homophobic dickheads. “Teddy’s friends with them too, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, he and Jill will be there,” Cody said. “You’d be more than welcome to join us.”
“Of course,” Liam agreed, seeming to breathe a little easier.
“I’d like to get settled, but thanks. Next time.”
They left him to it, Charlene reluctantly following.
After putting away his clothes and toiletries, Tim carefully unwrapped his yellow vintage longboard, running his fingers down the blue stripe in the middle.
He could’ve had a surf after his first day at work, but riding waves at Barking again after fifteen years felt like it deserved ceremony.
First, he had to bite the bullet.
Taking a seat on the chair, he pulled out his phone. It rang, and he watched the screen, waiting.
With an electronic chime, Maria’s face appeared. She was beautiful as always—pale white skin, a slim nose and mouth with big blue eyes and light brown hair pulled back in a messy bun.
When they’d met at Barkers after Maria moved to Perth for uni, his mum had said she looked like an old doll made of…what was it? Not glass. Not ceramic, but that other thing…
“Hello, stranger,” she said with a small smile. “It’s been a minute.” She frowned. “Are you at Pete and Nish’s?”
“I was, but—did Nish tell you that?”
“No, it was an educated guess after Ryan mentioned you’re back. I’ve been waiting for you to ring.”
“Just helping out for a bit.” He quickly explained about taking over for Teddy.
“Please give him my best.” Maria frowned. “What about your apartment?”
“One of the boys is subletting. But I’ll have to find something cheaper if I go back. Rent’s gone up and up. Hard to even find a place.”
“So you didn’t quit Coolangatta? And where are you right now?”
“I’m on leave for at least three months. Then we’ll see. Staying in a pod in the yard of two of the lifeguards here.” He flipped the phone and gave her a tour, which took all of twenty seconds.
Maria turned and spoke to someone else. “I’ll be in soon. Bull and I need to catch up.”
She was outside in her yard with dark pink bougainvillea thick behind her climbing up a trellis, probably finishing that morning’s crossword before dinner.
Warren’s deep voice said, “Uh, hiya, mate.” He awkwardly leaned down into the frame wearing a golf shirt. He’d gone grayer since Tim had seen him last but was still fit.
“Hiya, Wozza. Good to see ya,” Tim lied.