Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
Life Makeover Principle #7:
Celebrate every MILESTONE. These are the stepping stones to your new life.
‘Okay, kids, all mess into the Emergency Cupboard, STAT!’ Like loyal employees they obliged, well accustomed to these spontaneous orders from their mother. Cara had insisted they practise this as a drill regularly, after the embarrassing incident last year when visitors from overseas dropped in unexpectedly to a house of mess and chaos (‘Pete! I thought it was next Friday!’).
The following day, as well as setting reminder beeps on her phone for important events, Cara had allocated a cupboard in the garage as the Emergency Cupboard. No ‘stuff’ was to be put in there; it was to be kept empty until needed as a catch-all for the kids mess when the threat of impending visitors reared its ugly head .
Today it was needed. Alice Wetherill, the owner of Queen of Arts had called and would arrive in fifteen minutes to finally see samples of her artwork. Yay, and crap. Cara wanted to give a good impression, not only of her artwork, but of her expected motherly ability to maintain a tidy and beautiful living environment for her family. If the kids could get everything in the cupboard themselves, she would just have time to change out of her sweatshirt and jeans and into something more presentable, clear the dining table of the remnants of lunch, put the dog outside, and boil the kettle. If all else failed, she’d just use the ‘all good artists have a messy home’ excuse.
She shouldn’t have bothered.
Alice looked like she’d just come from the gym and had a grumpy toddler in tow. ‘Felix – get back here now!’ she ordered her son as he ran back to the car. At the sound of her military-like voice and the threat of her piercing stare he came back to the doorstep dutifully. Then, as though she’d had an instant personality transplant, turned to face Cara and said sweetly, ‘Cara, hello, it’s so wonderful to meet you!’
Cara led Alice into the kitchen where her work-in-progress portfolio and completed artworks lay on the dining table – aka – art table , and before she could stop herself, ‘Sorry about the mess, I was halfway through doing the housework when you called’ came out of her mouth. Cara wondered why women always felt the need to apologise whenever someone entered their home. She vowed silently not to do it again.
‘Oh, you should see my house,’ Alice confessed. ‘If I could find the secret to running a business, keeping the house impeccable, and having well-behaved kids while staying perfectly sane, I’d be given the Nobel Prize for Motherhood! ’
Cara smiled with relief. On the phone she’d gotten the impression that Alice would be Stepford Wives material, but it seemed she was a regular mother after all, whatever that was. Maybe she should share her tip about the Emergency Cupboard, you know, mother to mother? Okay, it wasn’t exactly a Nobel Prize winning secret, but it did help Cara feel more in control. And it could help her connect with Alice and give her a better shot at getting hired.
‘Anyway, sorry to drop by with such short notice,’ Alice continued, ‘since I was passing through your area, I thought I’d take the opportunity, I hope you don’t mind. I know I panic a bit when people drop by without much warning, but you know what, I’ll share a little secret with you that helps...’
No. It couldn’t be. Surely not.
‘...I have an empty cupboard at home, and when someone’s on their way to visit, I just stuff everything in there!’ Alice smiled, a sense of accomplishment on her face.
Cara laughed. ‘Alice, come with me. I have something else to show you today.’
Cara was bursting at the seams waiting for Pete to get home. He was later than usual. At seven-thirty he came through the door, armed with shopping bags. ‘Oh, if I knew you were doing the shopping, I would have given you the list,’ said Cara.
‘Sorry, hun, spur of the moment decision. I only picked up some special ingredients for Toby. I’m not giving up until I come up with the perfect white sauce.’ Pete emptied the bags onto the kitchen bench and kissed Cara on the cheek. Since Toby’s diagnosis, Pete had been spending his days off experimenting with different recipes, and since Cara’s dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, taste-free, and inedible white sauce attempt, he was determined to come up with a winner. ‘I also stopped by the pub for a quick drink with friends from work, sorry I didn’t call, it was a long day, we – ’
‘I sold an artwork!’ Cara blurted, bouncing on the spot.
‘You what? You sold an artwork?’ Pete held onto his wife’s hands.
‘Yes! You know that woman, Alice, who was supposed to contact me but didn’t? Well, she did, but it took her long enough! Anyway, she came over, and loved the ‘Bliss’ painting,’ Cara sprang up and down on her toes, ‘so she bought it to sell in her shop!’
‘Really? How much?’
‘She gave me one hundred and fifty dollars, reckons it’ll sell for double that, maybe more.’
‘That’s great, although I hope she gave you a good deal, we should probably research the market and make sure she didn’t rip you off.’
‘Oh, Pete, I don’t care, I can’t believe someone paid good money for something I whipped up in a couple of hours!’ Cara jumped about, and Jacob joined in. She couldn’t wait to share her good news with The Club.
‘Is she going to buy any more?’
‘Hopefully. She said she’d see how easy this one is to sell first, and if it’s worthwhile, she’ll get me to bring in some more. She also said there might be a market for doing portraits from photographs. She’ll establish if there’s any interest and let me know.’
‘That’s great news!’ Pete gathered Cara in his arms, and Jacob huddled in between them like the meat in a sandwich. ‘I’ve got an idea.’ Pete pulled away. ‘You should set up a website too, see if you can sell some direct to the public so you get the full profits.’
Cara nodded. ‘Might be a good idea. Although, I’m happy to forego some of the profit if Alice can sell some for me, saves me having to do any promotion of my own.’
‘True, but you might as well do both, and now that you’ve got one buyer, you can be more confident approaching others.’
Cara nodded again. ‘Maybe we should go into business together, honey.’ She winked. ‘The Collins family art business, huh?’
‘Haha, not just yet. We’ve still got to pay for all this expensive food! I think I’ll keep saving lives for a bit longer, until you become the next Picasso anyway.’
Cara hugged her husband, then pulled back. ‘Sorry, what were you going to say before, about your long day?’ she asked.
‘Oh, I delivered a baby, that’s all.’
‘That’s all? That’s amazing! Were you in the ambulance, or...’
‘No, at the mother’s house. By the time we got there she was ready to deliver. Two weeks early the little boy was. It was her second child, and she thought it was going to be a long labour like her first so she didn’t hurry to the hospital, but he was out within a few hours.’
‘Lucky her!’ Cara thought back to her three childbirth episodes, all agonising, and none under ten hours long, Lily’s being sixteen. She couldn’t bear the thought of going through it again, it would be so much easier if women’s bodies came with in-built zippers on the stomach – just unzip painlessly like a jacket when you’re ready for the little darling to enter the world.
‘There was a complication, though. The cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck, and once he was out, he was blue, so I gave him a couple of quick breaths to get him breathing.’
‘Oh God, is he alright?’
‘Yeah, they were both fine when we took them to hospital. The mother was so grateful.’ Pete seemed distant, like his eyes were open but only seeing the past. ‘Beautiful little bub, he was. Remember when the kids were first born, how tiny they were?’
‘I do, although they didn’t feel tiny when they were coming out of me!’
Pete chuckled. ‘Anyway, we should be celebrating your sale! How about we pour some bubbly?’
Later in bed, Pete fell asleep instantly, while Cara lay awake thinking. She was happy about her sale, and grateful for her husband’s support, but there was still that nagging feeling she was letting him down. She saw it in his eyes tonight, the way he spoke about that baby, and how tiny their kids were when they were newborns. He wanted to feel that new parent euphoria again, but couldn’t. Cara hoped that someday, Pete would be okay with the fact that she was never going to give him another child.
‘Can you believe it’s September? Where has the year gone?’ Miranda gave Cara a brief hug after she walked through the door of The Ruby Room.
‘The years are flying by faster than ever, before I know it my kids will be in High School.’
‘I guess you’ve gotta make every moment count then, huh? ’
‘That’s very true.’ Cara’s moments were usually spent thinking about the next moment, and the next, and the one after that. Living in a constant state of rushing was a hard habit to break, but at least she was trying. ‘Oh, before I forget.’ Cara touched Miranda’s arm. ‘Pete was catching up with a few of his friends the other night, and one of them has been single for a while now, so .... how do you feel about arranging for the two of you to meet?’
Miranda tossed her head back. ‘Umm...’
‘He’s really nice, a very sweet guy.’ Cara leaned closer to Miranda. ‘And cute! Don’t forget, finding a great guy is your top passion, and what did Liz tell us? ‘Always choose in favour of your passions’. ’
‘Yes, I remember. Thanks for the offer, but my friend Trisha has already arranged a blind date with a friend of her husband’s, so maybe I should see how that goes first.’
‘Okay, fair enough, but if it doesn’t work out, let me know and I’ll set this one up, okay?’
‘Okay, I’ll think about it,’ said Miranda. ‘It would be nice to meet someone without having to be set up though. Whatever happened to unexpectedly meeting a handsome stranger, him sweeping you off your feet, and the two of you just knowing you were meant to be together?’ She held up her hands in wonder.
‘You’ve been reading too many fairy-tales, girl. Who cares if you meet through a blind date, as long as the outcome is worth it?’ Cara replied, then realised she and Pete met unexpectedly, he swept her off her feet, and they just knew they were meant to be together. She’d been pretty damn lucky.
‘Oh well, if I don’t have any luck soon, I could always use a sperm donor.’ Miranda chuckled, but Cara sensed a hint of seriousness in her tone. Would she really resort to that? ‘And I might have to freeze my eggs. I was advised about that option earlier but I refused, certain I’d meet someone in time.’
‘And there is always adoption as a last resort. I know it’s not the same, hun, but don’t you think it’s more of a priority to find the right guy?’ Cara hoped she wasn’t overstepping the mark, but she’d grown closer to Miranda and genuinely wanted to help her.
Miranda scratched her chin and she stiffened. ‘I’d just really prefer to have my own child, you know? It would be so – ’
‘Okay ladies, take a seat and let’s get started,’ Liz interrupted their discussion.
‘But, Gina’s not here yet. Shouldn’t we wait?’ asked Cara. She hoped there wouldn’t be another person to leave the club.
‘It’s already seven-fifteen, so we’ll get things under way, I think.’ Liz clasped her hands together. ‘Tonight, we’ll start with a visualisation technique, so get comfortable in your chair and close your eyes.’
‘So, what’s this guy’s name, the one you’re being set up with?’ Cara whispered to Miranda with one eye open, hoping to backtrack a little from the possible mistake of having brought up the issue of adoption.
‘Simon. Apparently, he’s smart, funny, and runs his own successful business,’ Miranda whispered back.
‘Oooh, sounds like a catch.’ Cara would have winked, but since one eye was already closed it would have been strange, so she gave a ‘thumbs-up’.
‘Ladies, keep your eyes closed,’ Liz instructed, ‘and take some slow, deep breaths, innnn, and ouuut.... ’
As soon as anyone told Cara to take slow deep breaths her body would rebel for some reason. Her best attempts at relaxation were unexpected, like the time she fell asleep on the dining table while looking through ‘Nutritious meals for the busy family’, or when she and the kids watched the movie Up and her eyelids went Down ; the kids shaking her awake when the credits started rolling.
Tell her to relax, and she couldn’t.
She was quite competent, though, at using this relaxation time to plan the next day’s activities, and mentally remind herself what sort of meat to defrost overnight for dinner.
‘Clear your mind of all distractions, all unnecessary thoughts...’ continued Liz.
Is she reading my mind? Cara tried to triage her thoughts into ‘necessary’, ‘unnecessary’, and ‘only-to-be-thought-once-everything-else-has-been-thought’, but ended up creating more thoughts about the thoughts.
‘When a distraction enters your mind, simply wipe it away ... all you need to do right now is relaaax, and breathe...’
Wipe it away, okay, I can do that, I spend a good chunk of my time wiping things away. Cara imagined getting out the Spray children’s books, and they had Cara’s name on them. Children’s books! That’s something I could do! Over the years Cara had written a few little stories for her kids with funny pictures in them. She hadn’t thought anything of them until now, but maybe, just maybe , they could become something wonderful that other children would enjoy. Who knew what the future could bring ?
Towards the end of the meeting, Liz headed for the door. ‘I just have to check on something, I’ll be back in a tick!’
Where was she going? Cara exchanged a furrowed-brow glance with Miranda.
‘Oh!’ Miranda said, her finger in the air. An image of a light globe above her head popped into Cara’s mind. ‘Do you think it’s…’
The door clicked open and they turned their heads towards the sound. Liz walked back in, along with…
Oh my God. Oh my God!
Cara wondered if her overactive imagination was playing havoc again. Was that really…
‘Ladies, please welcome Katherine Divo, our special guest!’ Liz held out a welcoming hand in front of the petite, raven-haired actress who graced television screens each week in Australia’s top-rating drama show, Nine Lives . Not to mention the fact that she was twice the recipient of Australia’s most coveted television award – the Gold Logie.
Cara froze. She didn’t know whether to clap, wave, or jump up and down and yell ‘Yippee! I just met Katherine Divo!’ The other women looked suitably stunned, and Miranda was about to have a heart attack, as she fanned her face with her hand in excitement.
Katherine gave a little wave and a big smile, her trademark dimples dimpling away. She was just as gorgeous in real life; wide brown eyes, a killer smile that lit up the room, and a warm demeanour emanating from her.
‘Hi, Katherine!’ Miranda stood, as did everyone else, Cara bumping her knee on the table leg on the way and resisting the urge to grab it and say ‘ouch!’.
‘What a wonderful surprise,’ exclaimed Wendy. ‘I watch your show every week! ’
‘Thank you, I’m honoured that Liz asked me to pay a visit.’ Katherine made her way around the group and shook hands with each woman. Cara swiped her hand discreetly on her pants in case it was sweaty. She accepted Katherine’s hand and gave it a gentle shake.
I just touched Katherine Divo’s hand!
‘It’s so nice to meet you.’ Cara hoped she didn’t sound like a fangirl. Even though she was. Katherine was one of her favourite actresses; she knew how to elicit the full spectrum of authentic emotion from bittersweet sadness to frustration-fuelled anger. Her lead performances as the accident-prone veterinarian in Nine Lives were both laugh-out-loud funny and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
‘It’s lovely to meet you too. Love your hair! Are they natural curls?’
She loves my hair? Eeek! ‘Um, yes, all natural.’ Cara puffed them up with her hand.
When everyone had recovered their composure, somewhat at least, Katherine stood at the front of the group and talked about her journey and career. She discussed her hopes and dreams as a young actress, and how life had led her to where she was now. Then she explained how Liz had helped her make a difficult decision…
‘There I was, with a successful Hollywood movie under my belt, and the opportunity for more. But something didn’t feel right. I missed my home country, my family, my friends, and I craved the regularity of working on a television show.’ Katherine’s hands talked along with her, much like Miranda’s did, but in a more refined, delicate way. ‘After Liz took me through The Passion Test, and we had a few one-on-one sessions online, it hit me: I was living the dream, but it was someone else’s dream. Not mine.’ She paused for a moment, her gaze connecting with each in the room, her silence just as powerful as her words. ‘So, I came back to Australia. The gossip magazines decided that I had bombed in the States, headlines reading: “Poor Katherine, gave it her best shot”. They didn’t seem to think that it being my choice was newsworthy.’ She chuckled. ‘I realised that happiness in all areas of my life was more important than making it big. Making it big in Hollywood wasn’t my top passion, enjoying time with family and friends was.’ She took a sip of water. ‘And, not long after I took the job on Nine Lives , I met the man who just recently became my husband.’ Katherine beamed. ‘I can’t imagine not having him in my life, and I never would have met him had I stayed in the States. My life feels more in control now, like I’m in control, whereas before I was running on empty, burning myself out, and following what I thought was right. Now that’s not to say that an actress can’t make it big in Hollywood and have happiness in other areas of their life, not at all, but at this stage in my life it wasn’t the right path for me.’
Wow. This woman gave up an opportunity of a lifetime to go back to the world she came from. It made Cara realise again how lucky she was to have her husband and family.
‘Do you think you’ll ever go back?’ Miranda asked.
‘Never say never,’ Katherine replied. ‘Life is always changing and priorities shift. Right now, I’m loving where I’m at, and my regular sessions with Liz help to keep me focused on what’s right for me.’ She smiled. ‘Seriously, you guys are in excellent hands!’
‘And can I ask what’s in store for Dr Sally Latham on the show?’ Miranda twisted cheekily like a child in her chair.
Katherine grinned. ‘Because I know you’ll keep this quiet, I’ll let you in on a little secret.’ She gestured us closer with a curl of her finger and leaned onto the table. ‘There’s going to be a new addition to the show.’ She straightened up and patted her belly.
Cara gasped. ‘A baby? In real life or just on the show?’
‘Both,’ Katherine replied. ‘The producers were happy to write my pregnancy into the storyline. But as for who the father is…’ She raised her hands in the air as if she didn’t know. ‘I mean, on the show that is! Obviously, I know who the father is in real life.’
Chatter and congratulations ensued, though Miranda was quieter than usual. Cara made a mental note to catch up with her later. No doubt it would be hard for her to keep being reminded of the fact that she hadn’t found a significant other yet, and her time was running out.