Chapter Twenty-Six
I bounce up the narrow staircase that leads to Dorian’s art class; being the designated driver at my cousin’s wedding means I’m much fresher than I could have been the following day. I messaged Kit last night, as Brett drove us home in his pick-up truck.
Hi Kit. My name is Christina and we met outside Piano Quays. I
promised to let you know that I made it home safely, but I misplaced
your number. Sorry for the delay, but better late than never!
Out of all the many meet-cutes I’ve had, Kit has been the only one who was relatable and interesting, the only one who gave me full-on, oh-my-goat-is-he-going-to-kiss-me butterflies.
He’s the only one I wanted to kiss at all after spending a few minutes with him.
All the others had disappointed and/or repulsed me after spending time in their company.
Kit is different from the others. I know it.
And very soon we’re going to meet up and put my theory to the test.
The studio is empty apart from Thea, who has made her own way to the studio this afternoon.
Audrey and Olive have yet to arrive, and Dorian’s nipped out for milk and will be back in a few minutes.
Thea gathers us in the seating area, guiding me and Jonah towards the small sofa and dragging a chair over for Rhys.
I look at Jonah, but he shrugs, in a I-don’t-know-what’s-happening-either kind of way.
‘I’m getting divorced.’
Thea makes the statement so casually, I assume I’ve misheard, but if I’ve misheard, Jonah has too. He leans towards his sister, his face creased with concern.
‘You and Daniel are getting divorced?’
She nods, still casual as anything.
‘What? I don’t… Divorced? Are you sure?’
‘If I’m not, then getting a solicitor involved was a costly mistake.’ Thea grins at her quip, but the joy soon seeps from her face. ‘Sorry. It’s hard to process. Humour helps a bit.’
‘Are you sure this is what you want?’ Jonah reaches out and takes his sister’s hand in his. ‘It must be so hard juggling demanding jobs and a marriage and two young children, but divorce? You and Daniel have always been so rock solid.’
‘We’ve been struggling for a while, to be honest.’ Thea smiles weakly, the corners of her mouth barely moving.
‘And it’s more than the stress of work and family life.
’ She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before continuing.
‘Daniel… got close to one of the dental nurses he worked with in Uganda. Nothing physical happened, apparently, but he was tempted, he wanted something to happen, and he told me how conflicted he was when he got back. That he didn’t know what – or who – he wanted.
Me or her. He needed time and space to think, so he moved out and he’s been staying with a friend.
We managed to get a cancellation slot for marriage counselling.
’ Thea meets my eye, and I remember that Friday afternoon when she needed me to babysit last-minute a few weeks ago.
‘We’ve talked loads and I’ve given Daniel the time and space he needed to make his decision. ’
‘And he chose her? The dental nurse?’ Jonah’s lips press together and his nostrils have flared at the utterly nonsensical choice his brother-in-law has made.
But Thea shakes her head. ‘He chose me. Us. Our family. He’s realised he doesn’t want to give up the life we’ve built together.’
Jonah frowns. ‘But you’re still getting divorced?’
Thea smiles, the gesture stronger this time but still tinged with sadness.
‘I realised it wasn’t only Daniel’s choice to make.
My thoughts and feelings are just as valid, and I’m angry and disappointed and fucking furious that he would ever even think about being with someone else, let alone having to nip off and weigh up the pros and cons of our marriage, of our family. So, he doesn’t get to decide. I do.’
I want to lift my hand to high-five my friend but it doesn’t seem appropriate so I keep my hand firmly in my lap.
‘They kept in touch after they got home, Daniel and the dental nurse. I’ve seen the messages.
I made him show me, so I knew we were being completely open and honest. Some were…
graphic. But worse, most were romantic. They were planning a possible future together.
It’s a future Daniel decided against in the end, but he betrayed me and our marriage and I won’t give him the chance to do that again. ’
‘Good for you.’ I reach out and give Thea’s arm a squeeze. It’s not the high-five she deserves but it’s the gesture of support that she needs.
‘So, what happens now?’ Jonah is still holding Thea’s hand and he shuffles to the edge of the sofa, so he’s closer to her.
‘The kids and I are going to stay in the house for now and Daniel is getting his own place. We’re going to be grown-up about it and share fifty-fifty custody, which means I have all this free time I didn’t have before.
’ She looks around the studio, which has helped to fill up a couple of hours a week.
‘Is there anything we can do?’ I’m thinking babysitting when Thea needs to see her solicitor or whatever or perhaps taking a cricket bat to Daniel’s stupid head.
‘Yes, there is.’ Thea smiles, brighter this time. ‘You can come out with me after class and get me really, really drunk.’
Thea’s revelation is shocking and heartbreaking, but it also adds to the confusion over my own romantic endeavours, because Thea and Daniel were perfect for each other: they met while taking the same course at university, they’re both passionate about their shared careers and they have the kids, yet it still didn’t work out.
Perhaps Jonah is right and it isn’t necessarily about finding someone with shared interests.
And perhaps Rhys is right too and finding The One is a numbers game (though I will never admit, not even under torture, that Rhys was right about this, because his head is big enough already).
Kit could be The One… but then so could any other guy out there.
This living-happily-ever-after thing isn’t easy.
We head across the road to the bar Audrey and Olive have been frequenting after the art class. They’re already on first-name terms with the staff and we have no trouble getting served even though it’s quite busy for a Sunday afternoon.
‘Shall we do shots?’ Audrey turns to the group as Aleena, the barmaid our art class buddies introduced us to, gets started on our order. ‘Isn’t that what you young ’uns do?’
I hold my hands up. ‘I’m not really a shots person.’
‘And I’m the designated driver.’ Jonah shrugs apologetically, as if turning down the shots will offend Audrey. Which it probably will, but Rhys comes to the rescue.
‘I’m up for shots. Kamikazes?’
‘I have no idea what that is, my love.’ Audrey pats Rhys on the arm. ‘But let’s give it a go.’
With Thea more than willing to down some shots, Audrey adds them to the order, and we carry the drinks over to a free table towards the back.
I’m pleasantly surprised to make it to the table without wearing a drink or two, as I’ve become accustomed to having drinks spilled on me since the meet-cute wish.
‘I thought you might like some complimentary snacks.’ Aleena the barmaid stops by our table as we’re shrugging off layers and tucking bags under the table.
She sets a trio of small bowls on the table, filled with peanuts, olives and pretzels, nudging them towards Jonah as she makes direct eye contact with him.
‘Let me know if I can get you anything else.’
‘Wow.’ I follow her track through the crowd before turning to Jonah. ‘She fancies you.’
‘What?’ Jonah frowns as he plucks a pretzel from the bowl. ‘No way.’
‘Those snacks aren’t for us.’ I indicate the group. ‘They’re for you.’ I scan the other tables as best as I can through the throng of people gathered in every nook and cranny. ‘And I don’t see anybody else with complimentary snacks.’
‘They’re good.’ Jonah crunches his pretzel noisily. ‘So maybe they’ve all been eaten.’
‘Or maybe…’ I lean across the table towards Jonah, avoiding the array of glasses. ‘She fancies you. Why is that so hard to believe? You’re a good-looking fella.’
‘I am?’ Jonah grabs another pretzel, looking pretty chuffed with himself as he pops it in his mouth.
‘You know you are.’ And he is, with his slightly too-long curls that hang towards his heavy brows.
His eyes are the darkest brown and framed by long lashes and he has a long nose that I’m compelled to run my finger down, though I’ve always resisted the urge because that would be a bit weird.
‘And she’s gorgeous.’ I peek over my shoulder, where Aleena is back behind the bar serving another set of customers.
I snatch my head back round when she glances towards our table, though I doubt she’s looking at me. ‘You should go and talk to her.’
Jonah scrunches up his nose. ‘Nah. Not interested.’
‘Why not?’ I fold my arms across my chest and quirk an eyebrow. ‘You’re not still pining for Freddie, are you? Because we had a deal that you’d be over him by now.’
Jonah huffs out a laugh. ‘I don’t think it works like that, but no, I’m not still pining for Freddie. I hadn’t even thought about him until you brought him up, and I haven’t looked at his Instagram for ages. In fact, I unfollowed him.’
‘You did? When?’ My heart leaps, because this is tremendous news. Jonah getting over Freddie is awesome.
‘A couple of weeks ago.’ Jonah takes another pretzel and shrugs, as though it’s no big deal. But it is a big deal. It’s a huge deal, because it means he can move on and find himself someone worthy. Someone like Aleena? ‘But I’m not talking to that woman.’
‘Why not?’
Jonah slings his arm around Thea and pulls her in close. ‘Because I’m here to support my sister, not hook up.’
‘And I’m here to get off my face.’ Thea snatches up one of the shots, holding it in the air for a second before tipping it down her throat.