Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
I kissed Matthew as he walked inside that evening. ‘Welcome home.’ Now things could return to normal.
‘Thanks, hon. Big week.’ He sighed and flopped on the sofa.
My eyes scanned the room. Papers scattered across the floor, empty chip packet on the coffee table, milk carton on the kitchen bench. Lid off. All the animals in the house, lounging around. Yep, normal. Normal everyday chaos.
‘How was it?’ I asked, trying to engage him as his eyes practically rolled to the back of his head.
‘The Melbourne branch is a mess. Took me three days to sort out the overdue tenders. I had performance review meetings with all the staff. They still don’t get it. You’d think they’d never heard of Covid and rising interest rates. I didn’t finish half of what I needed to. But I did manage to book a restaurant for us tomorrow night to celebrate your birthday and new job.’
My birthday. I’d forgotten. At least I’d tried to.
‘Thank you.’ I edged closer towards him. ‘Sweetheart, Fern’s invited us over tomorrow night.’ Matthew seemed to have dozed off. I nudged him slightly. ‘If you’re so busy, why don’t you create another position? Divide your workload? ’
He shook his head. ‘Have you seen the latest inflation figures? Business is tight. Besides, I don’t mind the work most of the time.’
What could I expect from a man who had a sign hanging on his office wall saying I love Mondays .
‘But I’m exhausted. I’ve had a headache ever since our argument the other day.’ He rubbed his temple. ‘Hope it’s nothing more serious, but you never know.’
I sat down beside him and massaged his head. When it came to illnesses, Matthew leant to the hypochondriac side of the swing. To Matthew, having a headache was code for, I have an inoperable brain tumour and less than three months to live.
Once, I rushed him to hospital in the middle of the night because he was in agony, wailing he was dying of stomach cancer. Turned out, it was constipation. Then there were times, usually around this time of year, when Matthew whipped himself into a frenzy over melanomas. God give me strength when he turns fifty and conversation turns to prostate ailments.
I hoped he didn’t develop a sniffle – one sneeze and he’d convince himself he was dying from Covid, though he’s up to date with his boosters.
‘How’s Lexi?’ he asked, eyes searching the room.
‘We’re coping.’ I neglected to mention the binge-drinking session and the kissing incident.
‘She’s settled down?’
I nodded.
‘At least we can stay home tonight and watch the cricket, maybe order in curries – just what I need.’
‘I’d like nothing better.’ Watching five hours of cricket would be heaven. ‘But I promised we’d go to Mum’s for a belated birthday dinner.’
‘Haven’t you spent the whole week with her?’
‘I’d rather not go either, but I promised. Dad will be there. ’
Matthew’s eyes widened. ‘Your father? I thought you said they’d have to cart you away in a wooden box before you’d agree to see him again?’
Matthew and I had been together fifteen years, and he’d never met my father. I guess he thought he’d escaped that family introduction forever.
‘I did, but it’s complicated. It’s easier to get on with it. See him, and then come home.’
Matthew stared at me with a look that said, Honey, your family’s really peculiar. Is your mum really seeing your dad again after all these years? And if so, do I really have to witness it?
Well, yes, you do. If I have to suffer through this evening, so do you.
‘But the Aussies are batting.’