Chapter 22
I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror. The kids wouldnt care that the jumper was a perfect fit, or that my hair and makeup was on point.
I cared.
A small part of me was almost-but-not-quite convinced that Bam cared too.
If he didnt… Who knows, I could meet a hot doctor or nurse here.
I stepped out of the bathroom and almost ran into someone who was carrying a big armful of balloons in the direction of the kids ward.
Oops, sorry. I took a step back.
The balloons parted and Rubie looked back at me. I was about to say to look where youre going, but since its you, Ill be nice and give you the benefit of the doubt.
I appreciate that, I said dryly. Do you need a hand?
Naw, these balloons are surprisingly light, Rubie said. Its almost like theyre carrying themselves.
It took me a moment to realise she was joking. Her humour was so dry and her expression deadpan. She should take up standup comedy.
I laughed. How about that? Its a bit hard to see around them, isnt it?
Yeah, but if I run into anything, Ill bounce. This time she smiled. Going my way?
As it happens, I am, I said. Maybe I should walk in front of you, to make sure you dont bounce into a wall and break all those balloons.
Lead on. She waved before her face disappeared behind the balloons again.
I started walking straight ahead up the corridor. Even with a few Christmas in July decorations, the place was cold and smelled of medicine and cleaning supplies. Hospitals didnt stop being hospitals just because it was the holidays. Sickness didnt go away for one day a year.
The moment we stepped into the kids ward, the atmosphere changed. There was still an air that this was a place for kids to get treatment, but the huge Christmas tree near the door, and all the decorations covering the walls made it seem like so much more.
It felt like—I dont know—magical. I might even feel a little bit of Christmas spirit if this wasnt the last day Id work with Bam. From now on, wed see each other across the room at Waves once in a while, but that was it. Oh, and on TV if I watched any games.
I might even go to one, once in a while.
Mostly though, wed go back to be strangers with friends in common.
Yeah, I really didnt feel festive today.
Hey, there you are. Ashley was helping a couple of kids stick paper wreaths to the wall, and turned to give me a smile. She grimaced at the sight of the balloons.
Obviously she wasnt a fan of them. Id have to ask her about that some time.
Hi. I gave her a finger wave, then one to Bec, who was standing beside Hawk while he hung one end of a paper chain to the wall. Being tall had its advantages.
Bec smiled, then held up a hand to stop Hawk. Higher than that, or youll hit your head every time you walk past.
Looks like everyone is here, Rubie said.
Most of them, I agreed. Ollie has a cold, so he cant come. I couldnt see Bam anywhere either. He must be planning to make a big entrance, otherwise hed been in the middle of everything.
My father said hell drop in later, if he has time. Rubies face clearly said what she thought of that. This was too important for him to blow it off for something else, but she wasnt at all surprised hed done it. I sent the checque on his behalf though.
I suspected it might be even bigger than hed agreed to. Hopefully he wouldnt be pissed off because of his own generosity. That was definitely not my problem. Whatever went on between them, Id steer well clear of.
Thank you, on behalf of the kids and Bam. I peered around, but he still wasnt anywhere to be seen. He better not have blown off this event too. Surely that would be a step too far, even for him. I wouldnt be so worried if he hadn’t done it before. Once bitten and all that.
Any time. Rubie started to hand out balloons to the kids in the ward. The joy on their faces almost offset the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
If Bam didnt show up, Id look bad for the second time in as many months.
So would he. The Rapids would have good cause to doubt his commitment to them, and everything else in his life. The publicist in me wanted to wring my hands in frustration.
Skipping the gala was bad enough. To skip this— I wasnt sure this was something his reputation could come back from.
Rule numbers one and two of being a celebrity: you dont let down your cast, crew or team, and you never, ever let down children, especially in public. Those rules might be the wrong way around, but the sentiment was right.
Hard pass, Ashley said from across the room.
I looked over to see Rubie offering her a balloon.
Theres plenty to spare, Rubie said.
She really hates them, Chase said. He balanced a plate of biscuits on his hand and was offering them around.
Ill take two! one of the kids shouted.
Me too! another shrieked.
I chuckled to myself. Kids, they never did things by halves.
Biscuits or balloons? Chase asked. He held the plate up high, out of reach and smiled.
Both! the kids shouted. Please.
Chase lowered the plate and it was empty about ten seconds later.
Someone put a hand on my arm. Where is Bam? Bec asked.
I was hoping you knew, I admitted.
She shook her head. No idea. Hawk said he hasnt heard from him either. She looked worried.
He could be stuck in traffic, I said.
Im feeling a sense of deja vu. Rubie was chewing on the edge of a biscuit. Havent we had this conversation before? We were dressed up a bit fancier than this, but it seems familiar.
Yeah. I sighed. Rubie wore the same blue reindeer jumper I saw in the shop before our run in with Harvey Danbury, not a cocktail dress, but wed definitely been here before.
The next words out of your mouth are going to be Im sure hell be here soon, she predicted.
Um. I was about to say that, but I exhaled in frustration instead. I guess I could send him a text.
I gave them a nod and stepped away before I pulled out my phone.
The first thing I saw was a notification of an email. I was going to ignore it until I saw the sender.
The office of Mack DAntonio, I read under my breath. One of the richest, most successful men in Australia. I had no idea why hed email me. I should look later, but curiosity got the better of me.
I clicked on the email.
Dear Ms Hardy,
Im writing to you on behalf of Mr DAntonio. He has been corresponding with a former employer who recommended you?—
I blinked. Huh?
Mr DAntonio would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience. He will cover the expenses during your travel to and stay in Sydney for your interview?—
I was being pranked. I must be. I looked around, but no one glanced at me, no one was laughing.
Former employer? I suppose it was possible Carson Thomas had something nice to say, or maybe my boss at Laceys. With growing suspicion, I looked for Rubie. She had her back to me. If shed arranged this, Id have to thank her later.
The big question here was what did I do? The answer was obvious. If Bam was going to blow off the party hed organised, and wasnt interested in me, then the best thing I could do was to get as far away from him as I could. What better place was there than another state?
Id miss my friends, but they could come and visit. If I was cynical, Id remind myself they could all afford it. Hell, Rubie could borrow her fathers helicopter and be up in a couple of hours.
Of course, I had no idea what the job was, or how many other people I was up against, but at worst Id get a free trip out of it. And Sydney was warmer this time of year than Victoria.
I pressed reply and wrote a quick, but carefully worded thank you, I appreciate you reaching out to me, Id love the opportunity to attend an interview with Mr DAntonio.
I pressed send.
He was one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. Although, players were the last kind of guy I should be around. I knew that even before Bam came along. Maybe now Id listen to myself.
I looked at my phone for a few moments after the email left my inbox. With a start, I remembered why I had my phone out in the first place.
I pressed on Bams details and sent out a short, but to the point,
Where the hell are you?
I pressed send and waited.
And waited.
Asshat, I muttered before I remembered there were kids and parents present. Luckily I hadnt shouted it like I wanted to.
I looked up to see Bec watching me, a questioning look on her face.
I shrugged that I didnt know.
She frowned and looked toward Hawk, who shrugged as well. The quarterback didnt look any happier about this than I was.
Hawk looked toward Chase, whose expression said he was as clueless as the rest of us, but not worried.
At least, not worried yet.
By then, I was past worry and into anger. After the gala, I should have known I couldnt rely on Bam. Part of me wanted to storm out and never look back. I could go to Sydney and never think of the Rapids again as long as I lived.
The reasons I couldnt do that were as long as my arm. They started with not letting down the kids and didnt end with the fact I wouldnt abandon my friends, no matter how furious I was at one jerk of a pro football player.
I was equally angry at myself though. Hed been transparent as glass with me from the very start. He told me hed never settle down, that he was a restless soul. I was the one who painted him to be a good guy, who could be trusted to do what he said hed do.
At the end of it all, he was the same guy who got into trouble for being in the wrong bar and mouthing off. The guy who bowed to the camera and made everything about him, including this.
Only, I wasnt going to let him ruin this. This would be the most memorable party the kids and the hospital ever saw.
I scanned the room and realised the kids didnt care who was there and who wasnt. Even the ones who were confined to their beds were smiling and singing along to carols which played from speakers overhead.
Later, they would never know if Bam turned up or not. That gave me the strength to manage a smile and move to help the kids to decorate the top of the tree.
Ho ho ho! a voice said from the doorway. Did someone say theyve been good?
Santa! the kids shouted. Some went running toward him. Others hung back, smiling shyly.
I exhaled.
He certainly knew how to make an entrance. All of my anger evaporated as Bam, red suit, beard, huge stomach and all, stepped into the room carrying a bag over his shoulder.
I should have known he wouldnt let the kids down.
Sit down everyone, he said, I have presents for all. He winked at me before he led the kids over to the tree.