Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Tweed Heads
“This is a terrible idea,” Reeda said as Duncan parked the Porsche outside the tennis centre at Arkinstall Park.
“What? Why would you say that?” Duncan asked as he peered through the top of the windscreen at the downpour. “Who doesn’t want to play tennis in flooding rains?”
Reeda covered her face with her hands. “We should cancel.”
“I think it’s a bit late now.” He pointed at Bindi and Josh’s car as it pulled into the lot and parked beside them.
Reeda climbed out of the car, readjusting her white pleated tennis skirt.
She’d bought it recently in the hopes it would motivate her to play more often.
She enjoyed tennis, but she often felt too tired to set up a game.
They’d planned this game for the past three weeks, and now it was raining so heavily that she could barely see the courts.
She could hear Bindi’s laughter over the roar as her sister stepped onto the asphalt. “Whose idea was this?”
Reeda shook her head. “Mine, I think. I was feeling inspired. Did you see that Leyton Hewitt beat Andre Agassi today?”
“So, you have grand plans for us, then? Because I have bad news…” Bindi teased as she held up her tennis racket.
The rain eased, and the four of them made their way over to the court.
There was a break in the clouds, and a little blue sky peeped through.
They settled onto the court with a warm-up.
Reeda hadn’t played in months and was feeling rusty.
She missed more balls than she hit, but by the time they started the game, she was feeling better and found the mark more often.
She’d purchased a mobile phone recently.
It felt strange to carry a phone around with her wherever she went, and she often forgot and left it at home.
For a few days, it’d sat on the kitchen bench with a dead battery because she hadn’t gotten around to charging it.
But now, it rang in her purse on the side of the court under a small shelter.
With one hand up to halt the play, she jogged over to the sidelines.
“Come on, Reeda!” Duncan patted his racket in exasperation. “We’re just getting going.”
“Won’t be a moment. Sorry, I’m expecting a call.”
Her heart jittered in her chest as she fished around in her purse for the phone. She pulled it out and pressed it to her ear.
“Hi, this is Reeda.”
“Reeda, it’s Noreen calling from the Department of Community Services.”
“Hi, Noreen. How are you?”
“I’m well, thanks. As we discussed last time we spoke, I’ve been processing your application to foster children in New South Wales, and I wanted to update you on how that’s going.”
“Great. I’m all ears.”
“I wanted to let you know that I’ve filed your paperwork to get the application process started for fostering. Once we’ve completed the steps involved, including an assessment of your home, I’ll add you to our program, and you should expect to receive your first placement soon after that.”
“Really? Wow.” Reeda didn’t know what to say. Blood rushed to her head and made it spin. “Is there anything else for me to do right now?”
“You’ll receive a letter in the mail detailing next steps. But I thought you might like to know before that. I’ll speak to you soon.”
As Reeda hung up the phone, she turned to look at the others who shot her quizzical looks. The rain returned in a downpour that drowned out any conversation within seconds. Huge, fat drops of rain thundered into the sodden earth around her.
Duncan jogged over to where she stood. “It’s pointless trying to play today. Let’s go home.”
Bindi and Josh joined them in the tiny shelter.
“We could rent a movie and get some food,” Bindi suggested.
“Let’s go back to our place,” Reeda said. “There’s a great fish-and-chip restaurant down the street, and it’s not far from here. Plus, I have wine chilling.”
“Perfect,” Bindi replied.
Back at the house, Reeda hurried to pour wine and set up a grazing platter of cheese, crackers, olives and prosciutto while Duncan got fish and chips from the corner shop down the street.
Bindi set the table by the window that looked out across the water.
Even though it was raining hard, the view was still good.
Grey clouds hung low over the landscape, and the whole world was bathed in a semi-twilight.
The kitchen phone rang, and Reeda jogged to answer it.
It was her friend Jennifer from Sydney. They’d attended school together before Reeda was forced to move to Cabarita Beach after her parents died.
They’d kept in contact and become close again when Reeda returned to Sydney to study interior design at university.
They’d been close ever since. It was at Jennifer’s baby shower that Reeda had finally realised how wounded she was by her infertility and had decided she needed some space and time to figure things out, which resulted in a life-changing trip to Italy.
“Hey, Jen,” Reeda said. “How’s things?”
“Things are great. I’ve got about two seconds to chat before the toddler starts screaming for more food, so I thought I’d give you a bell.”
Reeda quipped. “That sounds about right. Mabel’s always had a good set of lungs on her.”
“I’ve booked my flight!”
“Really? So, you’re coming to see me? You’re not going to simply say you’ll visit over and over, but never actually do it?”
“Hey, I resemble that comment. I mean, resent.” Jennifer feigned indignation.
Reeda beamed. “I’m so excited. We’re going to have a great time.”
“Um…I’m bringing the kids. You know that, right?”
“Yes, and I couldn’t be happier about it. I can’t wait to see them.”
“You’re a good friend,” Jennifer replied.
“I know you have to go, but I want to tell you something before you do.”
“Okay…”
Reeda drew in a quick breath. “We’ve registered to be foster parents.”
Jennifer squealed, and Reeda pulled the phone away from her ear with a grimace.
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Jennifer said. “I know you’ll be great foster parents. You and Duncan are both amazing with kids, and you have such big hearts.”
“I haven’t told anyone else yet, so keep it to yourself for now.”
“Oh, okay. Any reason?”
“I don’t know. I feel strange about it. Like, I’m not sure we’ll be able to manage it somehow.”
“I’m sure that’s completely normal,” Jennifer replied in a warm voice. “It’s a big thing you’re undertaking, and it would be bizarre if you didn’t have some trepidation or concern over taking it on. But I know you can do it.”
Reeda could hear the children crying and shouting in the background.
“I’ve got to go. But I’ll see you soon,” Jennifer said.
As Reeda hung up the phone, she felt a surge of confidence. If her oldest friend believed in her, surely she should be able to believe in herself.