Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Coolangatta
Bindi waved her hand over her head to signal Reeda.
She’d secured them a table at the Coolangatta Hotel for lunch.
Their seats were on the verandah overlooking the beach.
In the line of hoop pines outside, flocks of rainbow lorikeets squawked, their raucous cries drowning out the hum of car engines as they drove by.
“There you are,” Reeda said as she kissed Bindi on the cheek. “It’s good to see you.” She slumped into a seat.
Bindi frowned. Reeda was usually so poised, elegant and in control. But today, her usually straight hair was a tangle of waves, she wore a pair of jean shorts and a tank top, and there were dark circles beneath her eyes.
“Are you okay?”
Reeda leaned forward, elbows on the table, and rubbed her eyes. “I was up all night with a sick child. Carly had a terrible fever. I had to take her to the emergency room, and they made us wait there for hours.”
“I’m so sorry. Is she okay?”
“She’s doing a little better today. It’s just the flu. Duncan’s with the kids now. He said I should get out of the house for a few hours. So, thanks for agreeing to meet me for lunch. I really needed a change of scenery and to do something for myself.”
“I’m glad you called,” Bindi said. “I haven’t seen much of you lately.”
They each ordered a drink, and then Bindi leaned back in her chair to enjoy the ocean breeze. The day was milder than usual, but the heat still left a coating of sweat down her back. The wind whipped across the ocean, onto the shore, helping to cool everything down.
“How is Duncan?”
“He’s great. He’s really enjoying his work, and he’s planning his next trip overseas for Doctors Without Borders. He’s also enjoying foster parenting. The kids respond far better to him than they do to me, which seems entirely unfair since I’m the one spending all of my time with them.”
Bindi offered her a sympathetic look. “Sorry to hear that. I think it’s probably part of being a mum.”
“Do you really believe that? Or am I just terrible at it?”
Bindi snorted. “Come on. Of course you’re not terrible. That’s impossible. Don’t you remember how we were with Mum? You used to give her such a hard time.”
“Me? Really? I don’t remember it that way.” Reeda frowned.
Bindi shook her head. “I recall a lot of arguments between the two of you. And then when Dad came home, you’d be easy as.”
Reeda grunted. “I guess maybe you’re right. Why is that?”
“Mum’s the safe place for kids to land. They want Dad to like them, but they already know Mum does.”
“But I’m not really their mother. At least, that’s what Simone keeps telling me, anyway. She’s adamant about it. Doesn’t want there to be any confusion on the matter.” Reeda pursed her lips.
“I realise they have a mother, but you’re playing that role right now.
And maybe they’re testing you—to see if you’ll still be there for them, or if you’ll push them away when things get difficult.
You have to remember, they’ve been given up on too many times now.
It’s going to be hard for them to trust.”
“How did you get so wise?” Reeda asked.
“It’s a gift,” Bindi said with a solemn shake of the head. Then she laughed as Reeda playfully slapped her arm. “No, really—this is basic psychology. I took some classes at university. I vaguely recall them teaching us something along those lines.”
“It makes sense, I guess.”
The waitress brought their drinks and set them on the small table between them.
Bindi took a sip of her margarita, and then the two of them ordered their lunch.
While they waited, they chatted about the inn, and baby Noah—both agreed he was adorable and couldn’t wait to see him again.
And both wondered what was going on with Mima.
“She’s been so quiet lately, which is completely unlike her,” Bindi said.
Reeda shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry too much. She’s bound to tell us if it’s anything important. She can’t keep it to herself for long. And how are things with your studies? Have you started yet?”
Their food arrived. Bindi had ordered the battered cod and chips while Reeda had a chicken Parmesan. Bindi covered the fish and chips with vinegar and extra salt.
“I went to my first class on Monday. It was strange to be back at university again. It feels so different this time around—I’m considered a mature-aged student, if you can believe it.”
Reeda huffed. “You’re getting so old, Bindi.”
“I feel it around all these teenagers. But it was good. I’ve already made a group of friends there.”
“Well done. That was fast.”
“Actually, there’s a man who knew me from my time in Melbourne. He approached me when I was on campus a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, really? What’s his name?”
“Brett Dunn.”
“Do you remember him?”
“No, I’m not sure how he knows me, I don’t recall meeting him. I think he probably saw me on TV.”
Reeda frowned. “He sounds cute.”
Bindi laughed. “What do you mean? I didn’t describe him.”
“You mentioned him unprompted…” Reeda arched an eyebrow. “It’s a dead giveaway.”
Bindi blushed. “He is cute, but I’m married.
Anyway, we’ve been hanging out as a group—they’ve all been very friendly, welcoming, invited me to go clubbing with them.
We’ve had a great time. But now, I’m not sure what to do because I think he has a crush on me.
I’ve responded to his messages with vague statements about being busy, but I’ll have to talk to him at some point.
” Bindi pushed her fork into a fat chip and took a bite.
She was conflicted over the Brett situation.
Part of her wanted to continue being in his friendship group—she’d been so chuffed that she’d found some young, cool students to befriend.
She hadn’t really made a lot of connections since she moved to Cabarita Beach two years earlier, and she’d thought that dry spell might finally be over. It was hard to give that up.
“I suppose you could allow him the benefit of the doubt,” Reeda said with hesitation in her voice. “Maybe he’s a friendly guy.”
“Yeah, that’s what I want to do. But I don’t know if it’s right.”
“What does Josh say about the whole thing?” Reeda asked.
Bindi chewed on her lower lip. “I haven’t told him yet.”
“What? Why not?” Reeda frowned. “I’m sure he’ll have an opinion.”
“Yeah, but he’ll probably be upset since I’ve never mentioned Brett. We haven’t exactly seen a lot of each other lately, and I forgot about his Detective’s Exam.”
“You haven’t mentioned Brett?” Reeda’s voice raised an octave.
Bindi looked around the restaurant. “Shhh…”
Reeda shook her head. “Bindi, what’s going on with you? You’re hiding things from Josh, seeing this guy without telling him about it, going out clubbing with a group of teenagers…”
“They’re not all teenagers. Some of them are only a few years younger than me, like Brett.”
“Oh, okay. Well, that makes it better.” Reeda said with biting sarcasm.
“I know… I have to tell him. But I liked having this different life. For so long I’ve been the woman with cancer, or the one who was fired from the TV station, or your sister, Nan’s granddaughter, now I’m Josh’s wife…
I haven’t had fun, or been myself, for so long.
I haven’t had friends in an age. It was nice to let loose. ”
Reeda reached out to squeeze Bindi’s arm.
“I can understand that. You’ve had a lot going on, and you needed to be young and carefree again.
But you should talk to Josh about it. I’m certain he’d understand.
Trust me, you can’t build a marriage when the two of you are headed in different directions.
If you need to be young and carefree, do that together.
Don’t create a life for yourself without him.
Your marriage might not recover. Duncan and I did that.
We let our lives go in two separate directions for so long that we almost didn’t make it back to one another.
I’m grateful we have this second chance, and I don’t want to see you making the same mistake I did. ”
“You’re right. Thanks, Reeda. I’m sure he’ll understand. I’ve been stressed for so long, and I know he has too. Now he’s dealing with becoming a detective and the pressure of work. I didn’t want to burden him with my issues. But I’ll talk to him.”