Chapter 44
44
I’m all washed up – I was going to say ‘so to speak’ but, now that I think about it, maybe I’m as washed up as a girl can be – and dressed in my own, regular clothes, finally feeling like myself again. Well, that girl last night was not me, and neither was the French maid’s outfit, and neither was my brief stint pretending to be a cleaner. I’m Amber Page, writer, and all-round dull person, and that’s just the way I like it. All of this chaos is not for me. I’m not enjoying it, I’m not good at it, and I’m not playing these games any more.
Sitting at my laptop, I skim over the draft of my book. It’s a mess, full of deliberately awful writing, cringey clichés, and plot holes the size of craters. This is what I wanted, right? The whole point is for my editor to hate it so much that she’ll terminate my contract. I still can’t believe this is the plan – trying to lose a book deal after it took me so long to get one in the first place, but sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.
I lean back and sigh. I’m really not sure if I’m failing or succeeding right now.
My thoughts are interrupted by the familiar ringtone of my phone, and my mum’s name popping up.
‘Hello, Mum,’ I say, trying to hide my sigh, but I’m expecting another round of complaints about what my dad is up to now.
‘Amber, darling, how are you?’ she asks, her voice sounding unusually bright. Suspiciously, even.
‘Yeah, I’m okay, thanks,’ I reply. ‘How’s it going?’
‘Yes, all good, thanks,’ she tells me. ‘I was hoping to speak to Caleb.’
‘Caleb?’ I repeat, bewildered. That’s the last thing I was expecting her to say. I haven’t even told her that he’s here. ‘He’s not here right now. Why do you need to talk to him?’
‘Oh, Amber, it’s amazing,’ she gushes. ‘Caleb spoke to your dad. He told him a few home truths, and, honestly, he’s like a changed man now.’
I blink, rapidly, my eyes like a camera shutter that’s taking a burst of photos to capture a moment in time. Well, it is an unexpected one. He did say that he liked to stick his nose in, if he thought he could help, and it sounds like he really has.
‘Wait, what?’ I reply.
‘Oh, he’s wonderful,’ she continues. ‘Caleb, that is. He’s… well, I don’t know what he’s done, but he’s knocked some sense into him. Your dad is doing everything he wasn’t doing before – paying attention to me, being helpful around the house, generally being a joy to be around. That’s why I asked him for the divorce, because I just wanted him to realise, to see what I was missing, and what he would be missing without me, and it all went a bit far, but it’s all perfect now, we’re going to give it another go.’
I feel kind of stupid, in hindsight, for not questioning why Mum would be choosing wallpaper she loved for a lounge in a house she reckoned they were going to have to sell.
‘Mum, that’s great news,’ I tell her, genuinely. ‘I had no idea Caleb talked to Dad. Oh, actually, they spoke on FaceTime a few days ago, while I was… in the bathroom, but I didn’t know what they talked about. I thought they were just making small talk.’
‘I only just found out myself, and at first I was jealous that he got to speak to him and I didn’t,’ she admits. ‘But whatever Caleb said to him, it worked.’
Wow. It sounds like Dad just needed someone like Caleb, who’s been through so much, to point out what he has, and what he was taking for granted.
‘That’s the best Christmas present ever, Mum. I’m so happy for you,’ I say with a smile.
It’s not just a Christmas present, it’s a Christmas miracle.
‘Thank you, darling,’ she says. ‘We both needed this. I just wanted you to know, and to thank Caleb if you see him. But I would love to thank him myself.’
‘I’ll let him know,’ I say, not wanting to get into anything else right now. ‘And I’ll see you very soon.’
‘Yes, not long to go,’ she says excitedly. ‘And even more Christmas plans to make. It’s going to be an even bigger and better one now.’
Christmas is one of those things where, sure, it can be bigger, but that rarely makes it better. The fewer extended family and friends around on Christmas Day, the more relaxing it tends to be.
But, hey, at least we’re ending the call on a happy note, and I won’t have to take any more calls, and Tom’s life will be much easier. I guess everything is working out for the best. Well, almost everything.
I’m feeling a real mix of emotions right now – I can hardly pick them apart. I’m thrilled that my parents are working things out. It’s a huge relief, and I’m grateful to Caleb, for the part he played. But the way things have played out between us, ugh, that I’m not happy about. I always assumed he was just another him bo influencer, all sponsorship deals and no substance, but he’s actually a really sweet, thoughtful guy, with a difficult past behind him, but one that hasn’t ruined the way he feels about the future. And, annoyingly, I like him. I really like him – so obviously his ex has shown up, and it seems like he’s going to choose her.
Will he choose her? Am I definitely going to lose him to his ex, or can I still do something about it? I’ve never been the type to make grand romantic gestures – off the page, anyway – but maybe it’s time that changed. Maybe I should go to Caleb, thank him for whatever he said to my dad, tell him how happy he has made my parents – and me. I should tell him how happy he makes me, and I should tell him exactly how I feel. No misunderstandings, no room for interpretation. Then it’s up to him, what he decides to do, who he decides he wants to be with. Gosh, I really hope it’s me but, if it’s not, I will always be able to tell myself that I was bold and brave and I gave it a fucking go.
While the newfound determination is raging, I grab my coat and head for the door.
Maybe this is a mistake, maybe it isn’t. Either way, it’s worth a shot.