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“I’m getting there, Dad, thanks.”
“You’ll be all right.” He pinches my nose, “You’re a Fox remember.” I lean forward and kiss his cheek, his skin bristly and rough against my lips. I’m going to miss him terribly. Then he gives me his signature wink and wanders off into the kitchen whistling the theme tune of Reservoir Dogs.
On the balcony, Mum is gazing into the distance thoughtfully, cigarette in hand.
“I thought you’d given up.” I nudge her lightly with my elbow, pressing my torso against the black curved railings.
“I only have one when I’m feeling tense.” She throws me a nervous smile, arms folded. Below, a middle-aged balding man looks up at us briefly, all the while talking loudly into his mobile phone in a foreign language (not Greek), his fat, tanned body astride a sun-lounger by the deserted pool. We stand side by side, staring down at him, yet through him, in silence.
“Is it okay if I give Louise a quick call, Mum?” I turn around and fold my arms, “I just want to let her know that I’m on my way home.” Mum nods furiously then stubs her cigarette out into a nearby ashtray, blows the smoke over my head and pulls me into a tight hug.
“I’m going to miss you, Audrey Fox,” she whispers into my hair, “it’s been so lovely having you here with us…almost like old times.” I squeeze her tightly, she smells of cigarettes and Chanel No5, a nostalgic, comforting concoction.
“Thanks, Mum.” I pull away and we gaze at each other longingly for a few seconds. “For everything. I really mean it.” Our moment is broken by the sound of Dad’s voice bellowing from the kitchen, he’s made us all a fresh brew, it’s on the table. We disentangle and walk inside, arm in arm.
“Don’t be long, Audrey,” Mum warns, handing me the phone, “the cab’ll be here any moment, and Stephanos doesn’t do waiting.” Christ do they know all the tradesmen by name? “You don’t want to miss your flight.”
Louise squeals with delight at the sound of my voice. I tell her how therapeutic my trip has been, how lovely it was to spend time with my folks but that I’ve missed my friends and Dukes Avenue more than I can say.
“I can’t wait to see you all,” I say, “and stuff Nick, frigging prick,” I laugh. There’s a short pause. I can just imagine Louise’s face, full of concern, because we both know I don’t really mean it. “Anyway,” I say, exhaling loudly. “How’re things with you? Any goss? Anything I should know about?” Silence. “Lou?”
“Oh, Audrey…I’ve got some good news and some bad.”
“Tell me,” I demand, intrigued, “Good news first.”
“I’m pregnant!”
“WHAT?” I yell as Mum appears before me, pointing at her watch, eyes wide.
“I said, I’m pregnant!”
“You’re JOKING!” I shush Mum away with a hand gesture and she stomps off, complaining that this isn’t the time for a girlie catch-up and it won’t be her fault if I miss my flight. “Seriously, Lou?”
“Yes, absolutely. 100%. I’ve done six tests! Look, I’ll tell you all about it when you get back. I can hear your mum in the background,” she laughs.
“My God! I can’t wait.” I rake a hand through my hair, forgetting that I’ve just had it blow-dried. “This is just awesome. I’m so… so…” I’m gobsmacked, absolutely thrilled for her. Louise is already mum to nineteen-year-old gorgeous, bolshy Jess from a previous relationship, but she and Gerry, her lovely, dependable husband, have been trying for a baby for years. The last time we spoke they said they were looking into the adoption process. “Nothing you can say can dampen my mood now. So, come on, hit me with the bad news.”
“Well,” she says carefully, the joy fading from her voice, “actually, it’s about Nick…”
“Audrey,” Dad shouts, “taxi’s here, come on, love.”
“What about him? Oh no, please don’t tell me he’s seeing someone else already.” My heart picks up speed.
“Audrey,” Mum cries, “come on, you two can catch up tomorrow. You’ll miss your flight.”
“Quick, Louise, I’ve got to go. I’ve got a cab waiting.”
“Ohhh,” she exhales loudly, “I wasn’t going to tell you this until you got back, George and I agreed not to put a dampener on your holiday, but I wasn’t expecting you to call me today and…” I don’t let her finish.
“Please, Louise, I’ll miss my flight if I don’t leave now.”
“Okay, but promise me you won’t freak out.” The taxi driver honks the car horn repeatedly, Dad yells at Mum to hurry me along, Mum repeats his instructions word for word even though I can hear him quite clearly - Stephanos is leaving, he’s got other passengers to collect, the aircraft won’t wait for Audrey flipping Fox.
“I promise,” I cry, my voice shaking.
She takes a deep breath. “Nick’s been in a horrific motorcycle accident. It’s not looking good.”
5
