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Precisely how did Brett and Damien relate? They had certainly meshed in their computer world. Perhaps it was difficult to find people who could connect compatibly within that specialised type of field.
They both enjoyed the same athletic activities. They were both popular at parties, though different in the way they performed at them.
Damien tended to have conversations. Brett specialised in witty repartee. Damien engaged people’s interest. Brett made them laugh.
Of course, that was why Damien was so good at making deals. He listened. Brett skated over the surface in talking, but he skated it so brightly, no one seemed to notice any shortcoming in depth. It was Damien with the depth.
He and Brett complemented each other in many ways. Alike, yet not alike. That was probably the basis for a strong and lasting friendship, but they were not two of a kind. Natalie came to the strong conviction she had been wrong in holding that point of view.
It could very well be that it was only Brett who had been obsessed in competing with Damien, while Damien felt no sense of contest at all, only companionship.
And loyalty.
Not by word or deed had Damien ever indicated he coveted his friend’s wife while Brett was alive. Perhaps that was why she had never been invited to his home. On the other hand, not by word or deed had he ever indicated she had good reason to divorce Brett. Not to Natalie’s recollection.
She could not make up her mind if this implied his attitude to women was the same as Brett’s or not. Perhaps he’d considered Brett’s wife untouchable, but he had certainly touched other women, and all of them, to her knowledge, only short-term affairs. Like Brett.
Was it true that none of them had measured up to her in Damien’s mind, or was that an excuse for his brief dalliances?
Natalie caught a train back to Sydney on Monday morning, and spent the entire two-hour trip wondering how to approach Lyn Chandler. Over the weekend she had looked through the staff lists of several women’s magazines, checking the names of the features editors until she found Lyn Chandler’s place of work. It struck her as odd that the woman had not reverted to her maiden name after the divorce from Damien. The more she thought about it, the odder that circumstance appeared.
Somehow she had to persuade Damien’s ex-wife to meet her and talk about the marriage that had only lasted three years. It would be a revealing key to Damien’s character. Or to Lyn Chandler’s. Natalie was sure of it.
She wondered if her graphic design work might interest a features editor. A professional approach might be best. After so many years’ separation from Damien, his ex-wife might be totally uninterested in any personal angle that involved him. Although anything could come out in a face-to-face chat. After all, Natalie had been the wife of Damien’s business partner. Lyn Chandler had to have known Brett before he married Natalie.
Since Natalie could now relate the house in Narrabeen to her life with Brett, she could walk into it without it worrying her. After unpacking, she hunted through the desk in her office and found a portfolio of her work. She hoped it was impressive enough to give substance to a business meeting.
She telephoned the magazine’s office just before twelve o’clock, hoping to catch Lyn Chandler at a free moment. She was in luck. She was put through to the features editor with no trouble at all.
‘Natalie Hayes!’ a bright voice exclaimed. ‘You wouldn’t happen to be Brett Hayes’ widow by any chance?’
‘Yes, I am,’ Natalie affirmed, surprised at the other woman’s instant connection of her name to Brett.
‘Damien and I were talking about you only the other night. You’re illustrating children’s books now.’
‘Yes.’ Natalie barely got the word out. Damien had given the impression he was out of current contact with his ex-wife.
‘Well, good for you!’ Lyn Chandler said warmly. ‘Losing both Brett and your son was a terrible tragedy. Must have been devastating. Brett was so full of life. A wonderful man.’
‘Yes,’ Natalie agreed faintly.
‘I d
are say you don’t want to talk about that but I wanted to express my sympathy. Now, what can I do for you, Natalie? I may call you Natalie?’
‘Of course.’ Natalie was stunned by the open friendliness being offered. ‘I wondered if I might interest you in the kind of work I do. Perhaps run a feature on it as a career choice. If we could set up a meeting...’
‘Great! How about four o’clock this afternoon? I’m free then. Does that suit?’
‘Yes. Thank you.’ Natalie was begining to feel like a gasping fish, stunned by the ease with which everything was being arranged.
‘If you’re not busy afterwards, perhaps we could follow up with a few drinks and a bite to eat somewhere. I might be able to give you some good contacts for placing your work.’
The offer was so incredibly obliging to Natalie’s needs, it raised the question if Lyn Chandler wanted something from her. Nevertheless, it was an opportunity too good to miss. ‘That’s very kind of you.’
‘Not at all. I was very fond of Brett. Great as a party guy. I’m well acquainted with how lonely it can be on your own.’
‘Thanks, Lyn. Whatever you suggest is fine by me.’
