Thirty-one
Their room-mate’s alarm woke them at 7 a.m. and they struggled out of bed. After a quick breakfast, during which neither spoke about the night before, they made their way to the bus stops. This was the point of no return. This was where Charlie went down, and Beth went up.
They held hands as they waited for their buses. It was a soppy gesture, and Beth couldn’t be sure who’d instigated it. But it was wonderful. A little piece of Tennison Avenue, right there in her hand.
‘It’s been a blast, Beth.’
‘Yeah, it has.’
‘I should’ve come back to see you. I should’ve realised you wouldn’t forget me. Sorry.’
‘You’re forgiven. Will you pop over when you get back to England?’
‘Yeah, sure I will.’
She took out her camera. ‘Can I? To show my family how much you’ve changed.’
As Charlie made a silly face, a passer-by offered to take a photo of them together. Delighted, Beth handed him the camera and huddled into Charlie’s chest. She was aware her face was still dry and tight, even with the continual application of factor 50 and Aloe Vera, and her hair needed a good conditioning. But the smile she gave for the camera was genuine. She was happy to be with Charlie.
Far too soon, a bus came around the corner, and, with a sinking heart, Beth read the word ‘Adelaide’ on the front.
‘That’s me.’ Charlie began gathering his stuff together.
She had one second to say it. ‘Make sure you do keep in touch … please?’
‘I will, this time. Definitely.’ He threw his rucksack on his back and grabbed his rolled-up sleeping bag.
She wondered if he was just going to get on the bus without even a kiss, but at the last second, he turned to face her. With his free hand, he tilted her chin upwards and looked into her eyes.
Is he going to say he loves me?
‘Cheers for everything, Campbell.’ His lips met hers for the briefest of pecks. Without another word, he climbed the steps, and it wasn’t long before his silly face appeared at one of the windows.
As the bus noisily pulled away, she stood waving and smiling until it disappeared from sight.
As soon as it rounded the corner, her smile dropped.
‘So much for the declarations of love you were expecting.’
Beth didn’t like to admit it, but Lisa was right. She couldn’t help thinking maybe she’d blown the whole thing with Charlie out of proportion.
She had the entire journey to Cairns to mull over what had happened. Unfortunately, the only person she had to discuss it with was Lisa, not her biggest fan. By the time they’d gotten halfway to their last destination, Lisa had had enough time to persuade her that Charlie had thought of her as nothing more than an old friend.
‘But that second night together, we were definitely going to ‒’
‘Or you could say ‒ we were definitely going to!’
‘All right, Lisa. No need to rub it in. The fact is, as you pointed out before, when it suited you, it’s my body, he didn’t know it was you, and he was more than up for it.’
‘Yeah, but I think that was just … you know …’
‘What?’
‘Just sex. He’s a man after all.’
‘I don’t know. I think maybe he ‒’
‘No. You’re wrong, Beth. He didn’t.’
‘But you didn’t let me finish.’
‘I didn’t need to!’
Beth only spent four days in Cairns before she re-scheduled her final flight. It wasn’t that the people there weren’t friendly, or the place wasn’t nice, it was all fine. Beth had simply had just about all the adventures she could take.
The captain made an announcement, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll soon be beginning our descent into London Heathrow.’ At this, Beth was flooded with emotions. I’m nearly home!
She nipped to the loo for one last time, to check herself out in the mirror. Her hair was about four shades lighter than when she’d left England, the sun hadn’t so much kissed it, as snogged its face off. Her skin was a dirty brown, and, if she examined it closely enough, she could see a couple of scars on her chin from her horrendous mistake in Bondi.
‘I don’t think they’ll recognise you.’
‘Who? Mum and Dad? You’re right. I do look different. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed them all.’
‘They’ve no doubt missed you too.’
‘I can’t wait to see Nanna.’
There was sadness in Lisa’s voice. ‘I’ll bet she can’t wait to see you either.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Because?’
‘You know why, Lisa. They’d miss you too, if they knew.’
‘Maybe. They never will know me though, will they?’
‘No. I suppose not.’
‘I don’t get to tell them all my news or share my funny stories.’
‘No, you don’t.’ A little lost for words, Beth said, ‘Thanks for coming with me.’
‘Where else would I go?’
Lisa’s obvious suffering set off the all too familiar anxiety in Beth. She returned to her seat and tried to sleep for the rest of the flight.
Beth scanned the crowd, knowing her sister was also looking.
Even though they were using the same eyes, Lisa spotted the family a second before Beth did. Often, Lisa was the first to notice things, like Charlie in the pool. There were fewer distractions back there. Beth assumed the airport sounds would be quieter, the crowds of people pushing her, were not directly hassling Lisa.
Somehow from her muted vantage point, Lisa seemed able to notice more. ‘There they are, over by the railings. Bless them, they’ve made you a sign.’
Don was proudly holding the homemade sign, which screamed the words, ‘Welcome Home, Beth!’ in fluorescent pink hi-lighter pen.
He looked much the same as Beth remembered. He’d given up combing his hair forward before she’d left, and now opted for an all over short cut. His shiny head was one of many in the crowd. On his face he wore his usual expression – worried, with a hint of excitement. She knew he wouldn’t be completely happy until he’d seen her. All he wanted was for her to be safe and well. How lucky she was to be loved.
Pat also looked much the same, except her hair was shorter, and since Beth had left, she’d opted for a few lowlights. No doubt to mask the grey, a sure sign she wasn’t getting any younger.
Seeing her mum again gave Beth a strange feeling. Pat was where Lisa had begun. Her twin had started life inside that body. She and Lisa had been equals. When Beth saw Pat, she was reminded that, once, Lisa had had all the same opportunities. It had all been there, waiting for her. But then her heart had stopped … Beth forced herself to stop thinking about it. Now was not the time for the usual guilt, the self-reproach that ate into her bones and made her continually question a decision she’d unconsciously made, so many years ago.
Lastly, there was Nanna. Who was incredibly tiny. She was definitely getting old; no amount of subtle lowlights would help her. Beth knew, however, that she was still gutsy. She’d probably play run outs in the street, tomorrow, if the kids asked her to. But there was no denying she was looking a little less robust these days.
‘Go on, then. Go and see them. Your family are waiting.’ Lisa made no attempt to hide her jealousy.
Beth ran towards them, as best she could with a rucksack on her back. Not stopping until she fell, panting, into Don’s arms.
‘Betty-Boo. Thank God, you’re back!’