Unsuitable (6 page)

She
rounded on him. “You told me to tell the truth.”

He
ducked his head and laughed. Audrey’s phone beeped. She pulled it out of the
side pocket of her bag. “Excuse me, this might be work.” She checked the
screen. Les. She opened the text message.
He blushed. I die
. She tucked
the phone in her pocket and refocused on Flip and Reece. He had blushed. He’d
also cringed, his big shoulders trying to muffle his ears momentarily.

He
pointed at the gym equipment. “Going to play.” Mia took the hint and dragged on
his hand.

Flip
told her how Reece was strict but a good brother. How he was there when their
mum had to work, and when she was studying. How he cooked and made them do
their chores. Helped with homework and knew when Gin’s asthma was bad. He was
expert at making sure Etta and Neeva didn’t kill each other. He’d promised to
teach Etta how to drive and he fixed things around the house. Her love for him
was so evident it made Les text again. Twice.

The
first read,
If you don’t take him I will.
The second came through before
Audrey managed to re-pocket her phone.
Is it poss to get preg from looking
at a guy? Think I’m six months.

She
gave Les a cease and desist look and when she turned to Flip, Faux Mo was
there.

He
stuck his hand out. “Hi, I’m Marcus, but call me Polly.”

“Audrey.”
She shook a hand attached to a sleeve of intricate tattoos. “That’s Mia with
Reece, and this is my friend, Leslie.” She had to elbow Les, to get her to take
Polly’s hand.”

“Hi,
Leslie, but call me Les.”

Polly
laughed. He held Les’s hand longer than a random handshake in the park
warranted. “Polly and Les. Two identities in crisis.” When he released her
hand, Les looked at it as if it might’ve developed magical properties. Audrey looked
upwards to make the point. Seagulls on the wing.

“I’ve
known Reece since primary school. You can trust him with your kid,” said Polly.

“I
already said that,” said Flip.

Polly
pulled Flip’s ponytail. “I said it again just to be sure.”

“So
does Reece get the job?” Flip asked.

Did
he? They watched him guide Mia across a low bridge and down a short ladder. The
kids too old to be using the gym kept away. No one was going to hassle Mia with
Reece on hand. The issue of gender aside, was he the best candidate? Did his
maleness matter where Mia’s care was concerned? His referees had raved about
him, so she had no reason to doubt his capabilities. He said something and Mia
laughed. She had no reason to doubt his intentions either. Who brings a whole
posse to an interview? He’d said he wanted the job, he was going all out.

“What
do you think, Les?” said Polly. “Me, personally. I have no idea why a bloke
wants to look after kids that aren’t his own. But it’s what Reece wants to do
and you have to support a mate. What do you think is best?”

“Me?”

Polly
laughed, because Les squeaked that. “Yeah, you and me are the sidekicks. It’s
my role to tell you Reece is the man for the job. Assume it’s your role to tell
Audrey what you think. Am I right?”

“Sidekick.”
Les coughed. “Yes. Um.”

“Okay
I get it. You don’t want to give anything away. Clever. Play your cards close.”

Les
coughed again. “No. I, um.”

“Lots
of seagulls,” Audrey said, addressing the comment to Flip who said, “They’re
pests really.”

“I’m
a lawyer,” Les blurted.

And
the most socially awkward person Audrey had ever met. But there was nothing she
could do to save her without it being too obvious.

“Builder,”
said Polly. “Reece better watch himself, eh.”

“No,
no I’m not a lawyer today. I am on other days, work days, you know in the
office, that’s where I do my lawyering, it’s an office thing. I’m a Monday to
Friday lawyer really. I don’t do lawyering in the park, and it’s the weekend
and so I’m not a lawyer, I’m just a friend.”

Audrey
couldn’t look at Les in case her babbling was contagious.

Polly
hid a smile. “Good to know
.
As a friend, what’s your advice about
Reece?”

“Oh,
ah, I’m not. I’d need. It’s not.”

Oh
my God
. Audrey glared at Les in shock. Mia was more
articulate and she was slow to talk.

Polly
pulled on Flip’s ponytail again. “Flipper, why don’t you take over from Reece
so he can talk to Audrey and I’ll intro Les to the girls.” He raised a hand in
the air in question. “That okay with you?”

“Oh,
I, ah—”

Audrey
cut Les off. “That’d be great.”

Polly
bent to speak to Flip and Audrey cut Les a look. She tried to make it say be
cool, but it probably said could you stop being such a complete moron. She’d
seen Les tear strips off people at work who fouled up, reducing them to heaving
lumps of snot, and she’d seen her tongue-tied before, but never so badly. And
yes, Polly was an incredible specimen up close. The hair, cropped skull close
on the sides and tufted on top, the ear plug, the tattoos. He normalised
Reece’s size by being almost as big, but he had a different intensity about
him. If Reece was a lion gentle with a cub, Polly was more your average croc
lurking hidden in shallow water ready to drown you, hide you under a rock shelf
and eat you later.

Flip
skipped off and Polly motioned to Les to follow him. Audrey gave her a none too
subtle shove, in a throwing a live chook to a penned prehistoric reptile
manner, to get her moving. Les gave her a very obviously nervous I’m dinner grimace.
And then Reece was there and it was just the two of them.

God
he had great eyes. The shape, the glossy jade colour, the heavy black lashes
that matched his thick hair. Not that his eyes had anything to do with his
qualification as a child care worker. Other than that he wasn’t a blind child
care worker, which made them an asset.
Oh God
. The other applicants all
had eyes in working order but not so pretty.

“Are
you okay?” he said.

Good
Lord, she’d been infected with Les’ wandering thought syndrome. “I’m fine.” She
met those jade eyes. “This is a great playground. We come here, but there are
usually so many bigger kids I don’t let Mia on the equipment.”

“It’s
better during the week. All the bigger kids are at school. Do you miss not
having weekdays with Mia? The weekends can be so frantic.”

“I
remember from maternity leave how they were different, a different pace, not so
loud and competitive.”

But
full of different kinds of frustration. The abject fear she was getting this
motherhood thing all wrong. The full realisation she was in this on her own and
the anxiety about returning to work and being able to be the same person with
the same performance standards after a 2am feed and a 4am crying jag.

“The
parks and cafes around here are all little kid friendly during the week. There’s
even a session at the movies for kids and carers. All the kids grizzle
together.”

“Would
you want to take Mia?” It was hard to imagine saying no to anything Reece
wanted to do. Oh, this was not good.

“Only
if you wanted that. The DVD and download versions of all the kids’ stuff come
out so close to the theatre releases now.”

“Yes,
she likes to watch things over and over at home.”

“Flip
still does that. And if Etta watches
The Fault in Our Stars
or
Dirty
Dancing
one more time,” he palmed his face, laughing. “Was it a mistake to
bring the family? Did Polly say anything to put you off? Did Flip? Maybe that
was a mistake?”

He
hadn’t made any mistakes. He’d worked harder than any of the other applicants. He’d
known he had to.

He
was her in reverse.

He
cast a quick glance over his shoulder to where Les and Polly stood with his
sisters. “I should introduce you to Sky.”

Audrey
shook off her dream-like state. “Why is this job so important to you?”

“It’s
what I want to do and I like Mia, she’s a sweetheart.”

“She
can be an unholy demon who spits fire and vomits catastrophe. She can also be as
boring as rocks.”

“She’s
not a twin, she’s one kid at one time. And I’m qualified for this. The pay is
better than I’ll get working similar hours at a kindy, not that the local
kindys are that keen on male staff.” He looked away. “I’ve had trouble getting
a permanent child care job since the Flannery boys. I don’t want to lay any
more bricks. They’re the real dumb rocks.”

He
held his hand out to shake. He wore a resigned expression. And yes, they were
done here. It was decision time.

“I’ve
done everything I can think of to help you get comfortable with me, Audrey.”

She
took his hand, and he didn’t squeeze or pump or make her feel in any way that
he was bigger, stronger, better. He made her feel certain.

He
smiled, but it was rueful. “I understand if you’d rather hire someone else. But
I’m not going to pretend to be happy if you do.”

7:       Moving
On

Reece
walked Audrey, Mia and Les to Audrey’s car. But the conversation was so general
and his sense of having hot-wired the situation to blow up so strong, he had a
severe case of the shits by the time they drove away.

He’d
pushed it too hard when he should’ve played it cool. He’d gone for awe when
he’d needed quiet acceptance. What kind of a dickhead brings six people along
to their play date interview?

He
took his time rejoining the others, not in the mood for their stirring. Life
would be easier if he continued in the building trade, or maybe he should go
add a year’s study and head for the schoolroom. The world didn’t come to an end
if he didn’t get this job. There were always more bricks. And Charlie could get
him casual waitstaff work at the hotel. He should be grateful he had options
and no pressing need for cash. But he’d have to work on gratitude, because
right now he was irritated.

His
gender, and yeah, his body, were stopping him from doing what he most wanted to
do, and that blew chunks, sucked gas and went against everything Charlie had
ever drummed into him and the girls.

They’d
been raised to think if you put your head down, worked hard enough, you could
stand in line, put your hand up, and you had as good a chance as anyone else of
getting what you wanted.

Charlie
had worn a school uniform when she was pregnant with him, but she’d finished
school at night, cared for a baby with help from his grandparents, and then slowly
worked her way from single parent, and then widow, to functions director at one
of the city’s biggest hotels. Twins didn’t stop her. Illness didn’t either. And
neither did the opinions of people who thought she was trash. She’d faced
prejudice and discrimination and she’d rolled over them. He’d be less if he didn’t
do the same. Didn’t mean he had to be dancing about it.

Sky
was on the court when he got back to the others. Etta had her head in her phone
screen. Gin and Flip watched the game. Neev tossed a coin over and over and
watched him with I’ve got a chance at a new bedroom eyes. He snatched the coin
out of the air and put it in his pocket.

She
air-swiped. “Hey. That’s mine. Give it back.”

“He
screwed up,” said Etta, without lifting her head.

Gin
and Flip made airplane crashing noises.

Polly
back-slapped him. “There’ll be another one.”

Polly’s
mouth made those words, but the guy couldn’t hide the fact he was a sideline
hater. He’d rolled with Reece doing child care at uni while he went to trade
school because working in the industry had seemed a long way off, now Reece had
chosen child care over bricklaying, Polly had taken the rejection personally. If
he mentioned casual building site labouring in the next breath, Reece would ask
him where exactly he could get a next breath from while his trachea was being throttled.

“Sky
is winning, if you care,” said Etta.

Sky
always won. He leaned on the sandstone wall between Etta and Polly and watched
her take another point. Sky was as relentless on the volleyball court as she
was going after anything else she wanted. He was still amazed she’d agreed to
go out with him two years on. He put his hands to his mouth funnel-style and
shouted. “Take it, Sky.”

She
gave him the quickest flick of her eyes to let him know she’d heard, but
otherwise she existed for the ball, the net, the outline of the court in the
sand, and taking down her opponent.

Her
focus, her competitiveness were the qualities that made her a good market
analyst. He believed her when she said she’d have her own brokerage firm one
day, but he’d made the mistake of laughing when she suggested he buy a childminding
centre rather than be a child care worker. It was still a sore spot between
them and a point of alliance between Sky and Polly. They both wanted to see him
doing something else.

She
scored again and he stuck a circled thumb and first finger in his mouth and
whistled. The sound was hard and loud and drew attention their way. And Sky
knew it was for her.

Etta
grunted. “That’s so embarrassing. Why can’t you cheer like normal people?” Next
to her Neev sprayed her own knees with spittle, trying to emulate the whistle. “Gross.”

Theme
for the day. Why couldn’t he get a job like a normal man? Move in with his
delectable girlfriend like a normal man? No normal man his age lived at home
and wanted to work looking after little kids.

Fuck
normal. It was overrated.

“Come
on, I have to get you lot home.” The girls shifted. He turned to Polly. They
had plans; those plans involved alcohol and sleepovers with not much sleep and
not much planning except a good time. “I’ll see you there.” They clasped hands.

“I
invited Les.”

“What?”

“You
know, Les. Audrey’s friend.”

“Okay,
but, ah, why?”

Polly
shrugged. “I thought it would help. You know butter up the wingwoman.”

He
stared out at the sea. Was there anything good about this? “Jesus.”

Neev
put her hand in his pocket and took her dollar coin back. “Jesus loves you. No
swearing.”

Polly
ran his hand over the gelled tufts of his hair. “That was wrong, right?”

“Moron,”
Etta snickered.

“Geek.”
Polly made a grab for her and she scarpered.

Reece
shook his head. Les was a huge hat, sunglasses, and a baggy t-shirt. She’d been
on her phone the whole time. It felt like a bad idea. “What’s the plan then?”

“Dinner,
karaoke and a fine time had by all. Sky approved it.”

Reece
grimaced. Felt like he was being set up, but he had no idea what for. Nothing
he could do about it now though. He signalled to Sky on the court sideline. She
had another match to play and they’d meet at the pub.

He
hustled the girls to the car. Gin was breathing easier, and laughed without
wheezing when Etta, with her eyes on her phone, walked into a light pole. She
and Neeva sang along with the radio in the car. Flip got the words wrong.

Charlie
was waiting on the front steps. Coffee mug in hand. She looked tired. There was
a big society wedding at the hotel so she’d had to go in to work today. The
girls filed past and she checked each of them.

“Etta,
can you make the mash potato please. Neeva, homework?”

“No.”

“Neeva.”

“Okay,
I’m doing it.”

“Ginnette,
towel.”

“I
didn’t.”

“Well,
someone else used your towel and left it on the bathroom floor. Go pick it up.”

“Pippa.”
Mum considered. She held a twig from the garden in between the fingers of her
right hand. Her substitute cigarette. She’d given up when the twins were born,
before they knew about Gin’s asthma, but she still craved. “You’re perfect. Go
read a book. Reece.” He sat beside her. “You’re too soft on them. How’d it go?”

“Flip
did good. Polly poured the charm like wet cement. Mia is such a cutie. She’s at
the fairy dress stage. But I’m not going to get it.”

“Why
not?”

“Other
candidates, better...” he trailed off. Yeah, that wasn’t the fucking reason. If
there were better candidates, he would never have made it to the play date
round. “It’s too hard to hire me. It’s easier to hire a chick. I make Audrey
nervous. I’m better off sticking to jobs with boys.”

“You
know that’s discrimination.”

“Yeah,
but what can I do about it? People don’t hire you to look after their kids if
you scare them shitless.”

Charlie
leant her head on his shoulder. “Oh honey, I’m sorry. I worry about the girls
experiencing this kind of thing. It never occurred to me you would.”

“No
biggie. I’ve got options.”

“You
do. Doesn’t make it right though. You came into this world knowing how to look
after people, and somehow being born my son didn’t grind it out of you.”

“Please
don’t say you’re proud of me. I’m too big to squirm.”

She
took hold of his head and leaned in so she could kiss his cheek. “You’re never
too big to squirm.”

He
squirmed. “Mum!” She kissed him again. “Charlie!”

She
laughed and let him go. He’d gone through a phase after Flip was born where
he’d resented her so much he’d stopped calling her Mum. He was seventeen and potty
training was cramping his style. Now he only called her Mum for effect and he
only called her Charlotte when she was really pissing him off.

“Are
you seeing Sky tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“Are
you going to tell me why you’re not moving in with her?”

“No.”

Charlie
flicked the twig into the garden bed. It was thick with weeds. If he could get
the girls to help they could have it all cleaned up in an hour. “Come on,
buddy. She’s hot and you’re into each other.”

He
tapped down a squirm. “Are you desperate to reassign my room too?”

“No.
You know I hated it when you lived with Polly those years. You can stay as long
as you like. I’ll never kick you out.”

“Etta
would.”

“Etta
doesn’t yet pay rent like you do.”

“There
is that.”

“You’re
restless. I’m wondering about that.”

“I’m
twenty-seven. I live with a bunch of hormonal women.”

She
swatted his leg. “I worry you think you have to stay. You don’t. I’ve got this
now. No more study. I’m healthy. My job is stable. Gin is doing fine. You don’t
have to be a parent anymore. You’re allowed to go have your own life.”

During
the three years he’d lived party central with Polly, Gin was hospitalised five
times, Mum had pneumonia twice and Flip broke her arm. After he gave up the
fighting cage and enrolled at uni, he’d moved home because he was more often
there than not. But that was four years ago. He should want to sleep with Sky
every night, all night. He should want to be more than a shelf in her bathroom
cabinet and a drawer in her wardrobe. She was the best thing that had ever
happened to him. He should want to tie their two lives in strong knots. And Sky
was getting sick of his presence being transitory.

“It’s
complicated, Charlotte.”

“That’s
what you always say.”

“I’m
allowed. It’s generational.” Only just, there was only sixteen years between
them.

She
leaned against him again. “All right. I’ll give it up.”

“No
you won’t.”

“No,
I won’t. But I won’t annoy you any more now.”

From
deep inside the house they heard the TV turn on. Then Flip and Gin arguing. Then
Flip, “Muuum, Muuum.” There was a pause then, “Reeeeeece.”

They
both laughed and Charlie stood up. She ruffled his hair. “I got this.” She went
inside and he sat on. He really did need to move out. He needed to sort it with
Sky. He needed a shower, a shave and a job where he didn’t wear a tool belt.

Hours
later, sitting with Polly in the beer garden waiting for Sky, he wasn’t any
closer to answers. Polly brought Sophie and she brought Del and then the group
expanded some more and by the time Sky arrived there were twenty or more of
them ordering dinner in the bistro.

He
tapped Polly’s shoulder. “Are you keeping an eye out for Les?”

“Who?”

Shit.
What a disaster. “Les.”

“Oh
yeah.” Polly scanned the room. “Stuffed if I know what she looks like without
the sun camo. Shortie. Cute. That’s all I remember. Ah, she’ll find us.”

Reece
deadset hoped she didn’t. And by the time Sky arrived, late, so he’d started to
worry, especially when she didn’t answer her phone, he was only checking out
the edges of the room every other fifteen minutes, and Polly had Sophie on his
lap, so there was no way he’d remembered Les.

When
the karaoke started he had an extra drink. He didn’t usually sing, but he felt
like cutting loose, which meant he had to chase a buzz. He bought a round while
Sophie and Del did Beyoncé’s
Put A Ring On It
. Polly was at him to do
Blurred
Lines
. He wanted to dedicate it to Les. If Reece could get a little blurry
that might be on.

Meanwhile
he had some catching up to do with Sky. He pulled her to his lap and she
settled in. She looked crazy hot tonight. He ran his hand up her leg to the
edge of her short skirt and she lay her head on his chest.

“You
tired?” She’d played six games of beach volleyball, she had a right to be. She’d
worked late three times this week.

“No,
baby, I’m good. Did you hear anything after your play date?”

“Nah.
Don’t have a good feeling about it.”

She
turned to face him, put her hands to his chest. “You’re staying with me
tonight, yes?”

He
bent to kiss her forehead. “Couldn’t stop me.”

“And
tomorrow we’ll hang out.”

He
nuzzled the side of her face, “Ah-ha,” wrapped his arms around her and let one
hand rest on her tight little arse. When she didn’t protest he left it there.