The Boys' Club (14 page)

Rosie could feel a tidal wave of anger, bitterness, frustration and
terror well within her. As it crested, her hand took its force, rising
upwards and then slamming down in a massive loud slap across Jeff's
cheek.

'FUCK YOU!' she screamed. 'IF YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE
MY BOY AWAY FROM ME YOU HAVE A HELL OF A BATTLE
ON YOUR HANDS.'

Jeff struggled to pin down Rosie's arms and she shoved him back
into the kitchen bench, sending paraphernalia flying. A plate crashed,
and both combatants turned to check the damage. There, on the floor,
were the shattered remnants of Leon's muffins. In the doorway was
the trembling boy himself, clutching on to Heather for dear life.

'I don't want to go! Let me stay here!'

Leon was screaming so loudly Rosie could see Jeff's neighbours
peering through their curtains to check where the ruckus was
coming from. As she attempted to get him into the car, the boy
protested with everything he had in him, his fists flailing and legs
kicking.

'
Noooooo
,' he screamed again, so intensely that Rosie almost gave
in, but couldn't. It would be just what Jeff needed to nail a custody
claim. 'Sweetheart, I am so sorry, please just get in the car for
Mummy. Aunty Lou is waiting to see you and Elroy! You like Elroy,
don't you?'

'I don't like you!' Leon wailed, wrestling against her with all his
might. He kicked again, his foot hitting Rosie straight in the eye. She
reeled back, dropping her bag, its contents spilling in all directions
around her.

Dizzy and disoriented, she made her way to the footpath and sat
on the kerb to get herself together. Through the swirl around her, she
could make out an angry roar: it was Heather, screaming at Jeff that
he was a bully and should know better. Somewhere else nearby, Leon
was still howling and, if she wasn't mistaken, her phone was cranking
out that twisted carousel tune . . .

'Hey, Rose, are you okay?'

It was Heather's voice, softer now and closer than before. Rosie
realised she was parked beside her on the footpath.

'Yeah, I'm fine, just a little winded,' she replied unsteadily.

'I'm sorry about Jeff,' Heather said. 'I guess I don't need to tell you
he can be a bully at times.'

'No, you don't. Is Leon okay?'

'Yeah, he's a little frightened he hurt you, though.'

'He didn't mean to . . . it's not his fault.'

'I know. Can you get up? Here, lean on me.'

For the second time that day, the woman who, only hours earlier,
was the focus of Rosie's bitterness and envy, was treating her with
unwarranted decency.

'Everyone is fine here,' Heather informed her nosy neighbours
tersely. 'Let's give the lady some privacy, please? Jeff, you can do
something useful and get some ice. And don't say another word or I
swear . . . !'

Rosie was impressed by the toughness in Heather's voice. Jeff
had indeed met his match in his fiancée. Unlike Rosie, who had
acquiesced to her husband's every whim, he now had a woman who
knew how to put her foot down. Rosie cursed her lack of assertiveness;
yet another reason why her marriage had failed.

'Leon, come over here,' Heather said, motioning to the terrified
boy. 'Your mum is fine. Don't be frightened.'

Rosie looked up to see her boy approaching nervously and cast
him the best smile she could muster. His terror gave way to elation
and he bounded towards her.

'Mumma, I'm sorry,' he said, nestling his face into Rosie's neck as
she picked him up.

'I'm sorry too, champ. Boy, that cuddle is making me feel better
though.'

Soon, Rosie felt strong enough to drive and looked around to
gather up her belongings. Heather and Leon managed to retrieve the
scattered contents of her bag except for her favourite lipstick, which
was now half submerged in a stormwater drain.

'Heather, I can't thank you enough and I'm so sorry things got so
ugly this afternoon,' Rosie said timidly. 'I can't believe I slapped Jeff.
I'm so ashamed.'

'Rose, I'm sorry too. I want you to know I'm not behind the
custody thing, as much as I love your boy. I can't tell you how many
times I've told Jeff that Leon belongs with his mother, but he has a
big issue with your job. And I've got to be honest, I don't think your
mother is helping your case.'

Bloody Vera. She just can't stop meddling.

'Look, I know and, yes, my job is a nightmare, but I'm really
trying. I love that boy more than life itself, Heather. If I lost him, I
don't know what I'd do. But Jeff is right, I haven't been myself since
I got this job – I guess I wanted to prove something.'

'And have you?'

'Yeah, I've proved I don't like TV, I don't like PR and I'm now
even starting to question whether I like men in general. But I have a
contract to see out, a horrible mortgage and a boss in hospital, so at
the moment I'm trapped.'

'I feel for you, Rose, honestly I do. If there's anything I can do
to help . . . I love Leon, he's an incredible kid, smart, warm and
generous. He's a credit to you.'

'Thanks, Heather,' Rosie replied, realising she meant every word.

This time Leon got in the car without any fuss, put his seatbelt on all
by himself and sat upright, on his best behaviour. About ten minutes
into the drive he couldn't hold back any longer and asked the question
he was bursting to: 'Mummy, are we
really
going to see Elroy?'

Rosie was asking herself the same thing, her eye throbbing as it
began to brew a deep yellow bruise. She was so rattled by the scene
at Jeff's that she felt fragile and hardly in a state to flirt. Still, she
had mentioned the two names that Leon loved to hear – Lou and
Elroy – and dared not disappoint her boy any more than she already
had. Disappointing people seemed to have become a habit of hers
lately.

Hell! My phones!

'Honey, will you get Mummy's phones out of her bag, please?'
Rosie asked, attempting to make it sound like a fun task. Reluctantly,
Leon picked up the bag and began rifling around inside. After several
minutes of his fumbling, Rosie started to panic. 'What's up? Where
are Mummy's phones? Please tell me they're in there. Do I have to
turn around and go back to Daddy's? Please say I don't . . .'

Leon looked at his mother blankly, then sighed. Pulling the bag
to his eye level, he fished in yet again and pulled out one of her two
phones.

'Here it is, Mummy. Want to see?' Leon asked, handing it to his
mother.

Rosie looked over her shoulder to check there were no cops around,
grabbed the mobile and pressed the call register button. There were
three missed calls, two from her mother and one from Lou.

Phew. No work dramas. On this line, anyway . . .

Still smarting over Jeff's revelation that her own mother had been
venting her highly critical opinions of her daughter's mothering skills,
she decided that returning Vera's call could wait. Her mother could
stew in silence for a few days yet. That, or risk a personality reading
from Rosie that would be far from positive.

'And the other phone?' Rosie asked, praying the emergency line
hadn't rung.

'Why do you have two phones now, Mummy?' Leon asked.

'In case one is busy and Mummy's boss is trying to get through.'

'But you don't like to talk to your boss. He makes you say naughty
words.'

Rosie smiled to herself even though she knew she shouldn't. Leon
was right, she was always swearing at her phone when Keith was on
the other end, often with Leon making funny faces in front of her in
an attempt to make her giggle and lose her cranky face.

Leon took his time digging around in her handbag looking for her
second phone.

'What's up, honey, is it not in there?' Rosie asked, starting to panic
once more.

'No, it's here, Mummy,' he replied sadly.

'Can I have it then?'

'I guess so.'

'What's up, Leon? Why don't you want me to have the phone?'

'Because your boss will stop us from going to see Lou and Elroy.'

Rosie felt that familiar curdle of guilt in her stomach and pulled
the car over to the side of the road. Turning to her boy, she took both
his hands in hers and made him a promise that would be almost
impossible to keep: 'From now on, my beautiful boy, you come
first, okay? I promise you Mummy will try not to work so hard, so
she's not grumpy all the time like she has been. I know you've been
missing having me around and I'm going to do my best to change
that. For a start, let's have a party for your birthday next week. It can
be anywhere you want, okay, my precious little man?'

'Yes, Mummy,' Leon replied wearily. Rosie realised he wasn't
buying her story either.

'Shall we go to Salty Sam's? We can have a pirate party and you
can invite your friends.'

Leon beamed. The bribe seemed to work.

'Can I invite Daddy and Heather?' the boy asked.

'Of course you can!' Rosie said, stifling what she really wanted to
say. 'So, can I have that phone now?'

Leon lifted his bottom and pulled the phone out from under
himself.

Holy hell, the kid had hidden it! How sad is that?

She was about to toss it aside without even checking it, but changed
her mind and glanced quickly at the screen. One message received.
Damn!

Rosie rang 121 and listened: 'Rosie, it's Elaine Norman, Keith's
wife, here. Keith is feeling a little better and wants to see you. He has
just learnt that a meeting took place this morning and will not rest
until he knows what's going on. He wants you to know that you're
the only one he can trust. Could you call me the minute you get this
message? Thanks.'

Eeek!

Rosie looked at Leon sitting up straight and excited beside her and
remembered her promise. She would reply to Elaine's message, but
when she had a chance. For once, Leon was coming first.

'What happened to you? You look like hell!'

Lou was never backwards in coming forward and was not making
any exceptions as she opened Daniel Jones's heavy wooden gate.

'Aunty Lou,' piped Leon, who couldn't have been more excited
to see someone if they'd been made of chocolate and sprinkled with
hundreds and thousands.

'Come here, big fella, and give your Aunty Lou a cuddle,' she said
unnecessarily, as Leon was already jumping to catch her embrace.

'Where have you guys been?' she asked, staring over Leon's shoulder
in alarm at Rosie's dodgy eye. 'I've been calling.'

'Mummy got in a big fight with Daddy and said the F word,'
Leon answered before Rosie could respond. 'Me and Heather cooked
you muffins but they broke because Daddy fell on them. Then I hit
Mummy in the eye. I didn't mean it but.'

'Oh,' Lou replied, talking to Leon but looking at Rosie quizzically.
'Well, I guess you have been busy then. You'd better run inside, my
man, 'cause there's someone who's been waiting for you—'

'Elroy!' Leon screamed, then dashed through the gate into the
leafy green within.

'What the—?' Lou began as soon as the boy was out of earshot.

'Don't even ask,' Rosie answered, beleaguered. 'I need a drink.
Actually, I need many drinks.'

'Are you okay?'

'Not really. To be honest, I'd prefer to be home on my lounge,
heavily sedated, but I couldn't let Leon down again.'

'Is that true what he said about you and Jeff fighting?'

'Sure is. I whacked him a beaut, straight in the face.'

'Bull! You did not!'

'Did so. Don't say anything, Lou. I feel bad enough as it is.'

'Holy hell! Tell me he didn't give you that shiner?'

'No, Leon did. Does it look bad? It hurts like hell but Heather
said—'

'Heather?'

'Yep, Heather. She's moved in already. The place looks great. I hate
to say it but she's . . . well, quite nice.'

'Now
I
need a Valium!'

'I know. Look, let's talk about it later. I just want to get through
this dinner and get home. I'm going to have to sneak out soon and
make a call, so you'll need to cover for me. I can't have Leon see me
ringing work.'

'Okay . . . I think. But I demand a detailed explanation later.
I mean, did you really whack Jeff?'

'Lou, please, I'll cry.'

'Shit, don't do that. Not now anyway,' Lou replied. 'Come
inside and check out this house. Daniel designed it . . . well, told
the architect what he wanted at least. And he planted the garden.
I'm telling you, Rosie, this guy is gorgeous. Stephen thinks so too.
I mean, he's almost too good to be true.'

'Well, if he seems that way, then he no doubt is. Watch me – I'll
find his faults.'

'Hmm, I think that could be your problem, missy. You find faults
all too easily.'

'Not now, Lou. I'm not in the mood to have a personality
evaluation. I already know the results. A big F for flawed. Now lead
me to Mr Perfect.'

* * *

If Daniel Jones did indeed have a major fault, Rosie was having a
damn hard time finding it. As she nursed a piece of raw steak he
had fetched her to put on her swollen eye, she watched his every
move with the other eye and liked what she saw. Wearing a pair
of old Mambo board shorts, thongs and a worn-thin T-shirt that
clung in all the right places, he seemed even more attractive in his
comfortable surrounds.

And who wouldn't have been? His home was as peaceful and serene
as it was beautiful, a Balinese oasis that seemed several degrees cooler
than the world outside, like entering an exotic rainforest. Although it
was an average-size garden, the quaint nooks he had carved into the
lush greenery somehow made it seem larger, like a place you could
get lost in.

Lou, Stephen and Rosie were gathered around a large, worn table
that Daniel confessed was actually a door he'd picked up from a
building site and sanded back to reveal its ancient hardwood grain.
Overhead, a lattice threaded with passionfruit vine cast a dappled
golden glow of fading afternoon sun while the nearby barbecue
crackled with smoky heat. Stephen was eyeing off a padlocked shed
in the corner of the yard.

'So, what's in there?' he asked Daniel as he sipped on his Corona
and supervised the barbecue as men tend to do.

'It's full of crap,' Daniel said with a good-natured laugh. 'My
guitars, and painting stuff, but I love it.'

'Every man needs a shed,' Stephen replied. 'Somewhere to get away
from the womenfolk.'

Stephen winked at Lou, who rolled her eyes skyward.

'So, can I ask you, mate, and tell me if I'm being nosy, but where's
Elroy's mum?'

Rosie tried not to look interested in the reply to come, even
though Lou was raising her eyebrows up and down at her like a
madwoman.

'Um, she left me about eighteen months ago. Took off with my
business partner, no less. Never saw it coming.'

Holy hell, who would leave you?

'Shit, that's rough, mate, sorry,' Stephen said, taken aback by his
new friend's honesty.

'It's okay, I'll admit it was hard for a while, but what can you do?'
Daniel replied. 'It's been tougher on my boy, though. Not easy for a
kid to realise his mum doesn't want him.'

'So, she left him with you?' Stephen asked, shocked.

'Yep. We came home one day and she'd cleared out.'

'Shit, mate, I gotta hand it to you. I mean, your boy is a credit.'

Both men looked over to see Leon and Elroy playing gently with
Elroy's new labrador puppy in a sandpit area at the back of the
garden.

'Thanks, but I can't really take credit. He's just a great kid. I'm
proud to know him.'

Rosie looked over at Lou and mouthed 'all right' sarcastically. She
had to agree that Snag Dad Daniel Jones was turning out to be a
first-class sweetheart.

Lou stood up, walked over to Daniel and planted a big kiss on
his cheek. Raising her glass to him, she announced: 'Daniel, it is an
absolute pleasure and honour to meet you.'

'Thanks, Lou, the same to you. Great to have you here.'

Then he turned towards Rosie, who still had the piece of meat
dangling from her face, and smiled. 'Especially nice to have you here,
Rosie. For a while there I thought I'd never actually get you to sit still
long enough to have a proper conversation, never mind a meal.'

Rosie's face flushed so red it matched her meaty eye-patch. 'It's
nice to be here, Daniel,' she replied, her heart pounding so fast
between her ribs she thought she had the entire cast of
Tap Dogs
in
there.

* * *

'Dinner's on in ten, boys,' Daniel yelled to Leon and Elroy, who
were giggling at the now overexcited puppy. 'Inside and wash your
hands.'

As Elroy led Leon up the back stairs and into the house, Rosie saw
an opportunity to sneak away and make the call to Elaine Norman.
It was also an opportunity to sneak in a cigarette. She was still not
comfortable letting Lou know she'd taken it up again – pot was
fine but tobacco was a big no-no to Lou – and she certainly didn't
want Daniel Jones to learn of her filthy habit. After all, it was only a
temporary hiccup.

'Excuse me for a moment, I've just got to get something from the
car,' Rosie said, already with her hand on the wooden gate.

Rosie gave Lou a wink but her friend seemed none too impressed
to be part of her obvious ruse.

'Don't be long,' Stephen called out to her without looking around,
too busy turning the seafood.

Once through the gate, Rosie lit up and took a second to work out
how she felt. She was skittish – no, make that giddy – as if she had
drunk a dozen more glasses than she actually had.

Keep it together, girl, he's only a man . . . But what a man!

Rosie walked to her car, opened the door and plonked herself in
the driver's seat. Fetching her phone from her handbag, she removed
the steak from her eye, retrieved Keith's home number, and pressed
the green button.

It took only a few rings before the distinctive voice of Elaine
Norman answered. 'Norman residence.'

'Elaine, it's Rosie Lang. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to return
your call—'

'Rose, lovely to hear from you and thank you, no apology
necessary. It is Saturday, after all, and you do have that dear little
boy to consider. How is . . . Leon, isn't it?'

Rosie took a second to ponder just what a class act Elaine Norman
was. Rosie had met her a few years ago at a fundraiser when she
was researching a series of profiles on charity matrons. Disliking
stuffy society events and the types who attended them, she ended up
at the bar, trying to act busy in order to avoid yet another shallow
conversation with a dowager desperate to get her name in print.
She didn't know who the hell Elaine Norman was, other than that
she was friendly, funny, and seemed to be as uncomfortable in her
surrounds as Rosie. The two women ended up spending most of
the afternoon together in pleasant conversation, with Rosie leaving
that day thinking she would always remember Elaine Norman, her
kindness and quick wit, even if the sentiment wasn't reciprocated.
Given that it was only six weeks later when Big Keith Norman asked
her to lunch, Rosie had a nagging feeling she might have made an
impression on Elaine too. And to remember her boy's name, well,
Rosie was chuffed.

'Yes, it is Leon, Elaine, and he is just wonderful. Thanks for
asking,' Rosie replied. 'But I think it's your nearest and dearest
whose health is in question. How is he? I've been worried.'

'Thanks, Rosie, I appreciate your concern. He's not great. At all,
really. But he wants to see you.'

'I would love to see him too, Elaine, but is he up for visitors?'

'Not really, Rosie, but he wants to speak to you. Frankly, I think
you're the only one at that place he can trust at the moment.'

That place? Sounds like Elaine is as fond of the network as I am.

'I understand. When do you want me there?'

'How about Monday morning?'

'I doubt I can get out, Elaine. It's hard to get away even for five
minutes these days.'

'I don't suppose I could impose on you by asking you to come
tomorrow then? I'm aware it is a Sunday but you could bring your
boy, and I'd look after him. It should only take an hour.'

Rosie knew she should say no, draw a clear boundary between
work and home and insist on meeting Keith in business hours, but
then she considered just how she could disappear from the network
on a Monday – or indeed any weekday – without letting anyone
know where she was, and realised she had Buckley's. Tomorrow it
would have to be.

'Fine, Elaine, but I won't be able to stay long. Say, ten am?'

'Thank you, Rosie. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this.
Keith will be most relieved. You know where we live?'

The entire population of Sydney knew where Keith and Elaine
Norman lived, it being one of Sydney's most prestigious old homes.
Rosie made sure she went to its charity public opening each year to
delight in Elaine's exquisite garden.

'I know the place, Elaine. I look forward to seeing you.'

'Thanks again, Rosie. You are a good friend to Keith, and me. I
hope you know that. See you at ten.'

Rosie lit another cigarette and inhaled its noxious fumes, trying
to convince herself the smoke was calming. She wondered just
how much she could tell Keith in his current state. Should he
know Nash was already in his chair, that the big boss at Tang.Inc seemed to have taken over from Bettina Arthur, that Graham
Hunt was on a bender in Los Angeles when he should have been
in rehab, that Alicia's drama could well be a shocker, that massive
cuts were taking place with who knew who about to be sacked any
minute . . . ?

That it was hell.

* * *

'Mummy, where have you been? I'm going to eat an octopussy!' Leon
was sitting up at the table with the others, Elroy by his side, patiently
awaiting her return.

'Oh, please don't tell me you've been waiting for me. Go ahead and
eat,' Rosie implored, wishing she had squirted some breath freshener
in her mouth to disguise her stinky indulgence.

'Rosie, Daniel has been telling us he's a lawyer,' Lou chimed,
smoothly seguing Rosie back into the conversation.

'Oh really, what kind?' Rosie asked, interested in any new morsel
about Daniel Jones.

'Well, mainly discrimination cases these days,' he answered, 'but I
still look after a few clients, some contract law, things like that. I've
had to tone down the practice a lot since my partner and I . . . um,
split. Elroy has to come first. I want to be there for him before and
after school, don't I, mate?'

'Yes, Daddy,' Elroy answered, clearly besotted with his handsome
father.

Rosie was too. It all made sense now, why Snag Dad was always
already there as Rosie made her chaotic dash to get Leon to daycare
on time. As a single dad he was putting his son first.

'As I've been trying to tell Rosie here, I'm happy to take Leon any
afternoon if she needs to work late. It allows me some more time to
work as the boys can entertain each other.'

'Oh, Daniel, I've been trying to tell her the same thing,' Lou
replied. 'Instead, she tries to do everything herself and gets into a
right old state.'

'Um, guys, I'm here, you know,' Rosie interjected sarcastically. 'And
I thank you both for your kind offers but I think it's time to change
the subject. I already have one black eye and don't need another.
I'd like to propose a toast. Here's to friendship and children, those
present and those to come.'

Rosie turned to Lou, who beamed to be included in the children
collective and touched her belly proudly.

'You're not, are you?' Daniel asked.

'I am, but only just,' Lou replied.

'Oh well, that changes everything then,' Daniel said. 'Put those
glasses down everyone. It's time to break out the champagne.'