Page 6 of Strut

I put my EarPods back in and thanked my lucky stars for the few breaks that had come my way. You might get paid zip for the runway jobs, but I’d landed some big-label names in New York’s two Fashion Weeks including Berlini Man. I’d walked for Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, and Alexander McQueen, among others, and those prime spots had landed me some important go-sees after, and from those, a couple of jobs that finally ranked.

In April I’d shot an editorial piece forGQwhich earned me some actual cash in hand after Cage took their cut, and then two months later I’d done a cover forVoguethat I got nothing in the pocket for, but which had given me something more important. I was only the ‘interest’ background forVogue’s currentit girlwho’d been flaunting a new line for Berlini Woman.But that shoot had led me into a couple of small fragrance ads and a bit of money in my pocket and brought me to the attention of theBerlini Mancasting director. He’d then forwarded my name toMenzoneas a possible candidate for the editorial piece. I’d been given a special invite to the casting, and it didn’t get much better than that. All I’d had to do was not fuck it up. And miraculously I’d gotten the job.

My phone buzzed and I grimaced at the name on the screen.Mum.I groaned and took the call, thankful for my EarPods.

“Hey, Mum.”

Jolene snorted and I rolled my eyes.

“Hi, sweetheart. How are things going?”

“Well, I’m sitting in hair and makeup getting ready for a big shoot so I can’t talk for long. This is the piece for Berlini Man I told you about, remember?”

She hesitated just long enough for me to know she didn’t remember at all. “I can’t keep the names straight in my head,” she said in that slightly disinterested fashion I’d gotten used to. “But I do recall you being excited about some... editorial. Is that the right term?”

“Yes.” I was kind of shocked she actually knew it.

“Well, it’s good that you’re getting some work. We worry about you.”

Not so shocked at that and I sighed. “I work pretty constantly, Mum. I’m doing well. It takes time.”

That was met by a beat of silence, then total dismissal. “Your dad and I have been thinking about your cousin Sheldon’s wedding in December. We were wondering if you’d be home in time for that.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and counted to ten. “Mum, I already said I’ve got no plans to come home. Not yet.”

More silence.

“Oh. We thought you might’ve changed your mind. You and Shel were always close.”

I stared at my reflection in the mirror and breathed a sigh. Jolene smiled, catching the drift of the conversation, and patted my shoulder in sympathy.

“I can’t afford to come home, Mum, you know that. Plus, I have a Christmas gala booked forVoguethe week before.”

“Are they paying you for that?”

“Yes, Mum, they’re paying me.”

“But you can’t afford to come home?”

“No. Not yet. We talked about this.”

“I know, but your dad and I... we just worry, that’s all.”

“You don’t need to. I’m fine.”

“We could pay for your ticket—”

“No. Thank you, but no. I’ll come home next year for sure, but I can’t right now. I’m just starting to get a foot in the door.”

She sighed with poorly concealed disappointment. “So, you’re planning on staying for a while?”

Oh, dear God. “Yes.”

Another sigh. “Well, I guess we need to let you get this out of your system. We miss you, that’s all.”

Get it out of my system? Her words stung but I let it go. “I miss you too. All of you. Tell Dad and Lachlan I said hi.”

“I will. Oh, and I meant to tell you, Lachlan and Tessa are taking over the farm’s day-to-day management next year, which means your dad and I can take a step back. We’re thrilled. He’s got such a level head on him.”

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