Page 36 of Because of Them

“About what Brett? I’m sorry but if it’s not time critical, I’d really rather wait until tomorrow.” I keep my tone flat, still fighting to hold down the burst of frustration that tries to bubble to the surface.

He lets out a quick, huffed, laugh. His lack of tact and his indifference to my capacity grate down my spine. One step lower and I’ll jump.

“It’s just about that house you sold. The big modern town home with the huge backyard that closed last month. You sold it to your ex-husband.”

I hum, urging him to get to his point because I really want to get off the phone and go hide in my bed until I have to pick up Maisie from kindergarten.

“We’ve had some complaints,” Brett states. I remind myself to breathe.

“Complaints about what?”

“Some buyers that missed out on the property seem to think the sale was conducted in a way that was deceptive. The complaint is that you enticed the buyer to reject offers, knowing that you wanted to sell the property to your ex. Now, if that’s true Audrey, it’s a major concern. And even if it’s not, the fact we have had complaints is something we have to take very seriously.”

I can’t hold back the scoff. “Everything was done above board Brett. You know that because I had you sign off on everythingbecausethe buyer was my ex-husband. I gave each offer adequate weight when informing the seller. It’s not my fault Callum offered a quarter of a million over the asking price.”

“Yes yes, I am aware of how much he offered. Even so, Audrey, we need to take the complaints very seriously. We can’t risk losing potential buyers of future homes, just because they aren’t happy with how a sale went in the past.”

“What are you saying Brett?”

Bile rises once more in my throat, burning through my neck.

“Nothing major Audrey, don’t panic. But instead of having someone shadow you before your leave, we will be adding a second agent to every sale, to show buyers that we value integrity and honesty. All commissions will be split.”

“What?”

“In an attempt to keep the situation fair, we will assign a different agent to each sales contract you currently have open. For their work in finalising the sale they will receive fifty per cent of the commission.”

“Brett, that’s not fair.”

“It has to be done Audrey. I’m sorry we had to do this over the phone, but since you didn’t feel like coming into the office it was needed.”

I force out something that resembles, “thanks for letting me know,” before ending the call and slamming my phone back on the bench. Tears blur my vision for a moment before one spills onto my cheek. I bat it away and wipe my eyes with the back of my sleeve. No. Brett doesn’t deserve my tears. That stupid job doesn’t deserve my tears.

I open the calendar app on my phone and count the weeks. I just need to make it to my maternity leave. Then I’ll figure it out. Fifteen weeks. I can do this.

Callum’s surname screams at me from the back of my hand. I want to scratch it off, but I wrote it there for a reason. No matter how desperately I want to wallow, now that I have an afternoon off, I might as well use it to get my name back.

In the small study nook, I open up the laptop and start making a list of all the organisations I’ll need to contact. It drags on and on until my eyes hurt, but once I’m sure I have everything listed, I scroll back to the top to start the process. I’ll have to physically go into most places, but it feels cathartic, finally leaving that piece of my history behind. Like I can finally start to think about what my future might be like.

Anyone would think a woman about to have a baby would have her future sorted, but I don’t. I have no idea what it looks like. Especially now that I am questioning my career as well.

I wonder if I should feel scared. If I should be panicking beyond measure. But I’m not. I’m not scared or worried or nervous. I’m not excited or thrilled either. I just kind of am, and I guess right now that’s all I can hope for.

MICHAEL

“Twins?”

Brendan’s shocked tone screams at the part of me still desperate to run away and never look back. But I can’t do that, I won’t do that. Sure, a tiny piece of me wants to cling to my past and escape the future, but that part is tiny. Even if it is loud sometimes.

I rocked up to the latest job site hours later than I said I would, and the guys are already packing their shit away, ready to call it in. The main frame of another luxury townhome stands mostly complete, taking up almost the entirety of the block of land it sits on. This whole development suburb feels crowded and closed in. Large houses on tiny blocks, crammed together like sardines just for a slice of the Aussie dream that isn’t hours from the city.

Not really my place to complain though, it’s not my house we’re building here. My house is waiting for me, kind of. I just need to build it. As soon as I was bringing in enough money to finance a mortgage, I bought land that was nestled right on the outskirts of the suburb. It’s surrounded by other large blocks and right in the middle of a green wedge that means it’ll never be developed further.

One day, I’ll figure out exactly what I’m doing with my life and build a home on it. I guess that future in my head might be closer than I thought it was, even if it does look a little different to what I always imagined. Two distinct futures pass across my eyes.

I much prefer the one where Audrey comes to her senses and realises we are more than just something light hearted and casual. The one where we build a house on the land together, where the kids grow up riding quad bikes through the paddocks. It seems so distant though, and I can’t stand the thought of the more realistic future. The one where I’m never good enough for Audrey, and no matter how hard I try, I’m not good enough for the babies either. In that one, I probably never leave the apartment, my land stays empty and I only see my children on weekends, if I’m lucky. That future hurts and I will do anything to make sure it’s not the one I’m stuck in.

I just need to figure out how to prove to Audrey that I’m here. I’m committed. To her and to the babies.

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