Page 64 of Spiralling Skywards
“Liam, I’m female. I know exactly how deviously a woman’s mind can be when it has to.”
I took another long draw from the vodka bottle, noting that I’d drunk far too much to be able to drive over to Sarah’s now.
“But she reckons she’s gonna tell everyone that the baby’s mine and that she’s gotta get rid of it because I’ve abandoned her. She said she’s gonna get that bitch Monet involved.”
“Baxter?”
“If that’s the surname of the Monet who’s a journo and runs that gossip magazine, then yeah.”
“Another cunt.”
“Mags!”
I knew it was pointless pulling my sister up for her swearing. Our parents had tried her entire life to no avail. Mags taught me every swear word that I knew and there were some I still didn’t even know the meaning of.
“What? It’s the truth and don’t ever insult journalists by giving her that title. She runs a magazine that prints slanderous stories with absolutely no basis, all with money her daddy left her. She’s never done a real day’s work in her life.”
Maggie had been involved with an Australian rules footballer a few years back; Brad Collins had model good looks and an amazing career, he also happened to be Monet’s ex. At just twenty-five, he was the golden boy of Aussie rules, but he also had a massive drug problem. Maggie stood by him time after time, when he was suspended for failing a drug test, when he got caught driving under the influence of both drink and drugs, and each time he went into rehab. We all supported her, as she supported him, until I got a desperate phone call from her at three in the morning, asking for help.
I was in Sydney; she was in Perth. It took me six hours to reach her, and by the time I got to the hospital she’d been taken to, doctors had stitched up her face, bandaged her ribs, and put her arm in a cast. They’d been unable to save the baby she was four months pregnant with. Monet Baxter and her magazine had gotten wind of something going on. Her magazine printed pictures of Maggie leaving the hospital with a close up of her black eyes and split lip. She’d continued since then to hold a serious grudge against our family.
Brad Collins had been sentenced to four years in prison for his assault on my sister and that was where he was when he hung himself on the date that their baby was due to be born. He’d taken the easy way out. Maggie put on a brave face and carried on with her life but had never gotten serious with a man again at that stage.
“Well either way, Olivia’s threatening to go to her with her story of abandonment.”
We both let out a long sigh.
“Okay, here’s what ya gonna do. You go find your girl. You confess everything to her that went on with the cunt. You confess everything that’s gone on with your girl to her brother and you both skip off into the sunset happily ever after. In the meantime, I’ll find out what I can about the split between the cunt and Markham. I have friends of friends who are friends of his wife, I’ll see what I can dig up. If it turns out that she is pregnant, then I’ll make sure that the entire southern hemisphere knows that it’s not yours.”
“What if it is?”
“It’s not. No way, and when it’s born with a bald head and big ears, everyone will realise that it’s Markham’s.”
“Aren’t most babies born with bald heads and big ears?” I asked, once again fighting a smile. I loved my sister so fucking much and wished she were closer right then.
“Not Delaney babies. We’re all born gorgeous with a head full of hair and perfectly proportioned ears. You’ve seen Marie’s kids, and I remember how cute you were when you were born.”
“You were two.”
“I have superpowers. Memory of an elephant, remember?”
“I remember that you’re full of shit.”
“Whatever. You gonna tell Mum and Dad what’s going on?”
“Should I?”
“Maybe wait and see how things play out. I’ll keep my ear to the ground and play detective over here. You just go tell your girl you love her.”
“Thanks, Mags. I’ll call you in the next few days. Sorry for waking you. Love ya.”
“No worries, baby brother. I love you too.”
I thought the call ended, but Maggie cut back in. “Hey, Lee?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really sorry this is happening to you. You’re one of life’s genuinely nice people. Just be honest with Sarah in the future and watch where you stick your dick. Now fuck off and let me sleep.”
