Page 94 of Spiralling Skywards: Fading
Liam was finishing early and picking Carter up from school that afternoon. He was worried that being the eldest, he might have been a little more affected than the younger boys by the previous night’s events.
The timing couldn’t have been better.
Liam would collect Carter.
It was perfect.
It was meant to be.
I kissed the twins and waved them goodbye as they walked hand in hand into their playgroup.
I then called Taylor on the pretence of checking to see if she was okay.
“I’m okay. I just feel so awful.”
“It was just a horrible accident, Tay, not your fault at all.”
“How are the boys doing?”
“Surprisingly well, they’ve been asking after you.”
“Aww, really? I’m off today, can I come over and see them?”
“Sure. Ya know what, actually, could you do me a massive favour?”
“Of course, what d’ya need?”
“Would you be able to come to mine and collect Lucas and then walk up to the playgroup and pick up the twins for me?”
“Sure. Should I take them back to yours?”
“Yeah. Liam is picking up Carter, but I might even be back by then. I’m just gonna get my hair done.”
“I thought you had it done last week.”
“Yeah, I’m just getting a blow dry.”
I lied. The fog and the guilt, they helped me. They made the lying so easy.
“Okay. I’ll be round soon.”
I ended the call as I was pulling up to Luke’s place. He was already gone to work, so I let myself in and found what I was looking for.
***
After kissing my baby boy goodbye, I drove to the next town over from ours and checked into the first hotel I came across. The room was small but clean, and I stripped out of my clothes in a haze and wrapped myself in the complimentary big fluffy robe. I opened the bottle of wine I’d brought with me and poured a glass, drank it down, and then poured another.
My thoughts wandered to hotel rooms and Hob Nobs. To New South Austrians. To Betty Boop lamps and Will Bennett. I thought about my mum who’d died and then my dad who’d left me. I thought about Sasha who never called, Luke who never came around much anymore, and Liam . . . Liam who no longer saw me.
In one way or another, they all left. They all left, but now they wouldn’t have to. My husband could find a better wife, and my children would have a better mother.
And everything wouldreallybe fine.
