My Never: a novella (3 page)

The
waiter left.

I
turned to Ruby. “How was school?”

“Boring
as. Mrs Browne gave us a tonne of homework.”

“Which
you’re going to do when we get home,” said Troy.

She
rolled her eyes. “I know.”

I
smiled. Troy was fitting into the father role well. This made me want to have
his babies.

Our
drinks arrived.

Troy
raised his beer. “Mon, glad we’re together after all these years. Happy
birthday!”

Eyes
clouded with tears, my smile widened. I
clinked
my bottle against his
then to Ruby’s milkshake. “Thank you, both of you. I couldn’t imagine a better
way to celebrate my birthday.” Definitely tops sharing a hotel room with Kate.

Ruby
grabbed a slice as soon as the pizza hit the table.

“Manners,
Rubes,” said Troy, his eyes on her. “It’s Monique’s birthday. She gets first
choice.”

“Sorry.”
Her face crumpled.

My
hand combed through her silky strands. “That’s all right. I want you to have
it.”

“So,”
said Troy, “Do you have a birthday wish?”

I
chewed a mouthful. “I might have.” My lips stretched into a grin.

“What
is it?” he said.

“Yes,
tell us, tell us!” said Ruby.

Troy
chuckled at her enthusiasm.

“Well.”
I curled a finger, motioning them to lean close. “I’ve always wanted to learn
how to juggle.”

Ruby
giggled. I shared a smile with Troy.

“Moni
always had a sense of humour,” he said.

* * *

Ruby padded into the
kitchen. “Can I have some lemonade?”

“Sure.”
I abandoned the vegetables and opened the cupboard. “Which cup would you like?”

“The
pink one, please.”

I
should have known she would say that. I twisted the cap off the bottle then
filled the cup with the clear liquid. “Here you go.”

She
grasped it with both hands.

“How’s
the homework going?” I said.

Ruby
grimaced. “Math sucks.”

“Need
any help?”

“No,
thanks.” She carted the drink out.

Good.
I wouldn’t know where to begin. My eyes darted to the clock. Hmm. Should I
bring her a snack? Dinner was still an hour away.

I
traipsed into the dining room with a plate of cookies.

But
she wasn’t there.

“Rubes?”
I stepped closer to the table, oblivious to the clear puddle that had formed on
the light timber floorboards. “Ruby?” I set the plate down then swivelled.

It
all seemed to happen in slow motion. My shoe slipped. My fingers reached out to
grip the table. I missed it by a hair. The floor inched towards me. I thrust my
hands out, but it was too late. I landed hard on my arm. “Shit.”

Ruby
jogged into the room, a wad of paper towel in her grasp. Her blue eyes stared
at me in shock. “Are you okay?” She dropped to her knees.

My
arm throbbed beneath me. I tried to push myself up, but pain was shooting down
it. A groan slipped through my clenched teeth. “I think it’s broken.” My right
hand clamped onto the nearest chair. “Go get your dad.” I managed to pull
myself up.

Ruby
straightened then sprinted in the direction of his office.

* * *

“Need anything?” said
Troy.

It’s
been three days since I broke my arm. And Troy had been tiptoeing around me,
bringing me hot meals and tea. I wasn’t used to this much attention.

“Nope,”
I said.

“Are
you sure?”

“
Yes
.
Now, get back to work.” I pretended to shoo him. “Go and finish that novel you’ve
been talking my ear off about. And stop worrying about me.”

He
bent to press his lips to my temple. “Okay, but yell if you need anything.”

I
wasn’t on my deathbed, he needn’t be anxious.

Troy
disappeared into his office. I threw back the blanket and traipsed into the
kitchen. I could relax and bake at the same time, couldn’t I?

Half an hour later, he
wandered in. “I smell cake.” Troy’s eyes narrowed. “Thought I told you to
rest?”

“You
did. I disagreed,” I said.

“The
doctor also told you to rest.”

The
oven timer buzzed.

I
bent to open the door. “Help me?”

He
sighed, placed his mug on the counter and hauled out the cake. “At least rest
as it cools.”

I
hoisted myself onto a barstool. “I’m trying to be useful.”

He
refilled his mug. “But you don’t need to.” He touched his lips to my hair.

“Sure
I do. Plus Ruby would love some after school.” I examined my nails.

Troy
rested his forearms on the counter, pensive for a moment. “Mon, what’s gonna
happen, with us, when you leave?”

“Well,
I figured-” I took a sip of his coffee. “I’d go home, give my boss my two weeks
notice, sell my apartment and return to Cairns.” I studied his features for his
reaction.

He
lifted me off the barstool, into his arms, and kissed me. “That’s the best plan
I’ve ever heard!” He dropped me on my feet.

I
grinned. “Know any jobs available?”

Troy
smirked. “I kinda need a publisher.”

The
thought of opening my own publishing house entered my mind. Though terrified, I
was intrigued. “Okay. Challenge accepted.”

“I’d
better get back to writing that novel, then.” He winked.

“Good
idea.”

Just after three, Ruby
dashed
down the hall, searching for me. “Moni?”

“I’m
in the kitchen, Sweetie,” I said.

She
skidded to stop in the doorway, eyeing the dessert. “CAKE!” Her eyes pleaded.
“Can I have some Moni,
please
?”

“Only
if you really want some.”

“I
really,
really
do!” She clasped her hands in front of her chest.

“Okay.”
I cut her a slice.

“What
kind is it?”

“Caramel.”
I slid the plate towards her.

“That’s
my favourite.”

“So
I heard.”

Troy
wandered in. “Rubes. Your bag is still in the hall.”

“Sorry,
Daddy.”

“Pick
it up after, okay?” he said.

She
nodded.

He
sat next to her. “Does Daddy get cake, too?”

I
smiled and cut two wedges. “How was school?”

She
peeled off the icing and dropped it into her mouth. “It was okay. I got more
homework.”

“That’s
life,” I said.

“I
can’t wait to finish school.”

“What
do you want to be when you grow up?” I said.

“A
doctor.”

“Oh?”

“I
already have some books.”

“That’s
pretty cool,” I said.

Troy
smiled and twisted her pony tail. “Doctor DeGaris.”

Ruby
rolled her eyes. “Dad, don’t embarrass me in front of Moni.”

His
smile drooped. “Sorry.”

* * *

The phone rang. Troy held
it to his ear and listened for a moment. “Ruby, it’s Mum.”

She
jumped up from her chair and stretched for the receiver.

Troy
sat opposite me. “She couldn’t wait five more minutes for Ruby to finish her
dinner?”

“I
take it you two aren’t on such good terms?” I said.

“No.”

Ruby
approached and held out the phone. “Mum wants to talk to you again.”

He
grabbed it and marched into his bedroom, shutting the door.

Ruby
finished her mashed potatoes then yawned. “G’night, Moni.” She constricted her
arms around my waist.

“Good
night, Sweetie.” I touched my lips to her cheek. “Sweet dreams.”

When
Troy hadn’t returned within ten minutes, I knocked on his door. “It’s me.” I
waited for an answer. There wasn’t one. I cracked it open.

Troy
was perched on the corner of his bed. His eyes burned with irritation, his
mouth in a hard line.

“Is
something up?” The door clicked shut behind me.

He
took a moment to answer. “It’s Lauren.”

“What
about her?”

He
was silent.

I
bent to meet his eyes. “Come on, Troy, you can tell me anything.” My palm
cupped his cheek.

He
avoided my eyes.

“If
you don’t tell me, I’m going to have to start guessing - and we both know how
horrible that turns out.” I smirked then waited a beat. “Did she say something
that upset you?”

He
heaved a sigh. “Ruby was telling her all about you. Lauren didn’t like that.
She accused me of leaving our daughter alone with a stranger.”

I
gnawed on my lip. So this was my fault. And no doubt, he would have defended
me. “Come on.” I pulled him up. “I’ll get us some dessert. Did you want to
watch something stupid on-?”

He
mashed his lips to mine, one hand trailing down my back, the other curling into
my hair.

“I
guess that’s a no?” I said.

“Shh.”
He kissed down my neck.

* * *

I opened my eyes. Rays of
sun blinded me. I clenched them shut. Hands glided over my bare stomach. My
eyes flew open.

I’d
fallen asleep in Troy’s bed. I’m such a whore.

“How’d
you sleep?” he said, brushing hair from my face.

“Good.”
I snuggled into him, resting my cast on his chest. “How are you?” I chewed on
my lip.

Seconds
passed as he formed an answer. “Okay.”

“Just
okay?” I said, “I pulled out all the stops last night, Mister.”

He
smiled. “Yeah,
that
was awesome.”

I
stretched and yawned.

“What
do you feel like for breakfast?” he said, “I was thinking of popping out to get
some bagels and pastries.”

“Yum.”

He
touched his lips to my nose. “I’ll be back in five. Can you make sure Ruby gets
dressed?”

“Sure.”
I tugged on yesterday’s clothes.

 “And
Mon?”

“Yes?”

“Love
you.”

Butterflies
fluttered in my stomach. “Love you, too.”

He
flashed me a smile then disappeared into the hallway.

I
followed. “Ruby,” I sang and tapped on her door. “Are you up?” I cracked it
open.

The
blankets were over her head.

“Time
to get up, Missy.”

“I
don’t want to,” she said.

I
peeled back the covers. “Why not? I bet it’ll be super fun.”

Her
eyes narrowed.

“What’s
wrong?” I touched the back of my hand to her forehead. “Are you sick?”

She
shook her head. “I wanna stay home. With you.”

“Aw,
Honey. I would
love
for us to spend the day together,” I said, “But you
have to go.”

“Why?”

“So
you can become a doctor one day.”

She
rolled her eyes and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “Okay. Guess I’d
better go.”

“Good
girl. Daddy will be back in a minute with some breakfast.”

“Awesome!”

“I’ll
leave you to get dressed.” I wandered into the hallway.

“Where
is everyone?” said Troy.

“Here
I am.” I met him halfway.

He
held out a take-away cup. “Coffee, Madame?”

My
nose caught the scent of the fresh brown liquid. “Ooh. Merci beaucoup.”

“Is
Ruby getting ready for school?”

“Yep.”
Fingers crossed.

A
moment later, she skipped past in her uniform.

“Want
a bagel, Rubes?” said Troy.

She
nodded. “And lots of jam.”

We
followed her into the kitchen.

“Pick
your poison.” He offered me the paper bag.

I
selected a poppy seed bagel and smothered it in chocolate spread. “Are you
working today?” I sat at the counter.

“I
need to get a couple hours in. What’re you going to do?”

“Hm.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “Hang around here, I guess.” I felt Ruby’s eyes on me.

“Don’t
have too much fun without us,” he gibed.

“I
won’t.”

Ruby
hopped off her barstool.

“Where’re
you going?” said Troy.

“I
have a surprise.” She jogged out of the room.