Page 37 of Summer, in Between
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‘JUST calm down, Cat, it will be all right.’Mum’s bent over the package of books on the dining table.
‘Tell me something, Mother, when has anyone ever calmed down just from being told to calm down?Is that the most helpful thing you can say at this moment?Calm down?It’ll be all right?How will any of this be all right?I’m already so far behind and I still don’t even have the right books!’
‘Cat, I’ll sort it out.Go take a coffee to your dad and Paul, I’ll ring them up and sort it out.’
‘I’m not a goddamn waitress.Tell the boys to do it.’All I’ve seen of Paul this morning after yesterday’s kiss was a wave from downstairs and that’s more than okay with me.Although, that kiss was pretty much the sole focus of all my thoughts last night, and this morning.
‘Oh, for the love of God,’ Mum mutters and picks up the phone.
‘Yes, hello, my daughter’s Year Twelve textbooks have just arrived, and the order is wrong.Yes.No.Order number 46305.Yes, Catarina Kelty.Thank you, I’ll hold.’She taps me on the shoulder and points to the coffee machine.‘Go,’ she mouths before turning her back to me.
I grind the beans and inhale their scent.Normally, that smell of fresh coffee calms me, and the sound of water moving through grinds is soothing.Not today.Nothing’s quelling my anxiety.
‘Look, that’s really not good enough.She can’t wait another week for them and given this is the second time the order has been wrong I think you can do a bit better for us than that.Yes, I realise we’re out of your standard delivery zone, but that’s hardly our problem, is it?The school brings a very clear commercial outcome to your business, so what can we do here?Yes.Yes.What’s the address?What time?We’re a two-hour drive so I need more flexibility from you than that.And your name?Perfect, thank you.See you then.’
‘They’ve got them?’I ask.
‘Yes, in stock.We’ll return these and get yours.Shit!’she slaps her forehead.‘I completely forgot.I’m taking Tommy and his friends to the movies.’
‘Well, that’s hardly a priority.’Dumbfounded, I stand at the doorway holding two cups of coffee.
‘It is to your brother.Come on, let’s go talk to Dad.’
Downstairs in the garage, Dad takes a coffee from my hand and places it on the workbench.He’s grubby and sweaty and as he rakes his hand over his face to wipe away sweat, he leaves a streak of sawdust.‘Sorry, Bella, I have to wait here for the electrician,’ says Dad.
‘Are you freakin’ kidding me?Do I mean nothing to you people?’
‘What are we going to do, Mick?’says Mum.‘She needs her books.’
‘I can take you, Cat.’Paul leans against Dad’s workbench, passing a hammer between his hands.‘If it’s okay with you, Mick?’He still hasn’t looked at me.
‘Are you sure?That would be freakin’ awesome.’I don’t know how I’m not crying.
‘It’s a two-hour drive, we’ll give you some money for petrol,’ says Mum.
‘Don’t even think about it.’Paul rests the hammer on the workbench.‘It’s all good.’
‘They close at five, but they’re going to wait for you.Still, I wouldn’t hang around,’ says Mum.
‘I wouldn’t mind swinging past home for a quick shower.’He’s covered in builder’s dust, glue embedded into his boardshorts.‘I’ll go home and get changed then come back and get you.’
‘No, that’s too much driving back and forth,’ says Mum.‘Cat, you’re pretty much ready to go, aren’t you?’
