Those Other Women Read online

  Paul seemed to snap out of it and gave Frankie one of his telling smiles. ‘Yes, that’s right. The agenda! Jumped the gun with that one, didn’t I? What would we do without Frankie here to keep us on track?’

  Poppy caught Annalise’s eye and gave her a subtle eyebrow raise. Oh yes, of course, she thought, wonderful Frankie, running the whole damn place at ninety words per minute.

  The meeting continued on with no further mention of oranges. There were a few solid ideas that warranted further investigation. Poppy put forward the suggestion that they start looking into picnic plates and cups made from organic, biodegradable plant matter.

  ‘People still want the convenience of disposable options, but they don’t want the guilt of leaving behind a massive carbon footprint,’ she explained, silently thanking Sophie for sparking the thought in her mind the other night, even if Poppy had found her somewhat offensive. ‘There’s a manufacturer in Brazil doing leaf-based plates and their promo video is about to go viral.’

  Most of the managers agreed she was onto something, and they spent the last half of the meeting throwing around potential trading names and ideas for suppliers.

  They were winding up when the inevitable happened. Jody from accounts cleared her throat and said brightly, ‘Oh, before we head out, I just wanted to let the team know I’ll be in late the next two days. I’ve got a specialist appointment for Eleanora tomorrow morning and Christine is getting an award at assembly the day after.’

  Poppy looked across the table at Annalise. She was resolutely avoiding looking back at her, but Poppy saw her place one finger surreptitiously on the table in front of her and she bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing. One down, who was going to be next?

  ‘Actually,’ said Anne, who was sitting to Jody’s left, ‘Jody’s just reminded me, I’m leaving early this afternoon. The mum who normally picks my kids up for me is sick, so it’s on me for today.’

  A second finger appeared on the table next to the first. Annalise was pretending to nod along sympathetically with the others. Two.

  The room fell quiet and everyone began gathering up notebooks and pens or pushing back their chairs when Frankie spoke up. ‘Oh well, not that it really affects anyone, but if we’re all updating our schedules, I’m not here Friday morning.’ She looked around at everyone and Poppy saw her jaw clench. She probably thought it was no one’s business what she was doing, but thanks to Jody and Anne’s explanations, she likely felt railroaded into following suit.

  Poppy was right.

  ‘I have to take my kids to the dentist,’ Frankie continued. ‘And Paul has a very busy morning, so if you could save any issues you need to take to him until after I get in, that would be appreciated.’

  Annalise lifted a third finger onto the table, looked right at Poppy and waggled the three fingers. Poppy barely stopped herself from letting out a snort of laughter.

  After the room had cleared, Lawrence, Annalise and Poppy lagged behind. ‘All right,’ said Lawrence, ‘what was happening at the end of the meeting there? You guys realise you’re not as subtle as you think you are, right?’

  ‘Nothing,’ said Annalise. ‘Secret women’s business.’

  ‘You were pissed off with the girls discussing their time off, weren’t you?’

  ‘Maybe,’ Poppy admitted.

  ‘More like definitely,’ Lawrence said.

  ‘Come for a chat with us down in the warehouse,’ Poppy replied, ‘you can bitch with us some more.’

  ‘You know you’re both obsessed, right?’

  ‘Can you blame us?’ Annalise retorted.

  CHAPTER 4

  Once a month Poppy had a standing dinner date with her parents and brother. Annalise teased her about it, said they sounded like the perfect nuclear family. That was probably Poppy’s opportunity to ask her about her own family – but to be honest, their friendship was decidedly one-sided right from the start and Poppy simply hadn’t ever thought to switch the focus away from her own dramas.

  Poppy was the first one to arrive. The city was the logical place for them to meet. After living on the outskirts of Parramatta their entire lives, Poppy’s parents had sold up and moved over to the Northern Beaches a couple of years before, claiming the need for a sea change. It was obvious to both Poppy and Nolan that they’d moved there to be closer to their grandkids – Nolan and Megan had bought a place in Curl Curl when they’d married.

  Poppy was waiting for the day when Nolan suggested they move the monthly dinner to somewhere more kid-friendly and include the littlest family members. So far it hadn’t happened. And while she knew it was selfish, Poppy couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. Growing up she’d been quite close to her brother, so she enjoyed having the chance to have Nolan and her parents all to herself during these regular catch-ups.

  As much as Poppy thought Nolan’s boys were pretty cute, she was still looking forward to the day when they were old enough to hold a grown-up conversation. That’s when she knew she would shine as an aunt. But for now – while they were babies or as little kids – she never quite knew the right way to interact.

  She suspected Nolan was keeping them away for her benefit, though Poppy’s parents and Nolan couldn’t seem to accept the fact that she had zero interest in ever having kids of her own. They thought it was a defence mechanism. That of course she’d want to have her own children one day and either her biological clock would suddenly kick into gear, or else it already had but she’d draped a sheet over it and silenced the chimes.

  It didn’t matter how many times Poppy assured them it was a personal choice. They were angry with Garret, but for all the wrong reasons. They thought he should have been patient, that he should have waited for her to be ready. Poppy knew their hearts were in the right place, but she was frustrated that they couldn’t seem to trust her own desires.

  At dinner they had a window table overlooking the harbour. Poppy ordered a bottle of red – the rule was whoever arrived first got to choose the wine – and started examining the menu, listening to the ambient sounds of low chatter and cutlery scraping against plates around her. It was a popular restaurant and, despite it being mid-week, pretty much every table was taken. Nolan was next to turn up. He sat opposite Poppy and poured himself a glass, much to the displeasure of the nearby waiter who’d been about to pounce, especially when the wine dripped onto the white tablecloth.

  In looks, Nolan was pretty much a male version of Poppy. The same blond hair with no body to it. The same pale blue eyes. They were even the same height, give or take a centimetre or two. But in personality, he was much more outgoing and chatty.

  ‘What’s new?’ Nolan asked as they both perused their menus.

  ‘What’s new,’ Poppy muttered to herself. ‘What’s new . . . not much,’ she said eventually. ‘Leaning towards the duck, I think.’

  ‘Exciting,’ he responded sarcastically. ‘Aren’t you going to ask me?’ he added.

  ‘Huh? Oh, what are you going to have?’

  ‘No, not my dinner choice. Aren’t you going to ask me what’s new?’

  ‘I think you just did it for me. Go on. Tell me what’s new?’

  ‘Megs is pregnant!’

  ‘Again?’ Poppy realised as soon as she said it that it wasn’t the right response. Nolan’s face fell and she knew he’d expected her to respond with more excitement. But then his expression changed.

  ‘Oh, shit. I’m sorry, Poppy,’ he said, ‘I should have waited to say anything. It’s too soon, isn’t it?’

  Poppy closed her menu. ‘Too soon? What do you mean?’

  ‘Too soon after, you know . . . everything with Garrett . . .’

  Gah, Poppy thought, there he goes again.

  ‘Oh, God no,’ she replied. ‘I’m sorry, I was just surprised, I shouldn’t have said that. It was only ’cause I assumed you guys were done with three. Sorry. It’s great news. Congratulations. Hey, shouldn’t you have waited until Mum and Dad got here? Mum won’t like me havin
g heard the news first.’

  ‘Oh,’ Nolan looked uncomfortable again, ‘they already know. I figured I should tell them together with Megs so we announced it a few days ago when they came round for lunch. Sorry, I didn’t think you’d mind.’

  Poppy waved it off. ‘Of course I don’t mind. Congrats,’ she said again, and this time she held up her wineglass and clinked it against his. ‘Very exciting. Hoping for a girl this time?’

  Nolan shook his head. ‘I don’t really mind either way, I’m used to boys now – but I get the feeling that’s what Megs is after. I don’t think she’d admit to it though. Doesn’t want people to think she’d be disappointed if it comes out with a rod and tackle.’

  ‘Lovely,’ Poppy replied. ‘You won’t find out beforehand?’

  ‘Nah, we’ll wait and see. Doesn’t change the outcome, does it?’

  ‘Guess not.’ They both turned to watch a large boat as it pulled away from the wharf out on the harbour.

  A waiter materialised beside the table and reached for Nolan’s napkin but Nolan beat him to it and placed it on his own lap. The waiter looked lost for a second then reached for the wine instead and topped up Poppy’s glass. ‘Still waiting for two more?’

  ‘Yes, they shouldn’t be too much longer, sorry,’ said Poppy.

  He continued to hover and Nolan cocked his head to the side to look up at him. ‘Ah, we’re all good for the minute, thanks, mate.’

  He nodded curtly and swept away.

  ‘Oh my God,’ said Poppy, a thought suddenly occurring to her, ‘have you two considered that it could be twins again?’

  ‘We have and it’s not. First question I asked at the ultrasound.’ He paused before adding, ‘Sure you’re okay?’

  Poppy rolled her eyes. ‘Okay, I get why I can’t convince Mum. She’s old-fashioned. “Woman no want baby” doesn’t compute for her. But why are you being dense about it? I don’t want kids. So yes, I’m fine with hearing your happy news. I’m really glad for you.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Nolan. ‘No, I’m not dense. It’s not that I don’t believe you about kids, it’s more that you’ve been through . . . well, I don’t need to tell you, you know what you’ve been through. I just don’t want you to feel like you need to put on a brave face around me.’

  Poppy was touched. ‘Thanks, Nolesy. Means a lot. Look out, here come the parents.’

  They watched as Therese and Chris weaved their way between the tables to join them. Therese had her blonde hair blow-dried into the shape of a large space helmet, and Poppy’s dad followed behind her, looking like he was having trouble seeing around it. Chris had recently decided to grow a wiry, salt-and-pepper beard, and Poppy was still getting used to it.

  When they reached the table, Therese took a seat next to Poppy and Chris sat next to Nolan. Therese immediately reached for Poppy’s hand and held it on the table between both of her own.

  ‘Okay, Nolan,’ she said, ‘we’re ready.’

  Poppy was perplexed for just a second and then she caught on and pulled her hand out of her mother’s grip. ‘Jesus, Mum, he’s already told me.’

  ‘You were supposed to wait,’ Therese said accusingly, then she wrapped an arm around Poppy’s shoulders. ‘Are you okay?’

  I should have started with a vodka, Poppy thought. Where’s that waiter who didn’t want to leave us alone before?

  On cue, she looked up to see the waiter making a beeline for their table. When he reached them, Therese allowed him to place her napkin on her lap, which he did so with a considerable amount of flourish. No wonder he’d been so disappointed when Nolan had done his own. But when he tried to do Poppy’s father’s napkin, Chris simply batted his hands away. ‘I’m right, mate.’

  Like father, like son.

  The waiter topped up Poppy’s glass yet again, which was now almost full to the brim, and then filled both Therese and Chris’s glasses. He pulled out a notepad when he was done. ‘Are we ready to order?’

  ‘Oh, love, give us a minute to check the menu, would you?’ Therese asked.

  The waiter openly sighed and glided away from the table yet again.

  ‘What’s with Mr Impatience?’ Chris asked.

  ‘Ants in his pants,’ Therese suggested.

  ‘You better open up your menu, Mum,’ said Poppy. ‘Look, he’s over there watching us.’

  * * *

  The dinner plates had been cleared after the fastest service the four of them had ever experienced. Poppy was feeling pleasantly buzzed due to her constantly refilled wineglass. Their speedy waiter was becoming a family joke, and they’d had to rescue Therese’s unfinished barramundi halfway through the meal when ‘Speedy’ attempted to snatch it away while she was in the bathroom. Earlier, Nolan had lingered for so long over the last two potatoes on his plate that the waiter was – in Therese’s words – almost having kittens as he waited to clear it.

  Therese now steered the conversation towards one of Poppy’s least favourite subjects: her disapproval of Poppy’s new apartment. She didn’t like that Poppy was ‘wasting so much money’ on a place that was smaller than the townhouse she’d shared with Garret. Poppy wasn’t entirely sure why she needed any more space, considering she was just one person. Therese also wasn’t sure about Annalise’s ‘influence’, which had led her to move in there. Poppy thought this was hilarious – she was a woman in her thirties, not a schoolgirl being peer pressured into smoking behind the school sheds.

  ‘Remind me again, how long is the lease you’ve signed, darling?’

  ‘Twelve months.’

  ‘Mmm,’ she said. ‘And you won’t renew it after that?’

  The question mark at the end of her sentence barely managed an appearance.

  ‘Not sure yet, Mum. But at this stage, I’m leaning towards staying there. I love it. Love being in the middle of everything.’

  ‘Ye-e-e-s,’ Therese said slowly, ‘but it’s hardly a long-term arrangement, is it? Don’t you want to put a deposit down on a house?’

  ‘But, Mum, if I do that how will my wonderful prince come along and rescue me from my tall tower and take me back to his castle in the outer suburbs?’

  ‘Don’t be sarcastic, darling. Sarcasm is the poor cousin of wit.’

  ‘If sarcasm is the “poor cousin” then what does that make slapstick?’ Nolan asked.

  Therese ignored him. ‘And anyway,’ she forged on, ‘what’s so wrong with wanting a fairy-tale ending?’

  Poppy gulped her wine, then choked and coughed as Therese slapped her helpfully on the back.

  ‘The fact that I’m a feminist,’ Poppy said when she’d finished choking. ‘That’s why a fairy-tale ending is wrong.’

  Therese tipped her head to the side. ‘I don’t think I’m a feminist,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I mean, I’m all for women’s rights, but I don’t think I’d actually call myself a feminist per se.’

  ‘If you’re in favour of women’s rights then you’re a feminist,’ Poppy said firmly.

  ‘I’m a feminist,’ said Nolan from across the table.

  ‘Here, here,’ Poppy replied and they clinked their glasses together.

  ‘That’s how I got women to pay for dates back in my youth,’ he added happily.

  ‘Oh grow up,’ Poppy said. She dipped a finger in her water glass and flicked a droplet at her brother.

  ‘Who needs to grow up?’ Nolan retorted.

  ‘Nolan!’ Therese gasped. ‘We raised you to be a gentleman. I hope you never made Megan pay for any meals when you two were courting.’

  ‘Did she just say “courting”?’ Poppy asked as her dad interrupted, ‘Or at least go Dutch, Nolesy.’

  ‘She married me, didn’t she?’ Nolan said. ‘So I can’t have been that bad to date.’

  ‘Slip her a fifty next time you see her, darling,’ Therese said to Chris, ‘to make up for the dinners she paid for.’ She shifted her attention back to Poppy. ‘So is that why you’ve got this sudden fixation on not having children? Because you’re going th
rough a feminist stage?’

  Poppy grimaced and Chris reached across the table and placed one hand over Therese’s. ‘Ease up on her, love,’ he said quietly. Therese absent-mindedly patted his hand in return but continued on as though he hadn’t spoken.

  ‘You used to be so sweet with your dolls when you were little – pushing them around in their strollers, changing their nappies, putting them up on your shoulder to burp them. You were a natural-born mother.’

  ‘And Nolan used to love playing with his garbage truck, but he didn’t grow up to work for Cleanaway, did he? And I also used to pretend to be a vet and a doctor and Wonder Woman. But I didn’t become any of those things. I was just playing, Mum!’

  ‘What about Annalise?’ she asked. ‘Does she plan on getting married and settling down with a family?’

  ‘Nope.’

  ‘There!’ said Therese, rapping her knuckles on the table and making the glasses wobble.

  ‘There what?’ Poppy asked, exasperated.

  ‘There you go. That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? You were always so easily influenced, Poppy, always ready to follow. That’s what’s happened here. You have a new friend and she’s a new person for you to follow, and because she says she doesn’t want to settle down you don’t want to either. Where did Annalise grow up anyway, is she a Western Sydney girl like you?’

  Usually Poppy could handle her mum’s exhausting but ultimately well-meaning banter, but tonight she’d had enough. Yes, she might have been a bit of a ‘follower’ as a child – Karleen was bossy and so she’d fallen in line because there was only room for one boss in their friendship. But her mother didn’t seem to understand that she’d stopped being a follower long ago.

  ‘I don’t know, Mum, I’ve never asked her where she grew up. What does that have to do with anything anyway?’

  Nolan and even her father saw she was about to tip over the edge.

  ‘Mum,’ Nolan began.

  But Chris interrupted. ‘Therese, why don’t you keep Nolan company outside while he has a smoke?’