Read Online Pool by Justin D'Ath - Free Book Online Page B

surged forward for a better view.
    When a straw-coloured labrador trotted up behind the young woman (who, unlike most of the others at the pool that hot Saturday afternoon, was fully dressed) and nuzzled her leg, she absently patted its head. She seemed dazed. Her face, mostly obscured by her pink floppy hat, was turned not towards the commotion in front of her, but to a point near the wheelchair ramp at the end of the pool. After perhaps a minute, she gripped the dog by the collar and spoke softly to it. Then, together, Audrey and Campbell turned away from the pool and walked slowly up the slope into the shade of the big peppercorn tree by the fence.

19
    When he rang Audrey that night, it was Bernadette who picked up the phone. Wolfgang mistook her for her daughter – their voices were similar.
    ‘Hi, Audrey.’
    ‘This is her mother. Is that Wolfgang?’
    Blood rushed to his face. ‘Yeth, Mrs Babacan. I’m thorry, I thought you were Audrey.’
    She laughed. ‘I’ll take that as a compliment. She isn’t home at the moment, I’m afraid.’
    ‘Um, could I have her mobile number, pleathe.’
    ‘I can give it to you,’ Bernadette said, ‘but it won’t be much help. She never takes her phone with her.’
    He wondered where she was but thought he probably shouldn’t ask. ‘Could you tell her I called, Mrs Babacan?’
    ‘I certainly will.’ There was a brief pause. ‘Wolfgang, I’m glad you phoned. Are you free next Saturday night?’
    ‘Um ...’ he said.
    ‘It’s Audrey’s birthday. We’re having a surprise party for her and we hoped you could come.’
    Wolfgang chewed his lower lip. His week as Audrey’s paid friend ended in two days time. Saturday wasn’t part of the deal. ‘I’m not sure, Mrs Babacan. I might be going to Melbourne next weekend.’
    ‘That’s a shame,’ Bernadette said. There was another pause. ‘Would you mind hanging on for a minute, Wolfgang?’
    He heard the phone being put down, followed by a muffled conversation in the background.
    ‘Hullo, young Herriot!’ Keith boomed in his ear. (Herriot? Wolfgang wondered.) ‘When exactly are you going to Melbourne, hmmm?’
    Put on the spot, Wolfgang improvised. ‘Um ... Thaturday morning.’
    ‘Leaving on Saturday morning,’ Keith muttered softly, apparently talking to himself. ‘I think we can work around that. What are you doing Friday night?’ he asked, his voice back to full strength.
    ‘I ... um ...’ Wolfgang’s brain seemed frozen. ‘I gueth I don’t have any planth.’
    ‘Rotary hoe!’ Keith said heartily. ‘We’ll move the party to Friday.’
    ‘But ... ithn’t her birthday on Thaturday?’
    ‘What would be the point in throwing a surprise party for Audrey if her boyfriend wasn’t there?’
    ‘I’m not actually her boyfriend.’
    ‘I know that.’ Keith lowered his voice again. ‘Just between you and me and the gatepost, son, you’re doing a great job.’
    Wolfgang twisted the phone cord around his thumb. ‘Mr Babacan, Keith, I’ve been thinking about what you’ve asked me to do, and I don’t think it’s exactly fair.’
    ‘Fair? We agreed on four hundred dollars. But if you want –’
    ‘It isn’t fair on Audrey,’ Wolfgang interrupted.
    ‘Tell me,’ her father said. ‘Be honest with me, son. Do you like her?’
    ‘Y-yeth, of course I like –’
    ‘And do you like money?’
    ‘It isn’t about the money, Mr Babacan.’
    ‘Let me put this another way,’ Keith said. ‘Is an extra four hundred and fifty dollars a week over the summer going to be helpful to you when you go back to university?’
    Wolfgang heard but barely registered the additional fifty dollars. What stuck in his mind was university. He could tell the truth – that he still went to school – that he was sixteen! – and then even Keith would see the absurdity of Wolfgang being his daughter’s friend, much less her boyfriend.
    ‘Yes or no?’ Keith prompted him.
    ‘Well ... yes.’
    ‘Okay. It’s a done