Read Online The Near Miss by Fran Cusworth - Free Book Online Page A

suburbs away if it came, the ugly damn thing was so loud. Did it have any safety features, or were there no such things for motorbikes? The velvet box in his pocket had been rubbed and rolled, over and over, until the nap, once comforting and thrilling, had become a sensation linked with sickening dread, and its touch only heightened the toxicity of his panic. He hated this place now, these people who had witnessed his humiliation, this dusty verandah with its pile of uncared-for bikes leaning against the weatherboard, a child seat on the back of one. The orange foot of the seat had dropped off onto the ground, a while ago judging by the cobwebs nested within. He checked his watch, again, and peered into the darkness, again. The biker’s friend appeared beside him, shaking her head.
    â€˜She wants to call the police.’ Melody gestured her head in at the front door.
    â€˜Well of course she should!’ Eddy strode back towards the door, his rage at Romy only too keen to be expelled upon a less-deserving subject. ‘And why not? Does that man have something to hide? Oh, God. Oh please God, don’t let him crash.’
    â€˜Van’s a good rider.’ Melody’s voice was calm.
    â€˜He looks like a bit of risky business to me!’ Eddy blustered. ‘With that . . . earring.’ He sounded stiff and old-mannish to himself, and he braced for a smirk from this woman, some mockery. But there was none.
    â€˜You’re right.’ Melody picked a twig and snapped it carefully in half. ‘Van is a risk-taker. He rides a motorbike. He lives a bit more . . . well . . . But he’s never crashed that bike that I know of. She’ll be safe.’
    Eddy wished she’d go inside and leave him alone. He burned with indignant shame, to be left with these people, to have his doubts about Romy peeled open so he was exposed, just the rotten core of his needy, suspicious love on show.
    He sat outside alone, for how long, he did not know. He checked the ABC news on his phone for Melbourne road accidents. He could hear the others talking inside. The children were toasting marshmallows. The night that had been about to end had somehow found a second wind on the back of his misery. Melody popped her head out again. ‘Of course it’s not impossible they could have had an accident,’ she speculated. ‘Maybe we should call the police.’
    â€˜They haven’t,’ he blurted, leaning on the letterbox pillar and biting his tongue. Unknown to the others, he had called Romy’s mobile. The dial tone had been interrupted by laughter at the other end; Romy’s giggles, and a male murmur, before the unmistakable sound of someone fumbling to press the hang-up button. Eddy had held the disconnected line to his ear for a full minute. That had been not been the sound of a woman held hostage, or injured on the side of the road. And yet, strangely, it was a sound that made his heart dive into freefall.
    What had Romy said recently? This year will be my year of trying new things.
    â€˜Oh! You got onto her, then?’
    â€˜No.’ He put the phone back into his pocket. ‘Well, I called her but there was no answer. But I just know . . . that she’s alright.’ His gloom must be revealing it all. Such a despondent tone. ‘I know she’s not dead.’
    â€˜I guess you know these things. When you’re close. As a couple. In a relationship.’
    â€˜We’re very close.’
    â€˜You can see that.’
    â€˜We’re practically engaged.’
    â€˜Oh, that’s great!’
    He took out the ring box and opened it. ‘Argyle diamond.’
    â€˜Oh!’ Melody took a step back and fanned herself. ‘ Shit . Was that . . .’ She gestured, dismayed, out at the night and back at Eddy. ‘Were you going to . . . tonight . . .?’
    â€˜I still am. I hope.’
    â€˜Absolutely! Absolutely! You know I think we should call the