Upside Down Inside Out

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Authors: Monica McInerney
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think so. In any case, this is a work trip. It’s not the right time for something like this.’
    ‘What would be the right time? And how much time have any of us got, to do what we want to do, what we need to do? What we should do?’
    She was talking about her cancer, he knew that. He was quiet.
    ‘That’s why I’ve decided to go and see Lewis again myself. In a few months. Even sooner, if I can.’
    ‘You’re going to go to Australia?’
    She nodded. ‘We need to see each other. The phone calls and letters aren’t enough for us now. I’ve always wanted to see Australia, so I’m going to go to him.’ She paused. ‘What’s happened has surprised us both, Lewis and me. It wasn’t what he expected to happen, let alone what I expected. Not so many years later. It’s funny, looks fade, you age in many ways, but I’ve discovered a sense of humour never changes.’ She gave a sudden, beautiful smile. ‘I’d forgotten the way Lewis could make me laugh.’
    ‘He used to make you laugh? I don’t think you ever mentioned that before.’
    There was another long pause. ‘I’d forgotten it, I think.’
    Joseph knew his father was an artist. He’d obviously inherited his design ability from him. Joseph knew he took after his father in appearance too. The height, the dark hair. But he hadn’t known his father had a sense of humour.
    He picked up the photo from the table again. Lewis must be in his mid-sixties at least, he realised.
    Kate was watching him very closely. ‘Can you extend your holiday? Take more time off work if you have to?’
    He shook his head. ‘There’s too much on.’
    ‘But this is your first holiday in years. You haven’t been away since you and Tessa broke up, have you? Taken any time off work since then?’ He didn’t answer. ‘I’m so proud of you, Joseph, you know that. Of all your success, all you’ve done. But you seem so serious these days. Preoccupied. Working all the time. I’m worried about you.’ ‘You’ve much better things to be worried about than me.’ ‘Perhaps I have. But you’ll always be my favourite subject.’ Kate’s voice was soft. ‘Do you want to go and see Lewis?’ He felt the fight in him start to dissolve. ‘I don’t know.’ ‘You wouldn’t even have to ring him beforehand, he said. He works from home, he’s there most of the time. You could just go there when it suited you. Stay as long or as short a time as you like.’ He turned the photo over. There was an address written on the back: ‘Lewis Wheeler, Spring Farm Road, Sevenhill, Clare Valley, South Australia.’ Another moment passed. She tried again. ‘South Australia isn’t that far from Sydney, is it?’ ‘I don’t know. It’s a very big country.’ ‘But they have planes, don’t they? Trains? Cars?’ ‘I’ve only got ten days off after the conference.’ ‘It would only take one day to meet him. An hour, even.’
    He smiled, despite himself. ‘You’ve an answer for everything, haven’t you?’
    ‘I had to have, bringing you up. Always so curious, about things, about people. “How do I do this?” “What makes this happen?” “How does this work?”’
    The tension between them eased a little.
    ‘I know I can’t make you go there, Joseph, but I really do think it’s important. Not just for you. For me. And for Lewis.’
    ‘I’ll think about it. I can’t say more than that yet.’
    She gave her sad smile again. ‘Then that will do for now.’

Chapter seven
    Eva RAN through Heathrow airport, cursing the weather for delaying her flight from Dublin, cursing the distance between the terminals. She wasn’t just late for her flight, she was very late. ‘Sorry,’ she called over her shoulder as she narrowly missed running into a young couple. In her mind’s eye she was competing for Ireland in the Olympics. She pictured the crowds lining her route, cheering her on. She could almost hear their shouts: Hurry, Eva, hurry, you can make it. She finally saw the sign

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