‘Happy birthday to you,’ sang Beth and Jenna, as they walked into the office holding a box containing six iced cupcakes. Sophie laughed at their off tune harmonies. Beth handed her a card in a blue envelope. ‘Everyone signed it,’ she said.
Sophie opened the card, which had a bemused-looking cat in a party hat on the front, and read the messages inside. She pinned it on the noticeboard behind her desk.
‘Gluten-free carrot cake make with honey,’ said Jenna, pointing at the cupcakes. ‘Beth said they had to be healthy.’
‘Did you make these?’ asked Sophie.
Jenna pushed her red glasses up her nose. ‘Yes. My sister’s got celiac disease.’
Sophie bit into a cupcake. ‘Oh my God,’ she said. The tartness of lemon icing and the sweetness of honey collided on her tongue. ‘So, so good.’
‘Happy birthday,’ called George, and waved as he walked past the door. Sophie waved back.
Beth and Jenna took a cupcake each. ‘Thank you, ladies,’ she said, ‘I feel very special.’
Sophie’s mobile phone beeped with a message.
Have a wonderful birthday. Wish I was there. x
Sophie hadn’t heard from James since the day she had arrived home from Melbourne two months ago. She had thought he’d forgotten about her. She didn’t know how he knew it was her birthday. She typed her response, her thumbs gliding over the small keyboard on her Blackberry.
Thanks. I wish you were here.
She pushed send and then stared at the message she had just sent. Why had she written that she wished he were here? Never mind, she couldn’t do anything about it now.
‘Is there a birthday girl in here?’ a familiar voice called. Sophie looked up to see Pip standing in the doorway, a leather overnight bag slung over her shoulder.
‘No way,’ said Sophie. She rushed to her friend to give her a hug. ‘I didn’t know you were coming. You didn’t say.’
‘I arranged it all with Michael in secret. We wanted to surprise you.’ Pip dropped her bag on the floor. ‘Happy birthday, gorgeous.’
‘Thanks for the wonderful surprise. How long are you here for?’
‘I fly back Monday morning, so I’m all yours for the weekend.’
‘Fantastic,’ said Sophie. ‘Pip, this is Jenna Coppins and Beth Turner and those on my desk are cupcakes. Have one.’
Pip kissed both women on the cheek and picked up a cupcake. ‘Looks like I got here at exactly the right time.’
Beth smiled at Sophie. ‘Go on,’ said Beth. ‘Take the afternoon off. I’ve got it covered.’
Sophie only hesitated for a minute. She logged off the computer and picked up her handbag. ‘Call me on the mobile if you need me, girls. Have a great weekend.’
‘Bye,’ called Pip, as she followed Sophie out the door.
The ferry trip from Circular Quay to Milsons Point took ten minutes. Sophie and Pip sat on a wooden bench outside in the sun and watched the side of the ferry slice through the water, creating swirls of white foam. The ferry was almost empty. In a week or two it would be packed full of tourists and holidaying locals taking a break over summer.
‘You look great,’ said Pip, squeezing Sophie’s hand.
Sophie frowned. ‘Do you think? I grew out of my comp jeans a couple of weeks ago and now these size tens are feeling tight. I hope I don’t keep getting fatter and fatter.’
‘It’s not like you’re pigging out on pies and chocolate every day. You’ll be fine.’
‘My food’s okay but I’m not doing nearly as much exercise as before. Swimming three mornings a week and yoga on Monday nights. It’s not enough.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ said Pip. ‘To be honest, you looked too skinny and fragile at your comp weight. You look more beautiful now than you did then.’
‘You’re just saying that because it’s my birthday.’ Sophie grinned.
‘I mean it, Soph. You’re gorgeous.’
They walked up the hill to Sophie and Michael’s house, grateful for the shade of the trees overhanging the footpath. Sophie showed Pip to the spare room at the end of the hallway. Michael had put fresh sheets on the bed and a folded towel on top of the bedspread.
Pip pulled a large parcel from her bag. The present was wrapped in orange paper with silver stars. ‘Open it,’ she said.
Sophie found a purple yoga mat inside the parcel.
‘I shouldn’t have folded it,’ said Pip, ‘but it was the only way to get it in my bag.’
‘I love it,’ said Sophie. She pressed the soft fabric to her cheek.
‘Drape it over a chair — the creases will fall out in no time.’ Pip handed her a square case. ‘And this goes with it. It’s a DVD full of yoga classes.’
‘How did you know?’ asked Sophie.
‘Michael told me.’
‘Thank you for coming down and thank you for the presents. Now, we should go get a drink.’
Sophie and Pip walked a block and a half to a small Italian café. They sat outside underneath the awning and watched people walking up and down the street. A woman tied her small dog to a parking meter and sat down at a table nearby. Her hair was almost pure white and braided into a long plait that followed the line of her backbone. Black Gucci sunglasses sat on top of her head.
‘How did you do it?’ asked Sophie. She sipped on a tall glass of vodka, lime and soda. ‘How did you avoid regaining all the weight you lost when you competed?’
‘I didn’t,’ said Pip. ‘All the weight came back as well as some extra. Anyone who tells you you can maintain twelve percent body fat is either lying or delusional.’
‘How did you deal with it?’
‘You mean aside from the drinking?’ Pip laughed. ‘I woke up one morning with a shocking hangover and realised I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing. I had all sorts of problems — no period, constipation, always cold, no sex drive, muscle pain, no energy — and I was always, always ravenously hungry. I had to eat or I would have gone mad. Once I got back to what was a normal weight for me, all that shit went away. I’d rather be healthy and happy than skinny.’
‘Did you feel a bit… I don’t know… like you didn’t fit in anymore?’
‘I’ve never been one of the fitness crowd. They’re all too intense for me. I see them at the gym in their Lorna Jane sports bras and fake breasts looking down their noses at me wearing my dad’s t-shirt and runners full of holes. I don’t care. Life’s too short to get hung up on all that shit.’
Sophie heard the old lady with the braided hair order apple pie and ice cream. The waiter paused at their table.
‘Can I get you ladies another drink?’ he asked.
‘No, thank you,’ said Sophie. ‘We’re fine for now.’
‘Work, Nathan, the dogs, training, mum and dad — they all keep me busy,’ said Pip, after the waiter had gone. ‘I just get on with it.’
Sophie heard her phone vibrate in her bag. ‘Sorry, hon. Might be work.’
The name James Parkin flashed up on her screen.
‘Mr Parkin, as I live and breathe,’ said Sophie.
‘What are you doing,’ said James, ‘in the middle of an Australian summer?’
‘Pip and I are sitting in the sun drinking vodka, lime and soda.’
‘Told you I wished I was there.’
Sophie laughed.
‘I love the sound of your laugh.’ said James. ‘It’s good to hear your voice.’
‘It’s good to talk to you too.’ Sophie grimaced. She wished she could think of something more interesting to say.
‘I won’t keep you from your drink,’ he said. ‘I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday… again.’
‘Thanks, James.’
‘Bye, my darling,’ he said and hung up.
Pip raised an eyebrow at Sophie. Sophie drank the last of her vodka, the straw making a sucking noise on the ice. ‘Would you like another?’ she asked, nodding her head toward Pip’s almost empty glass.
‘Not so fast, young lady,’ said Pip. ‘James?’
Sophie giggled, then tried to look serious but couldn’t stop smiling.
‘Look at you,’ said Pip. ‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you look… I don’t know… happy. Come on, spill.’
‘It’s nothing,’ said Sophie. ‘He was the production manager in Melbourne. He’s nice. I’m married. The end.’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Pip. ‘Are you having an affair?’
‘Yes, Pip. He’s in Texas and I’m in Sydney and we meet in Hawaii every second Tuesday for an afternoon shag.’
The waiter passing their table appeared to have overheard Sophie’s last couple of words because he stopped and grinned at her. She smiled back and held up her empty glass.
Pip leaned across the table and grabbed Sophie’s hands. ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if you did?’
‘My husband might not think so.’
‘Don’t tell him,’ said Pip. ‘Seriously though, what’s this James like?’
‘I told you, he’s nice. But nothing’s going on I promise.’
‘What does he look like?’
Sophie laughed. ‘Enough already. Can we talk about something else?’
‘If you insist,’ said Pip.
The waiter delivered two fresh drinks to the table and collected the empty glasses. He seemed unable to take his eyes of Sophie.
‘You must be doing something right,’ said Pip. ‘That waiter looked like he wanted to eat you.’
‘Oh, Pip,’ said Sophie, ‘you make me laugh. You’re exactly what I needed.’ She raised her glass. ‘Here’s to us.’
‘To us.’
The long wooden table was lit with tall cathedral candles in glass vases. Fairy lights were draped across the window frames. The room smelled of lemongrass and ginger. Sophie and Pip were engrossed in the menu when Michael walked in.
‘Good evening, ladies,’ he said. ‘You both look gorgeous.’ He kissed Pip on the cheek and sat down next to Sophie. When he kissed his wife on the lips, he tasted of coffee and cigarettes.
‘I hear you’re responsible for keeping Pip’s visit from me,’ said Sophie.
Michael winked at Pip. ‘It was our little secret,’ he said. He looked around for the waitress and signalled her over.
‘Can I get a schooner of beer and two red wines, please?’ He draped his arm over the back of his wife’s chair and leaned back. With his free hand, he pulled a small gift bag from his pocket. ‘For you,’ he said. ‘Happy birthday.’
Inside the bag, inside the tissue paper, Sophie discovered a slim silver bracelet. He took the gift from her and slipped it over her hand.
‘Thank you,’ said Sophie. ‘It’s lovely.’
Later, after the trio had eaten their fill of tasty Thai cuisine, Sophie and Pip sat together on the bed in the guest room. They wore their pyjamas, their faces shining after being scrubbed free of makeup.
‘Michael’s such a sweetie,’ said Pip. ‘You’re lucky to have him.’
Sophie nodded. The version of Michael in the restaurant was indeed sweet, but he wasn’t the man she lived with every day. Michael’s ability to turn on the charm in public was the main reason she kept her unhappiness to herself. Everyone who knew him would never believe he could be difficult, that he never touched her, that he was so easily upset. It occurred to her that if he could be pleasant with everyone else, then she must be the problem. She knew she possessed many faults and flaws. After all these years, she shouldn’t be surprised if his patience had run out.
‘It was a lovely evening,’ said Sophie. She touched the silver bracelet on her wrist. ‘It’s been a great day. The best birthday ever.’
‘I’m glad,’ said Pip. ‘You deserve it.’
‘Do you have everything you need?’
‘I think so.’ Pip pulled back the covers and slid into the bed. ‘Soph, you’re doing great. You’re only a couple months out from comp and you’re eating healthy and doing exercise you enjoy. You haven’t binged in all that time. That’s a huge accomplishment. You’ve got this. You should be proud.’
‘Really?’ said Sophie. ‘Then why have I been feeling so out of sorts?’
‘Maybe it’s your hormones, have you thought of that?’
‘Perhaps you’re right.’ Sophie leaned down to kiss her friend on the forehead. ‘Goodnight, hon, I love you.’
‘Goodnight,’ said Pip. ‘I love you too.’