Off Limits

‘I’ll go and check on her,’ I say, as though it’s a servi

ce I can offer when in fact I am serving only myself.

‘Is your speech ready, darling?’ Mother calls to me as I leave.

I wince. Shit. Why didn’t I remember I’d have to do a speech?

I cut through the crowd until my eyes land on Grandma. Her wiry figure is perfectly framed by a jet-black dress and a bolero that has a fine silver thread to it. She’s wearing dark silk flowers at the collar and she manages to look rather funereal.

I laugh as I approach. ‘Hey!’

‘Oh, thank fuck. Someone I actually like.’

Several people hear her curse and move away disapprovingly. I grin, kissing her papery cheek.

‘Tell me about it... I think this is an even duller crowd than usual.’ I tap the bar, my eyes catching the bartender’s. ‘Champagne.’

He pours a glass of Bollinger and hands it to me. Grandma signals for a top-up and I wonder, with a disguised smile, how many glasses she’s already knocked back. She can hold her liquor like a sailor, and age isn’t slowing that down.

‘Where’s my koala?’

‘Your...huh?’

‘You went to Australia, didn’t you?’ she asks impatiently.

‘Oh. Yeah, right. Guess what? Turns out you do have to go bush to see one.’

‘And let me guess? You were working too hard for that?’

‘Mmm...’

It wasn’t all work. My body flushes with remembered pleasure. Jack’s touch was worth travelling to the other side of the world for.

‘I did see dolphins from Jack’s balcony, though. They were amazing. A whole pod of them, just gliding and...frolicking.’

‘They were on the balcony?’

‘No, Grandma, they were in the harbour.’ I laugh.

‘Obviously, dear.’ She takes another sip of champagne. ‘Remember your grandfather’s birthday?’

I nod. ‘I was thinking of it when I came in.’

‘He was so happy that night. To be surrounded by his loved ones.’ She sighs, her eyes a little watery as she looks around the room. ‘The mayor’s here.’

I follow her gaze. ‘Yes. Dad and he have been doing some work together, I think.’

Grandma’s brows lift skyward, as if imbuing even that with a response of disapproval. I sip my champagne.

‘You had a good time, then?’

‘Yeah. Australia’s beautiful. I like Sydney.’

‘So why did you come back?’

I laugh. ‘You’re turning into a one-track record.’

‘Darling, life’s too short for pleasantries, and I love you too much to lie.’