business just for a few years, perhaps, and then think seriously about retirement. I’m nearly sixty-five, after all.”
“My little Jim, imagine.” She took in his worried expression then and her heart softened. It wasn’t Jim’s fault he’d married an old cow. “Darling, thank you for being so honest. And so straightforward. There’s no rush, is there? You’re not about to pack up before Christmas?”
“No, of course not. We’re thinking in the next six months. Perhaps putting the motel on the market in the new year.”
“So I’ve time to enjoy one last Christmas here?”
“Of course! We’ll cancel our holiday if you want. I’m sure Bett and Carrie would too. We could have one final family Christmas here together. Is that what you mean?”
“No!”
He looked shocked at her vehemence.
“No, darling, of course not. The peace and quiet I’ll have over Christmas will be exactly what I need to make up my mind about the next best step for me. An old folks’ home here in Clare, perhaps. Or perhaps I’ll toss a coin to decide whether I go and live with Carrie or Bett and their babies. What’s one more drooling face to wipe or nappy to change?”
“Lola!”
“I’m joking, darling.” She leaned across and patted his hand. “I’m so glad this is out in the open. And my lips are sealed for now, I promise,” she said, making a zipping motion. “I won’t even mention it to Geraldine. It’s our little secret.”
“Thanks, Mum.” At the door, he stopped and turned. “Can I ask you one more thing?”
“Of course you can.”
“What was that list for?”
“The list?”
“The one called ‘Lola’s Secret.’ Listing all your favorite things?”
She produced the best smile she could. “You’ve spoiled every-thing. I was going to give it to you as a hint for what I wanted for Christmas. I guess it’ll just be bath salts again now.”
He shook his head, smiling as he walked away.
Lola kept the smile on her face too, but only until he was out of sight. Then she stepped back and slammed the door as loudly as she could. She hoped Geraldine heard it.
Chapter Seven
Guest 1
I T WAS A WEEK NOW SINCE Neil had been outside his apartment. That wasn’t unusual. What was the point of going outside? What was the point of anything these days?
A knock at his bedroom door. “Neil?”
It was his housemate Rick. He ignored him.
“Neil, your mother’s on the phone again.”
He still didn’t answer.
A harder knock, more of a thump. “Neil! Jesus, mate. You can’t stay in there forever.”
He didn’t plan to stay there forever.
Another thump. “You’re not the first person in the world to lose your job or your girlfriend. Come on, mate. Pull yourself together. Your mother’s really worried.”
He didn’t reply. He knew that if he stayed quiet for long enough, he’d eventually be left alone, by Rick and by his mother. She’d been trying his mobile that morning as well. He’d let those calls go to voicemail. Maybe it was annoying, for his housemate, for his mother, for everyone who knew him. Well, too bad. They’d be rid of the annoyance of his presence soon enough.
He turned up the volume on his computer to drown out the sound of Rick talking deliberately loudly on the phone outside his door. “He’s in there, Mrs. Harris, but he won’t answer. I’m sorry.” Perhaps he’d send his mother an email, get her off his back that way, before she got it into her head to drive the three hours from Wilcannia to visit him. He could hear her voice in his head enough already. He didn’t need to see her. He already knew what she’d say. The same thing she’d said to him, over and again, the last time he’d made the mistake of answering when she rang. “It’s Christmas time, Neil. Please come home. A family should be together at Christmas.”
“Why?” he’d asked her. “What makes Christmas better than any other time?”
She hadn’t had an answer for that. He’d said good-bye
“My little Jim, imagine.” She took in his worried expression then and her heart softened. It wasn’t Jim’s fault he’d married an old cow. “Darling, thank you for being so honest. And so straightforward. There’s no rush, is there? You’re not about to pack up before Christmas?”
“No, of course not. We’re thinking in the next six months. Perhaps putting the motel on the market in the new year.”
“So I’ve time to enjoy one last Christmas here?”
“Of course! We’ll cancel our holiday if you want. I’m sure Bett and Carrie would too. We could have one final family Christmas here together. Is that what you mean?”
“No!”
He looked shocked at her vehemence.
“No, darling, of course not. The peace and quiet I’ll have over Christmas will be exactly what I need to make up my mind about the next best step for me. An old folks’ home here in Clare, perhaps. Or perhaps I’ll toss a coin to decide whether I go and live with Carrie or Bett and their babies. What’s one more drooling face to wipe or nappy to change?”
“Lola!”
“I’m joking, darling.” She leaned across and patted his hand. “I’m so glad this is out in the open. And my lips are sealed for now, I promise,” she said, making a zipping motion. “I won’t even mention it to Geraldine. It’s our little secret.”
“Thanks, Mum.” At the door, he stopped and turned. “Can I ask you one more thing?”
“Of course you can.”
“What was that list for?”
“The list?”
“The one called ‘Lola’s Secret.’ Listing all your favorite things?”
She produced the best smile she could. “You’ve spoiled every-thing. I was going to give it to you as a hint for what I wanted for Christmas. I guess it’ll just be bath salts again now.”
He shook his head, smiling as he walked away.
Lola kept the smile on her face too, but only until he was out of sight. Then she stepped back and slammed the door as loudly as she could. She hoped Geraldine heard it.
Chapter Seven
Guest 1
I T WAS A WEEK NOW SINCE Neil had been outside his apartment. That wasn’t unusual. What was the point of going outside? What was the point of anything these days?
A knock at his bedroom door. “Neil?”
It was his housemate Rick. He ignored him.
“Neil, your mother’s on the phone again.”
He still didn’t answer.
A harder knock, more of a thump. “Neil! Jesus, mate. You can’t stay in there forever.”
He didn’t plan to stay there forever.
Another thump. “You’re not the first person in the world to lose your job or your girlfriend. Come on, mate. Pull yourself together. Your mother’s really worried.”
He didn’t reply. He knew that if he stayed quiet for long enough, he’d eventually be left alone, by Rick and by his mother. She’d been trying his mobile that morning as well. He’d let those calls go to voicemail. Maybe it was annoying, for his housemate, for his mother, for everyone who knew him. Well, too bad. They’d be rid of the annoyance of his presence soon enough.
He turned up the volume on his computer to drown out the sound of Rick talking deliberately loudly on the phone outside his door. “He’s in there, Mrs. Harris, but he won’t answer. I’m sorry.” Perhaps he’d send his mother an email, get her off his back that way, before she got it into her head to drive the three hours from Wilcannia to visit him. He could hear her voice in his head enough already. He didn’t need to see her. He already knew what she’d say. The same thing she’d said to him, over and again, the last time he’d made the mistake of answering when she rang. “It’s Christmas time, Neil. Please come home. A family should be together at Christmas.”
“Why?” he’d asked her. “What makes Christmas better than any other time?”
She hadn’t had an answer for that. He’d said good-bye
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