The Things That Matter Most by Gabbie Stroud

Author:Gabbie Stroud
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2023-06-05T00:00:00+00:00

SALLY-ANN

SALLY-ANN DID HER BEST TO RELAX AS SIMON TOUCHED HER AND KISSED her. It was the school holidays. Wednesday morning, she realised. She still had an entire week and a half before Term Two started. That felt good, the idea of that. Of course, Simon felt good too, but Sally-Ann had things pressing at the edges of her pleasure. There was lots of admin to get done before school went back. It was registration this term. And Janet’s article would be published soon. Rory would be coming in to talk to the kids—she should probably add that to the school calendar. Rupert’s naughty triumphant smile flashed in her mind and Sally-Ann opened her eyes, saw Simon’s face over hers. She smiled at him, shifted her hips, tried, tried, tried to be present. She closed her eyes and felt Simon’s mouth moving over her lips. And then, unbidden she saw Lionel Merrick and that terrible cold sore. She still hadn’t flagged any of it with Derek, hadn’t dared try since the man seemed so stressed and snarky. It was like Derek was the new Bev.

Sally-Ann pushed the images aside, felt shame and horror at her own imaginings. Stupid girl, she told herself. Your husband is trying to make a baby with you. Sally-Ann opened her eyes, focused on Simon—this man who loved her so tenderly. He was moving inside her—steady and smooth and familiar. He smiled at her, but Sally-Ann turned her head, closed her eyes again. The tears had started, seeping out from under her lids and slipping down her temples. Did she really want a baby or a reason to leave teaching?

Later, after Simon had left for work, Tyson came round. It was his first visit to The Old Shed.

‘Ooh la la—Mrs Doctor Lin,’ Tyson said, walking around the massive living area and sidling up beside the artworks. ‘Holy fuck, is this a Ben Quilty?’

‘Yes,’ Sally-Ann said. ‘Simon’s beginning a collection. He loves his art.’

‘Nice,’ Tyson said.

‘I’m glad we could meet.’ Sally-Ann made their coffee. ‘We should be able to update those policies for registration pretty quickly. It’s faster when you work together.’

‘I can’t believe how much space you have here!’ Tyson was still prowling. He took his coffee and sipped. ‘Oh my God, lady, that machine is very good.’

‘I know, right?’ Sally-Ann drank her own coffee and watched as Tyson admired a sculpture Simon had positioned near the fireplace.

‘This is beautiful,’ Tyson said. ‘But I think it needs more space. Have you tried it over there? The windows behind it will do something special.’ He pointed to a corner and then stepped into the space, showing her precisely where the sculpture could stand.

He seems happier, she thought. Lighter. He was smiling out into the garden and Sally-Ann wondered if it was holiday happiness or, perhaps, something else.

‘I thought you were going back to Sydney for the holidays,’ she said.

Tyson twirled—actually twirled—and grinned at her. ‘Yes, I thought that as well,’ he said. ‘But then—’ He stopped.

‘But then?’ Sally-Ann pressed.

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