Manhattan Dreaming by Anita Heiss Read Free Book Online

do?’
    â€˜I just want to know if he’s got someone else, if there’s a woman there now. If he has, then that would make me let go, for good.’
    â€˜Come on, then,’ she said, grabbing her car keys.
    We cruised up to Bruce at 11 pm, both of us in our pjs giggling like schoolgirls, me carefully holding our cups of tea. I loved that Denise didn’t judge me and let me sort myself out my own way. We turned into Adam’s street and I crouched slightly. His car was in the drive. No other cars were around, and the lights were out. I told myself that he was alone and we drove home.

    One day Libby had a dental appointment late afternoon and was going straight home from the surgery without coming back to work. I was glad because it meant I could go and watch Adam train without having to worry about her seeing me. It was the one ‘step’ I hadn’t yet mastered in my heart-detox.
    I left work at 5 pm in the cold and wet. It was already dark – nightfall arrived quickly during winter in Canberra. Anyone in their right mind would have gone immediately from their office to their heated home for a hot shower and a seat in front of the fire, but the weather didn’t stop me. It was the first chance I’d had of seeing Adam in the flesh since we’d broken up. I turned into Hayden Drive, parked the car and braved the weather. I had my long black coat, and a blue hat and matching scarf wrapped halfway up around my face to hide as much of me as possible. I felt like a spy. As I held on tightly to my lollie pink umbrella I just hoped it didn’t blow inside out. I made my way to the entrance, where only a few fans were gathered to watch. I stood right back, shielding my face from the weather and recognition.
    I felt a hot rush the minute I saw Adam. His dark brown hair was thick and needed a cut. He wasn’t wearing a mouthguard and I could see his wide smile as he joked with the other players. I was frozen to the core by the time I left but cruised back down Barry Drive feeling warm in my heart for having seen him.

    â€˜Morning, how’s the mouth?’ I asked Libby as she came in carrying a portfolio of scanned pictures for me to go through.
    â€˜Mouth is fine, thanks. How’s your chest?’
    â€˜My what?’
    â€˜Your chest. Didn’t get a chest cold last night, standing in the rain at the stadium?’
    â€˜I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    â€˜Really?’ She walked over to the door and got my umbrella out of the brolly stand. ‘So there must be another woman who wears matching hats and scarves and carries a hot pink umbrella who would be mad enough to stand in the rain and watch meat-heads do footy training?’
    â€˜There must be,’ I said, embarrassed.
    â€˜Just because I went to the dentist didn’t mean I couldn’t go to my Spanish class. I had to park in Hayden Drive because I was running late, and I saw you walking to the stadium.’
    I felt like an idiot. And worse, I felt like Libby thought I was an idiot.
    â€˜This is going to stop, Lauren, today.’ Libby put the portfolio of pictures on my desk, grabbed a folder from her own desk and walked out.
    We both had meetings back to back for the rest of the day, and by the time I returned from the National Gallery of Australia she had gone home. I was relieved.

When I walked in the door at home Libby was sitting in the lounge room with Denise. Libby and I hadn’t spoken since our unpleasant exchange that morning, and to find her at home made me suspicious, and a little nervous.
    â€˜Oh, this is a surprise. Did we have plans for tonight? I was going to go to the gym, but pizza and a movie is a much better option if that’s what you had in mind.’ I hung my coat on the hallstand and walked through to the kitchen. Neither had said anything yet. I put the kettle on and went back into the lounge room.
    â€˜What’s wrong?’ I