MAKING A DECISION
My apologies for not posting this sooner, I've had a few other projects in the works!
In the previous part both Johanna and Maxine have connected with other women but Johanna has doubts about her ex girlfriend, Shona, and Maxine is considering a future with Linda despite her upcoming date with Johanna. As the weekend approaches however the fates spin their web and both women will find themselves enmeshed in it.
Author's note. A car boot is the same as a trunk in America, a trailer is a cart that is towed behind a car, Victoria Bitter is a brand of beer, commonly shortened to VB and alkie is the shortened version of alcoholic.
For years, Johanna had longed for a permanent relationship and to that end she'd been involved with a few women who apparently wanted the same thing. Unfortunately though, actions speak louder than words and she was frequently disappointed. The closest she'd come was Shona, who spent three or four days a week at her place but even though she'd dropped hints that she wanted to settle down it never happened. She'd always said that her place in Launching Place was too good to give up. Shona lived on a hundred fifty-hectare property with several others, it'd been set up by a wealthy couple when the Flower Power movement was coming to its inevitable end.
David and Jenny Gladsen seemed nice enough on the outside but the deal they had set up for the 'owners' of the various housing units was straight out of the trickle down economics bible. A select few investors owned the units but they didn't live in them. Instead they leased them to other people with the promise that if they lived in the huts for five years, they'd get a five percent discount on the final purchase price.
It sounded good in theory until one factored in the annual property valuation when the houses were valued up but your five percent discount was based on the original price in the contract. If you hung on for five years then your five percent discount decreased to less than one percent and Gladsens and their partners would rake in more profit.
Shona however was blind to the scam and in hindsight Johanna put that down to her alcohol addiction because she'd seen it for what it was, a way of fleecing lower income people out of their hard earned cash. Thus, when Shona tried to get her to move in and take part in the scheme she'd resisted quite firmly and then pushed back, suggesting that she move into her place instead, which led in time to a breakdown in their relationship.
In the aftermath she could see that she'd been trying to rescue Shona from a difficult situation. She couldn't vacate the house without repaying a portion of the rent she'd already paid. Shona was still there but last night she'd admitted over the phone that she needed to get out of the situation. A quick call to Melanie was encouraging because she'd already dealt with the Gladsens.
"They can't impose a penalty on her for vacating providing she gives them a months notice, it's a bluff and we've had three clients over the last eighteen months who've sought legal advice."
"How are they still allowed to operate?"
"It's a fine balance between strategic appeals and payouts but my source with the tax department tells me that their days are numbered, which is code for they're going to be audited and no appeals are going to put off the inevitable but put her in touch with me if she needs help. As I just said it's a bluff, if she gives them notice and just leaves the place in good condition there's fuck all they can do, but get her to take pictures before she leaves just in case."
That phone call was last night after Shona had left but tonight when she'd put it to her Shona was a little dubious.
"Sure, I could leave but my only option would be my sister's joint or here."
"Here? Why my place?"
"Isn't it time I made a commitment?"
Johanna frowned as she replayed the rest of the conversation. She knew about Shona's sister, Julie, the older sister had learned plenty from their mother's alcohol and drug addiction, a lifestyle that took her life. Julie became the good girl, primarily because she was also the surrogate mother for her younger sister and mother. Shona had introduced them and Julie could be quite composed and not a fan of small talk. Nevertheless, she was stable, as opposed to her younger, wilder sister who drank too much and wasn't above snorting drugs. Should she give way and let her move in? Had she really changed or was this just part of her survival strategy?
Johanna blinked and shifted in her seat as Shona came back from the toilet. Shona had just laid her cards on the table. She wanted to move in, but she had conditions. Johanna had to commit herself fully and that meant getting rid of Maxine as a friend, but not totally, she could be friends but Shona wanted to vet her first.
"So," Shona sat down opposite her, "have you decided yet?"
"I'm confused," she frowned, "you want me to get rid of Maxine but I can still be friends? How does that even work?"
"You can be friends but I need to get to know her first."
"That sounds as if you're trying to take over."
"I'm just making sure that this is what you really want, you have to understand that."
Johanna let her breath out slowly as she processed this.
"You've been back less than a week and you're already up to your old tricks. I've got other friends, do you want to check them out first as well?"
"You have to see this from my perspective, I'm the orphan here. I just need to feel secure. You must understand that."
"I do understand but you've been gone for so long, I've moved on and so have you but it's been three days. Why can't you stay where you are or move into another place and we see each other a couple of times a week?"
"So you can see other women behind my back?" Shona's eyes narrowed, "I'm the one putting out here."
"No, I'm the one putting out. This is my place, I want to have my own space and I need it right now. I've had to rebuild my life after you and now you're back and trying to make the rules up as you go along. This isn't the way it works, I get to keep Maxine as a friend and I get to keep my other friends too and if you can accept that then there's a place for you but if you can't then I don't know what else to do."
Shona stared at her and then threw her hands in the air.
"I get it, you need to think things through but I have to go to work," she rose.
Johanna didn't reply as Shona headed to the door but as she reached it she turned to face her.
"I know it's a big decision but think about it," she stepped forward and kissed her.
Johanna frowned as Shona left and not for the first time she found herself wondering why she'd let this happen again. Was it her need to feel needed? An urge to connect with someone, anyone? Or was she just flogging a dead horse? She returned to the couch and collapsed into it and stared at the sofa chair she'd occupied a few minutes ago and replayed the conversation.
Phone someone,
she ran a hand through her hair.
"Fuck it," she picked up the phone.
A few moments later Penny answered the phone and Johanna swallowed.
"Is um, is Robyn there?"
"She's doing some deliveries, do you want me to take a message?"
"Maybe," she swallowed.
"Are you all right?" Penny asked her.
"No," she sighed, "I'm caught between a rock and a hard place."
"Go on," she replied.
***
Maxine studied her reflection in the rear view mirror as she sat outside Linda's house, she'd just touched up her makeup, she looked good on the outside but inside she was a bundle of nerves. She hadn't meant to come here after work. The arrangement had been for Thursday but the urge had come upon her on the way home from work tonight and so she'd driven past the turn off to her road and kept going all the way to Linda's house. She had no idea what she was doing, only that she had an itch she couldn't scratch. Wednesday was the first time she'd felt somewhat normal, yesterday she had felt as if she was in a dream world.
Everything had felt a little out of sync as if she was standing outside her body watching herself and only vaguely aware of her surroundings. When her colleagues first noticed it on Monday morning she said she'd had a rough weekend. Only Cheryl had deduced the truth.
"You're in love," she'd teased her in the canteen.
"Maybe," she bit her lip.
"Ooh, so what's his name?"
She had used the excuse that it was early days but she'd reveal it all later, and fortunately Cheryl had been her backup, taking some work off her hands. Last night however she'd finally called Linda and asked if they could meet up sometime this week and Thursday was agreed upon.
"I don't have a meeting that night," Linda explained.
Maxine's eyes shifted as the front door opened to reveal Linda. The older woman had obviously just come back from work judging by her pale pink blouse and light brown trousers. Their eyes met and she opened the car door and grabbed her handbag. She felt a twinge of anxiety because she hadn't even called her first, the decision to drop in after work was totally spontaneous.
Seize the moment.
She gave herself the once over as she locked the door. The black midi skirt matched the jacket and contrasted with the white blouse. She flicked at her hair and walked to the front door. Linda had an odd look in her eyes as if she was considering something.
"Hiya," she greeted.
"Hello," Linda smiled tightly, "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow."
"I know, I'm sorry. I just wanted to have this talk sooner, but if it's a bad time?"
"It might be," she replied, "I've um, got a friend here."
"Oh, well... I can come back tomorrow if you want."
"I might not be around tomorrow," she glanced over her shoulder, "excuse me," she took a step back and held up her palm to someone inside to signal five minutes.
"In the car," she stepped out but left the door open, "sorry about all this, something just happened."
"What just happened?" Maxine glanced at her.
Linda didn't reply until they were both in the car.
"A newish member nearly picked up a drink but decided to come here instead, I met her through my old sponsor at a meeting."
"Oh, so, I shouldn't be here then?"
"I didn't say that. Don't feel guilty, she's been involved with a woman while she was drinking but a few days ago she went back to make amends and one thing led to another and she nearly drank."
