13.

Ted studied his overgrown front lawn. Water dripped from his body and shorts. He ran his hand across his forehead and hair, brushing off water. A dull ache in the back of his skull reminded him of the migraine.

‘Where have you been?’ asked Talia from the top of the front steps, a puzzled look on her face. She hadn’t officially moved in but had been spending more nights at Ted’s than at her own unit of late.

He stopped to stretch his calves on the bottom step. ‘Went for a run and a swim,’ he said between deep breaths. ‘I’ll be inside in a minute.’ He winced as he applied all his weight to his cramping calves.

Talia raised her brows. ‘I’ll get you a drink.’

Ted washed the sand from his feet and dried off with a towel. He threw the towel around his shoulders and went in.

Talia placed a glass of water on the kitchen bench. ‘You okay?’

His calves and racing heart reminded him of his lost stamina. He sipped the water. ‘Yeah, just a bit out of breath.’ He pointed to his training bag on the floor behind Talia. ‘Can you grab my shirt, please?’

She passed him the grey T-shirt. ‘You look exhausted.’

That was the problem. He was exhausted following a run down the beach that he used to manage with ease. The chilly water felt like it was running through his body.

‘The exhibition didn’t go well, did it?’ she said.

He placed the empty glass on the bench and massaged his temples with his thumbs. ‘It went fine.’

‘Then why are you acting so strange?’

He put the shirt on and wrapped the towel around his waist. ‘The reporters asked about my headaches.’ He shook his head. ‘I knew this was going to get out.’

‘Why are you so worried? Didn’t the tests go fine?’

‘I just don’t need any more head noise, okay?’ He rubbed his eyes and his salty fingers burned his eyes a little.

‘Fine, I’ll go.’

Ted leaned across and gripped her arm gently. ‘That’s not what I meant.’

Her expression softened and she brushed her hand against his cheek. ‘Well, are you going to tell me what’s really bothering you?’

‘Harrison’s going to end my career.’

She folded her arms. ‘Is he?’

‘I’ve spent all my time training to get stronger and more powerful, but I don’t have twelve rounds of boxing in me anymore.’

‘So talk to Andrew. Get the balance right.’

‘It was a bad idea. Moving so fast. I should have listened to Pop.’

‘Well, moping around feeling sorry for yourself isn’t going to help. I know you feel like you’re just a pawn on a chessboard right now – it’s all Tony this and Pop that. People may want this and want that, but you’re the one who wanted to be a heavyweight. And you’re the one who chose to work with Andrew. You knew it wasn’t going to easy, so what’s the use in complaining?’

Ted had nothing. She was on the money. ‘I think I need you in my corner. I’m going to take a shower.’

He woke up minutes before his six a.m. alarm, which he turned off so it wouldn’t wake Talia, before realising she wasn’t lying beside him. Checking his phone, he discovered why: Called into work. Had to take your car – mine at my place – sorry! Hope you aren’t seriously considering giving up. You know this is what you have wanted for so long. You can start your new training regime by running to the gym today! I can pick you up when you’re finished.

He finished reading the message with a smile. In the living room he turned on the sports news channel, found a space on the carpet and commenced the morning yoga routine Andrew had started him on. The intense weight sessions put a lot of pressure on Ted’s joints, particularly the hips and knees. Ted needed to ensure he didn’t lose his flexibility and become too rigid. His shoulders and neck were constantly knotted, and it took great discipline to routinely stretch. His entire upper body would seize up after two rounds of boxing if he didn’t follow the recovery process. The workouts were only one aspect; the recovery was another. For every hour Ted spent in the gym, he spent another two stretching, hopping in and out of ice baths, and lying on chiro, massage and physio tables. The meticulousness of the recovery process sometimes felt more gruelling than the training itself. The temptation to skip a recovery session and get some good old-fashioned sleep was ever-present, but if Ted went into one of Andrew’s sessions just a little bit stiff, he risked injury. The slightest sprain could rob him of valuable days or weeks of quality training.

‘Moving onto boxing. Yesterday the media was treated to a boxing showcase featuring the biggest and baddest heavyweights in the sport. One of the big talking points was the transformation of Ted Taylor and his unexpected sparring session with his father, Ron Taylor. The bulked-up Ted was almost unrecognisable, and while he insists he hasn’t been monitoring his weight, he is starting to win over some of the doubters. But our very own Jacob Caro isn’t convinced. Here he is to tell us why.’

Ted wobbled on one leg while holding the other behind him, stretching his hips and providing welcome relief as he slowly leaned forward with his other hand extended out front towards the television. He recovered from the wobble, but as he lifted his head to see Jacob Caro’s unshaven face appear on the screen via a video call, he lost balance and lowered his other foot to the ground.

‘Thanks, Erica. Firstly, I don’t believe for a second that Teddy doesn’t know how much he weighs, but it’s a clever ploy. Yes, he does look like a picture you could stick on the cover of Men’s Fitness, but a six-pack and big biceps aren’t going to be enough to overcome Reggie Harrison.’

Ted stretched out his arms and rotated his hips and torso from side to side. With each controlled twist he exhaled and stretched the movement a little further.

‘So, what’s Teddy missing, Jacob? It may have been short and sweet, but he seemed to get the better of his experienced father in their brief sparring session.’

‘First of all, they both looked awkward and stiff. Ted rolling out of trouble and landing a couple of shots is nothing to get excited about. Ted looked gassed after just one round.’

In frustration, Ted rushed the yoga routine but he made sure to loosen up his calves with a foam roller before taking Talia’s advice and running to the gym for some extra cardio.

Andrew walked into the office where Ted was changing out of his running shoes and putting on his boxing ones. ‘I could have given you a lift.’

‘I need to get fitter,’ replied Ted.

Andrew nodded and sat at his desk in thought. ‘You’re right. I’ve been thinking, and –’

‘Don’t worry,’ Ted interrupted. ‘You just keep doing what you’re doing. I’ll do the cardio in my own time. I don’t want to slow us down.’

Andrew looked at him intensely. ‘We’re going hard, Ted. Last thing we need is to burn out.’

‘I can handle it, trust me. If it gets too much, you’ll be the first to know.’

‘Fine, but I need to change things up a bit. We’ll take a bit of weight off the rack and increase the reps. Really focus on those power movements. We got the free reality check – now let’s get you as dangerous as we can.’

The training session had the intensity of a high-octane fight, not the slow, controlled burn of their previous strength- and muscle-building workouts. Ted had enjoyed pushing the limits, loading the bar with enough weight to have consequences if things went wrong and pushing himself to squeeze out the last rep. But those strength sessions were long, with lots of time sitting between sets. Ted was ready to mix it up now. Andrew introduced some high-energy, heavy-hitting movements interwoven with heavy lifting for Ted to feel his natural athleticism in its element. Even Andrew fed off the energy, often going set for set with Ted where he could. Pop had always told Ted that he could train a fighter to be fit enough to go the distance, but he couldn’t train them to be ugly enough to. By ‘ugly enough’ he meant he couldn’t teach them the grit and determination it took to fight your way through the rounds. That battle was fought in the mind as much as in the heart.

After training, Ted decided to visit his sister. Jodie was staying out at Pop’s house, and when he pulled up he saw the twins out on the front lawn. Bianca was hiding her face in her hands and Charlie was dashing to hide behind a shrub. He stayed behind his car, out of sight.

‘Ready or not, here I come!’ Bianca yelled, starting to run around the yard.

He crept around the car and onto the lawn in a bid to sneak up on her.

Bianca zeroed in on Charlie’s hiding place and shouted, ‘Found you!’

Mel emerged from behind the shrub, with Charlie latched onto her. Charlie and Bianca both spotted Ted at the same time and rushed over to him.

‘Uncle Teddy!’ they cried in unison.

He greeted them with hugs as Jodie called out from inside, ‘Girls, lunch is ready.’

The girls raced off, leaving Ted and Mel in the front yard.

‘Hey,’ he said awkwardly.

Mel folded her arms. ‘Fancy seeing you here. How’s your new girlfriend?’

He ran his hand across his shaved head, almost mimicking Talia’s nervous trait. ‘What’re you doing here?’

‘I’m visiting my friend and the girls I once considered my nieces. Is that a problem?’

‘You do you,’ he said.

‘What the hell does that mean?’

Ted laughed because he’d got that saying from her. You do you.

‘Uncle Teddy! Come!’ yelled the twins from inside.

‘I’m not going to stop you being friends with Jodie,’ said Ted.

Mel laughed. ‘You couldn’t if you tried.’

‘That’s not what I meant.’ He looked to the front door. ‘You coming in?’

‘Yes. Are you? Pop’s not home.’

He bit his tongue and followed Mel inside.

‘Hey, Teddy,’ said Jodie, trying to be casual. ‘Are you hungry?’

He pulled out a chair from the head of the table, squeezed it in between the twins and took a seat. ‘No, I’m fine.’

‘Uncle Teddy, what’s a lawyer?’ asked Bianca.

Ted’s eyes flicked to Mel, who looked away as she took a seat. He turned to Jodie, who shook her head from side to side as if to say Please don’t start a fight.

Ted rubbed the back of Bianca’s head. ‘You’ll have to ask Mel to explain that one later.’

‘Auntie Mel, what’s a lawyer?’ asked Charlie. Both girls broke into giggles.

Jodie slapped the table. ‘Not now!’ She placed sandwich triangles in front of the girls.

Mel’s chair screeched against the floorboards. ‘Your uncle will know soon enough.’ She rose abruptly. ‘I need to go.’

Ted put an arm around Bianca and another around Charlie. ‘Three.’ He watched as Mel picked up her handbag. ‘Two,’ he whispered, pulling the girls in tighter. Hearing the latch and the creak of the door opening, he knew it wasn’t far away. ‘One … Boom!’ The door slammed in sync with his ‘Boom’, which caused the girls to laugh hysterically.

Jodie cracked a smile, but like Ted’s, there was pain behind it.

‘Well, if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s getting Mel to slam a door.’

Jodie gave a forced laughed. ‘That was a little awkward.’

‘Just a little.’

‘Uncle Teddy, what’s awkward?’

Ted laughed. ‘Eat your sandwich, please.’ He sighed. ‘Seriously, though, Jodie, that’s not the first time she’s mentioned lawyers. You two were obviously talking about it.’

‘What do you want me to do, Ted? She’s like a sister to me. I had no idea things were going so bad between you guys. I’m trying to talk her out of making things messy, but she’s not happy about this new girl.’ Tentatively, she pulled a seat back and sat down. ‘It seems like she’s entitled to half. It’s like a divorce, you know, even if you weren’t married.’

‘Oh yeah, did you get half of Danny’s money?’ he asked, referring to the twins’ father.

Jodie scoffed. ‘More like did he get half mine!’

‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have gone there.’ Ted studied his sister, trying to read her, but she was never easy. ‘He’s not back on the scene, is he?’

‘The girls are entitled to see their father.’

‘But that’s it?’

‘How stupid do you think I am?’

Ted could tell she was embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry. He just makes my blood boil, and I know he’d come crawling back to you if he could.’ He couldn’t work out how Jodie had ever fallen for Danny in the first place. He pushed it from his mind. ‘Is Mel entitled to half Pop’s gambling debt as well?’

Jodie stopped chewing her sandwich. ‘What?’

Another topic he regretted bringing up. ‘Pop ran up a bill with Tony again.’

Her hand covered her mouth and she spoke in a muffled voice. ‘How much?’

‘A lot.’

Jodie pushed her seat back and burst into tears.

‘Mummy, what’s wrong?’ asked Charlie.

Jodie recovered so quickly that if someone walked into the room at that moment, they would have no idea she’d been crying. ‘Nothing. Eat up.’ She looked to Ted. ‘I thought he’d stopped. What was he betting on?’

‘Me.’

She gasped, as if somehow that answer made it different. ‘Oh.’

‘He should have known better.’

‘Better than to believe in you?’

He clenched his jaw and stretched his fingers out before squeezing the back of his head with both hands. ‘Are you serious?’

‘I just mean …’ She looked down at her plate and the sandwich she wouldn’t finish. ‘It’s not like he was betting against you.’

‘I don’t care. All I have to show for everything I’ve done is a house on the beach, which is all I ever wanted, but which I’m now probably going to have to sell to pay Mel out. I get paid well. Well, I used to. There’s no need for him to gamble.’

Jodie chewed her bottom lip. ‘He has a problem, Ted. Does Dad know?’

‘Yeah. But it’s not like he has the money to bail him out.’

Jodie didn’t respond. Ted suspected that she resented how everything fell to him, that she was just the baby sister.

‘I’m glad you’re here,’ he said with a half-smile. ‘I know Pop is too. If you wanted to move back, I could help.’

‘There you go again. Always trying to be the father I never had.’

He wondered why it had always been so hard for her to see he just wanted what was best for her. What am I doing wrong?

‘I know you can stand on your own two feet.’ He placed a hand on each of her daughters’ shoulders as they contentedly ate their sandwiches. ‘And I see how much these two little girls love and need you.’ He nearly choked up. ‘You’re a good mum.’

‘Yeah, well that’s easier said than done.’

His heart froze and cracked as though a heavy boot was walking on an icy surface. He wanted to ask what she meant by that but didn’t dare test the strength of the ice.