It was harder to leave Rhodes Family Estate than Jet expected. She returned to Sydney the day after Boxing Day, by which time Jet felt something approaching normal, thanks to the Rhodes family hospitality.
Cynthia’s Christmas Day luncheon outdid Jet’s expectations. It was only the four of them, but they were fed a feast fit for royalty. Despite Jet’s offers to help, Cynthia insisted on handling the entire thing herself.
‘Don’t get in her way,’ Dan had instructed. The obedient look on his face when he said it suggested this wasn’t the first Rhodes family Christmas Cynthia had overseen.
Jet was allowed to assist the matriarch of the estate with the events side of the business while she was there, though. Marty and Dan had professed their incompetence regarding the events Jet had already planned when she left, which left Cynthia to pick up the pieces. She’d been doing an amazing job and had wasted no time in hiring a keen young events coordinator. Between them, business was buzzing.
When Jet tried to apologise for leaving them high and dry, Cynthia had cut her off. ‘You have your own business to worry about. Although it’s wonderful to see you again,’ were her words to Jet. Then she’d reached over and squeezed Jet’s hand.
Cynthia never asked any questions of Jet’s life in Sydney. No questions about Juliet Temple or Andrew Temple, and they ended up having a wonderful Christmas. They even gave her a Christmas gift—wine of course. But not just any wine. A seriously good bottle of Shiraz that had been cellared carefully for an impressive number of years.
When Jet had unwrapped it, Dan tapped her on the shoulder.
‘Just so you know, if you open that when I’m not around you’re dead to me.’
‘Dan!’ had been Cynthia’s horrified response, and they’d all laughed.
Jet was deeply grateful for their generosity and for the time away from her problems. Relying on the Rhodes family was becoming habit, but they appeared happy to support her.
Back in Sydney, it felt like Jet had never left. The office was quiet after Christmas so Jet used the time catch up and knock some things off her to-do list. Due to the holidays, she only had skeleton staff on but it didn’t prevent the repeated attempts by reporters to contact Jet seeking comment. It hadn’t helped that a member of the public had snapped an image of Alex and Jet talking, which had started the news stories up again.
Andrew left multiple messages for Jet to call him. She ignored them.
Jet also spent close to two hours with the Commissioner and a couple of detectives going through the conversation with Alex. Fortunately, they’d agreed to conduct the interview in the privacy of Jet’s apartment one evening. The last thing Jet needed after being seen with Alex was for someone to spot her going in or out of the police headquarters.
As Jet had expected, the Commissioner was balanced in his response to Jet’s information.
Yes, he knew about the blood. No, they didn’t currently consider her a suspect, although they all agreed the blood was important and they were treating it as an integral part of the investigation. Yes, they’d chosen not to tell her as they didn’t want to add to the trauma of the night.
One of the detectives told Jet it wasn’t unusual for people who had taken certain party drugs to experience amnesia and be unable to remember events while affected by the drug. Jet asked if this meant other things could have happened that night that she didn’t remember, despite thinking she had passed out?
It was possible, was the reply. And without any other witnesses, it was impossible to know just what parts of that night were missing from Jet’s memory.
Jet did her best to get on with life as normal. Dan would be driving down to see her on Saturday morning. For now, Jet was taking a rare chance to catch up with Edie. Alone.
Andrew was apparently interstate for business and not returning until next week, so the women had organised to meet up in a café opposite Bondi Beach for dinner on Friday night. Edie knew the owner and made sure they were given a table in a secluded corner of the venue.
‘No ocean views for us,’ Edie quipped as they took their seats. She waited until she was sure no one was looking before removing her sunglasses and Jet followed suit.
Outside the summer evening was a golden glow on the water’s horizon and Jet could just make out the glimmer of orange behind Edie’s back.
‘Not true and you know it,’ Jet pointed out. ‘You’d have prime position if you requested it.’
Edie grinned. ‘Yes, I suppose you’re right. Actually, I’ve got to say now more than ever, thanks to Andrew.’
Jet busied herself pouring a glass of water from the bottle the waitress had left on the table.
‘An occupational hazard of being involved with a Temple,’ Jet said, still not looking at her friend.
‘Are you kidding? It’s great! I was well known before, but this is something else. It’s getting to the point I think I’ll be able to name any role I want soon.’
Jet raised her eyes to meet Edie’s. She was glowing, her bright blue eyes sparkling in the café’s dim lighting.
‘Be careful,’ Jet said reluctantly. ‘The exposure isn’t always good.’
Edie blinked and tipped her head to one side. ‘Oh my God, I’m so thick. I haven’t forgotten what you went through when that tramp celebrity wannabe dragged you and Andrew through the papers. She had absolutely no class, unlike you, who refused to lower yourself to her level. Have you ever wondered what would have happened if she never came along?’
Jet must have winced because Edie’s hand flew to her mouth.
‘I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me tonight. I’m not thinking. I guess I just forget you and Andrew used to care for each other.’
‘That’s generally why you get married,’ Jet pointed out. She didn’t know what to make of her best friend’s behaviour. Jet had known Edie long enough to understand her friend was blunt at the best of times, but she seemed more to the point than usual.
‘I know and I’m sorry. You and Andrew have been ancient history for so long. It’s easy to forget. I mean, if you still even remotely cared for him you wouldn’t be comfortable with us being together.’
Jet didn’t reply and took a sip of her water. She had never actually come out and said she was comfortable with Andrew and Edie’s relationship. Sure, Jet didn’t care who Andrew chose to see, but that didn’t mean she was at ease with him sleeping with her friend. While Jet considered the best way to articulate her thoughts, Edie barrelled on.
‘Anyway, I should probably explain my crazy behaviour. I’m excited because Andrew is taking me along as his plus one to New Year’s Eve.’ The light in Edie’s eyes returned and she was practically bouncing on the chair.
‘That good, is it?’ Jet wasn’t entirely surprised. Andrew always took a plus one to important events that attracted a lot of attention and she assumed New Year’s Eve was no different.
Edie leaned forward like she was about to share a big secret. ‘It’s not just good, it’s amazing. Guess who’s New Year’s party we’re attending?’
Jet shrugged and smiled at her friend. Whoever’s party it was, Edie was clearly pumped to be going. ‘Andrew’s in demand, so I assume your host will be important. But I thought you had agreed to be a host for the television coverage?’
‘Pfft. That? I dumped them as soon as I heard about this. They can find some other washed up celebrity to fill my spot. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.’
‘OK. Well, spill then. Who’s party is it?’
‘Gerard Bromley! Can you believe it?’
Jet frowned at the name of the Australian movie producer who had found acclaim internationally in recent years. ‘Where is it being held?’
‘Café Sydney,’ Edie whispered, like she didn’t quite believe it.
‘I’ll be attending,’ Jet said.
Edie’s mouth dropped open. ‘How in the hell did you get an invite?’
Jet laughed in shock more than amusement at Edie’s outraged tone. ‘You know that fashion client of mine? Kylie Moss? She’s dating Brayden Thatcher.’ Jet shrugged. ‘He just finished working on Gerard’s latest movie and I met Gerard at one of Kylie’s fashion shows. He’s a nice guy and we got talking. He invited me.’
‘So you’re definitely attending?’
Jet looked around for a waitress, feeling a stab of guilt for outdoing her friend. Gerard had invited Jet personally and it would be an important networking opportunity.
‘Juliet?’ Edie demanded impatiently.
‘Jet,’ she corrected. ‘Yes, of course. It’s going to be a great night. But don’t worry, I’ll steer clear of you and Andrew if you like. Especially seeing as Dan will be with me.’
‘Dan is coming?’
Jet frowned openly at her friend, the desire not to step on her toes evaporating. ‘Yes, he’ll be my plus one.’
Edie sniffed. ‘I don’t think he’ll fit in. I’m surprised you don’t see that.’
‘Because he’s not rich or a celebrity? I’m neither of those things.’
Edie waved a hand in the air. ‘You’re hardly poor and you may have changed your name, but you’re still well known. Dan’s not.’
‘So I shouldn’t be going out with him because he’s a nobody?’ said Jet in disbelief.
Edie lifted a shoulder in an offhand shrug. ‘I’m sure he’s a nice guy and all. He’s cute. But you could do so much better than a second rate winemaker.’
‘Second rate?’
‘Rhodes is hardly a respected label, is it? They’ve been making wine for, what? Twenty years if you’re lucky? They’re small fry.’
Jet forced herself to inhale a breath. She knew the world Edie existed in wasn’t normal by any means. She’d spent her teen years starring in a sitcom and then had cemented her fame with several successful Australian movies, one of them awarded. But she’d always fallen short of international success and, until now, Jet hadn’t truly appreciated just how desperate she was to succeed. For the first time, it made Jet wonder if they would have been such good friends if she hadn’t been married to Andrew.
Jet decided to be less diplomatic than usual to make a point about Edie’s lack of tact. ‘That’s true, but I’m not Juliet Temple anymore. I’m happy that Dan’s not well known. And I never said I was comfortable about your relationship with Andrew. I may no longer have feelings for him and want to be part of his world, but you’ve got to admit it’s strange that you’re involved with him now.’
After a moment, Edie sniffed. ‘Why bother attending the party, then?’
That was as much acknowledgement as Jet was going to get it seemed, which worried her. It meant Edie was more fixated on Andrew than she’d realised.
‘Because it will be good for business,’ Jet clarified, standing her ground.
‘Your business would do better if you were connected to someone more like us.’
‘Maybe, maybe not,’ Jet replied lightly, tensing at the words ‘like us’.
Jet had never thought of it as an ‘us’ and ‘them’ situation, but obviously Edie bought into the illusion that wealth and fame made you different somehow. Or better. If anything, the time Jet had spent mixing with Sydney’s elite had proved to her rich people were no different to anyone else. They simply had more money.
Clearly, Edie saw her relationship as a stepping stone and wasn’t just attracted to Andrew, but to his notoriety. It was hardly a recipe for a lasting relationship, but then again Jet didn’t think either of them were currently in the market for that. It wasn’t like Andrew was professing his undying love for Edie, and Edie certainly wasn’t. Maybe it made Jet a bad person, but she would be secretly relieved when the two of them lost interest in each other and parted ways.
Edie touched Jet’s hand. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you. I forget you’re newer to this world than me and I know me seeing Andrew must be weird for you. You’re a better person than I am, not making an issue out of it. I never would have gotten involved with him if I thought you still had feelings for him. And I’m sure Dan’s a nice guy. I think that’s why I reacted that way. He’s almost too nice.’
‘Yes, he’s a nice guy,’ Jet agreed, releasing a breath and appreciating Edie’s apology. Except why did Edie make Dan being a nice guy sound like a bad thing?
‘Anyway, obviously I’m thrilled to be attending Gerard’s party. The word in the industry is he’s in development for a new project and I can’t believe my luck. I’ll be able to get in front of him on the night and prove I’m female lead-worthy.’
‘I’m sure you’ll dazzle him.’ Jet had no doubt Edie would leave a lasting impression provided Gerard was after an actress with a bombshell quality.
‘I know. My outfit is all organised. And I know it’s horrible of me to ask this of you, but I think it might be best if we avoid each other on the night. Andrew can be grumpy at the best of times. I want to attract attention, but—’
‘Not that sort of attention. Don’t worry, I get it and I won’t take it personally,’ Jet promised.
‘Good. In that case, let’s order a bottle of bubbles now so we can toast in the New Year together. It wouldn’t be the same otherwise.’
Edie waved the waitress over and in under a few minutes they had two glasses of sparkling wine in front of them. Edie might be incognito tonight, but the staff certainly knew who she was.
Edie held up her glass and Jet did the same.
‘Cheers. To a successful New Year’s Eve,’ Edie announced.
Jet laughed. ‘Aren’t you supposed to toast the New Year in?’
Edie’s full lips curled up in a wicked grin. ‘That’s the idea. If this New Year’s Eve is as good as I think it’s going to be, next year will be a year to remember.’
Jet clinked Edie’s glass with hers. ‘Cheers.’