21.

I lay on my bed with my eyes clamped shut, while Steph and Prue talked in the kitchen. I wasn’t trying to be antisocial. I was in hibernate-before-the-launch-tomorrow mode.

Liani had barely uttered a word to me all afternoon, so by the time I got home I was full-blown freaking and considering bribing a doctor to put my leg in a cast to get me out of the launch.

My door creaked open and I squeezed my eyes closed even tighter, feigning sleep.

‘I think she’s dead,’ Prue said, leaning in close. Her breath reeked of onion and cheese, a potent combination. But it wasn’t enough to zap me to life.

‘Nah, she’s breathing,’ said Steph. ‘Maybe she’s meditating. She did go to that pretentious health retreat … I think she’s actually a robot and her batteries are recharging, or maybe we need to plug her in to refuel her little robot heart —’

‘Shut up,’ I said, my eyes still closed.

Steph cheered. ‘Which part broke you? Was it the little robot heart?’

I opened one eye and glared at her, aware of how ridiculous I looked. ‘Leave me alone. Please.’

‘What are you doing?’ asked Prue. ‘Shouldn’t you be prepping for tomorrow? I’m sure organising a launch isn’t as hard as, say, studying for a medical exam, but don’t you have things to finalise?’

‘I am prepping,’ I said, eyes closed again. ‘This is how I prep.’

‘Righto then,’ Steph said. ‘Well, I guess prepping wouldn’t go with eating Hawaiian pizza anyway —’

My eyes flew open. ‘You ordered Hawaiian? But you never let me order that any more!’

‘The novelty wore off after the first fifteen times,’ Prue muttered.

‘Yes, there is a Hawaiian pizza on the way, but you’re only allowed to enjoy it if you tell us what the hell is going on,’ Steph said. ‘This whole mummified-lying-on-your-bed thing was kinda funny at first, but now it’s just —’

‘Freaky,’ finished Prue.

‘You want to know what’s up?’ I said, pulling myself into a sitting position. ‘My boyfriend hates me, and my job as a writer is going to be over tomorrow when I get fired … or maybe worse.’

‘Executed?’ Steph said in mock alarm.

‘I didn’t get Maxxy for the launch,’ I said, my voice becoming shrill.

There was a pause.

‘Well, that sucks, but I’m sure Liani understands,’ said Steph.

‘I tried everything,’ I said, my head in my hands. ‘I don’t even have a new dress to wear tomorrow night. I ran out of time to go shopping.’

‘At least your nails look hot,’ Steph said.

‘I thought things were going to work out for once, you know?’ I muttered.

‘But that’s life, I guess.’ Prue shrugged. ‘Sometimes it’s a bit rubbish.’

‘Yeah, it is … but it doesn’t have to be,’ Steph said. ‘Not tonight. Not tomorrow. Not for you, Jose. Listen, you’re a walking catastrophe.’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Thanks.’

‘Hey, I’m not judging: I’m broke and living in a room the size of a matchbox,’ Steph said. ‘But you know what? In the short time I’ve known you, I’ve seen you stumble — often literally — from disaster to disaster. Yet you somehow turn things around. You work it out. You save the day. You’re your own knight in shining armour.’

‘You’ve lost it.’ I shook my head. ‘Liani rescued me when I got the boot from Sash.’

‘Did she?’ Steph pressed. ‘Or did you work your arse off and prove that you deserved a job?’

I shrugged. ‘I dunno. I guess.’

‘You what now?’

‘Fine, I worked my freaking arse off. You happy?’

‘Well, what’s stopping you and that freaking arse now? All this sad-sacking isn’t the Josie B I know — and frankly, it’s pissing me off!’

I glared at Steph, but she scowled right back, unshaken. A lopsided smile crept into the corner of my mouth. ‘Well, well, Miss Stephanie. You give quite the tough-love pep talk. “Your own knight in shining armour” was an especially nice touch.’

Steph broke out into a grin. ‘Tell me it worked. Tell me I didn’t go off at you for nothing.’

I swallowed. I wasn’t ready for my first real job to come to a dramatic end. ‘It worked,’ I admitted, my mind racing. ‘Bugger it, can you guys give me a sec?’

Instead of leaving, my oddball housemates splayed on the bed next to me.

‘We live here and we want in with whatever’s about to happen,’ said Steph. ‘Besides, my boyfriend’s thousands of kilometres away. You’re my only entertainment.’

‘Alright …’ I said, punching Darlene’s number into the phone. I knew it off by heart by now. ‘It’s ringing.’

‘We have no idea what’s going on,’ Prue said.

I got her voicemail. Again. I’d already sent her several follow-up emails and left two voicemails that day, but still, what did I have to lose? Maybe third time would be a charm (or a good reason to hang up before she took out a restraining order on me).

‘Darlene, hi … it’s Josie Browning again, Maxxy’s new friend from indi magazine … the bowling biznitch girl, if that helps … Er, probably not … I can’t believe I just said biznitch to you,’ I stammered, eyes wide.

Steph mouthed, ‘Hang up right now.’

‘I … I guess you know why I’m calling … did Maxxy mention we’d spoken, that she wants to do this? I know she’s signed on to do the cover shoot with Marilyn, but the launch is tomorrow and — yeah, I pretty much answered my own question, didn’t I? The launch is tomorrow … Look, you know what — I’ll pay for her expenses. If you can get her there by 6 pm tomorrow, I’ll do the rest. Collect receipts and I’ll pay you back every cent. I’ll sort it out, I’ll get a loan, I’ll work overtime — well, we don’t get paid for that — but I’ll get a second job. I just need her there. I don’t know what else to say, so … call me … please. You have my number.’ I hung up.

Steph’s jaw was virtually touching her chest. ‘Did that just happen?’ she said. ‘Did you call Maxxy’s manager and promise to personally cover her costs? You’d be better off hiring a Maxxy impersonator!’

‘If the real Maxxy can make it, the indi launch will be a success and Liani will be happy,’ I said. ‘Otherwise I may as well quit now and become a garbage collector.’

‘I don’t know …’ said Prue. ‘If they agree, it could cost you hundreds, even thousands, depending on where they put her up for the night. And I have it on good authority you’re living on noodles.’

‘Shhh, you two, I’m very busy waiting for my phone to ring,’ I said. ‘I’m eighty-five per cent sure it’s all going to work out.’

Steph squeezed my hand.

I swallowed. ‘Maybe seventy per cent.’

The doorbell sounded. ‘Dinner!’ said Steph as she bolted out, with Prue and me hot on her tail.

Steph practically wrestled the pizza out of the delivery man’s arms then brought it into the lounge room. I bit into a hot slice, enjoying the stinging taste of tomato and strings of melted cheese getting caught in my teeth. My piece was demolished in seconds, while Steph picked the pineapple off hers, and Prue nibbled at the crust.

I squinted at the clock through strained eyes. It was almost nine.

‘I think there’s still a forty per cent chance of Darlene calling,’ I said. ‘Thanks for the pizza, guys, I’m going to bed. These sorts of things happen when you’re not watching the clock, you know?’

‘Yeah,’ said Prue unconvincingly.

‘Hey, Jose!’ Steph called out. ‘Loved your latest article by the way — the one on faking it.’

‘You read that already?’

‘Timmy-boy and I’ve been sending it to everyone.’ She grinned. ‘Everyone thinks you’re way too smart to be my friend, but I tell them I taught you everything you know.’

After kissing Steph on the cheek, Prue and I shared an awkward hug goodnight. Then she slipped me one of her classic Post-its. I inhaled, braced for one of her usual passive-aggressive remarks. Only this note simply read: ‘It’s not over yet, so don’t give up … and remember, I’m never wrong.’

Stunned by her gesture, I mumbled thanks and trundled towards the bathroom.

‘Ten per cent sure,’ I muttered. ‘I’m still ten per cent sure.’

But my mind raced with negative thoughts. I had no Maxxy, no loving boyfriend, and no chance of making the launch a success. I fell into a fitful sleep with the words ‘one per cent’ taunting me over and over.

It had arrived. Launch day was finally here. I stood in front of the warehouse building, playing with my phone while I waited for Sia and Liani. There was still no word from Darlene and no texts from James.

I typed a message to him, deleted it, then retyped the words: Once upon a time a girl called Josie scored an internship and thought a boy called James was trying to burgle her. Then they ate pizza and she fell in love.

My finger hovered above the send button as memories came flooding back: the first night we met at Tim’s place; the time James loaned me his leather jacket and drove me through the city on his scooter; the time we confessed that we liked each other. There hadn’t been any game-playing, or phone tag, or going off the radar. We just … worked.

I wanted us to work again.

I pressed send and instantly regretted it.

Then I reminded myself of my latest article. It was okay to be vulnerable. Okay to put myself out there, to take a chance, to be myself.

There was no time to dwell on it further because Liani arrived with a puffing Sia in tow. Liani gave me an icy hello and a sharp nod, which, coming from her, was the equivalent of screaming in my face.

Sia and I followed her into the building and couldn’t believe what we found inside. There was no red carpet, no flowers, no candles, no stage set up. Other than the white furniture and large framed mirrors, the place wasn’t decorated.

Sia’s face fell. ‘You’ve got a pregnant woman and a rake — no offence, Jose — to help you set up an event for two hundred people? Where’s our office-husband?’

‘Harrison’s coming later,’ Liani said. ‘He’s sorting out the video gear and monitoring the site … something about lots of traffic overnight.’

Sia and I exchanged glances.

‘And don’t be silly,’ Liani continued, ‘the event planners will take care of the decorations — the candles, the candy bar, the red carpet, everything.’

‘Oh, I could kiss you,’ Sia said. ‘Sorry, I’m cranky without my daily chocolate fix. Damn baby’s gone off it — it’s got me craving vegetables of all things. Vegetables!’

Liani put her arm around Sia. ‘Hon, go home. I told you to meet us here later.’

‘And miss the biggest day in my girl indi’s life so far?’ Sia teased. ‘No way.’

‘Well, let me know if you need a rest before the panel,’ Liani said. ‘If you’re staying, we may as well do a practice run before things get too hectic. It’ll warm up the old vocal cords and get us pumped for tonight.’

‘Perfect,’ said Sia.

‘Allegra MacGregor and Corrine Spark won’t be here until later, but they’re old hands so it won’t be a problem.’

I cleared my throat. ‘Anything I can do?’

Liani paused, not quite making eye contact. ‘Goodie bags. You can put them together.’

My trustworthiness was shot, but I couldn’t blame her. ‘On it,’ I said, trying to sound perky.

The front-door buzzer went off.

‘That must be the florist with the roses,’ Liani muttered.

‘She hates me,’ I whispered to Sia after Liani had gone to let the florist in. ‘And she still doesn’t know about the article?’

‘Not unless you’ve told her,’ Sia said. ‘Anyway, Jose, listen, you’ve got to distract her for me, okay? I’m feeling weird, but I can’t tell her that. Not today.’

‘But you said you didn’t fake it in life? That you asked for help?’

‘Did I forget to mention my disclaimer? I don’t fake it unless my boss is on the verge of a nervous breakdown! I’ll get through it … but is my skin green? I feel like I’m green.’

‘No, you’re washed out though … Here, take my water bottle.’ I pulled it from my handbag and passed it to her. ‘Want me to get you something to eat?’

‘I think I need to go to the bathroom,’ she said, hobbling off in that direction.

I followed her, standing guard at the door like a loyal watchdog. Minutes passed, so I knocked and whispered her name. ‘Are you okay?’ No reply. I knocked again, and the door creaked open.

‘I think something’s happening,’ she said, clutching her stomach. ‘Something bad.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘There’s … there’s blood.’

I froze. ‘Oh god.’

‘Get help,’ she said through gritted teeth.

Without another thought, I ran towards the open door, shouting, ‘Liani, come quick!’

Liani stepped into the warehouse buried under a mountain of stunning white roses. The florist and her two fresh-faced assistants followed, bringing in even more.

‘Marina, you and the girls have done a gorgeous job,’ Liani said, as she placed the flowers on a table. ‘I’ll put them here for now —’

‘Something’s happening with the baby,’ I said. ‘There’s blood, Liani! What do we do?’

Liani — as always — was three steps ahead. She rushed to Sia’s side and stroked her arm with one hand, while calling her dad with the other.

‘We don’t have a car,’ I realised. ‘I’ll call a taxi or an ambulance —’

‘I’ll drive her,’ Marina interrupted. ‘There’s plenty of space now, and my girls can sit in the back.’

Liani hung up the phone. ‘St Joseph’s Hospital is only five minutes from here, and her dad’s already on the way. Thank you, Marina. I’ll come with you.’

‘Me too,’ I said. ‘I’ll get my handbag and —’

‘Jose, Liani … no,’ Sia said. ‘I love you, but you need to be here.’

‘But we want to be there with you … You’re scared.’ Or maybe that was me.

‘Honey, I’m fine,’ Sia said, but her eyes misted over, which immediately made mine well up too. ‘We haven’t spent the past three weeks busting our balls for you guys to call off the launch.’

I squeezed her hand. ‘I’ll visit as soon as I can. And I’ll save you one of those mini iced doughnuts you were eyeing off in the catering brochure.’

‘Make it two.’ She forced a weak smile, which fell away almost immediately. ‘Jose … what if the baby doesn’t —’

‘Don’t say it,’ I told her, clutching her hand. ‘Don’t even think it.’

Liani and Marina helped Sia out the door, and the assistants followed with her enormous handbag. Left alone, I went up on the stage and took a seat. I suddenly didn’t care whether I was hours away from being fired. All that mattered was that Sia and her baby were okay.

Liani walked back into the room wringing her hands. ‘If anything happens to that poor baby … I was not prepared for that.’

‘Me neither,’ I said. ‘Liani, I know everything’s a bit nuts right now, but I want to let you know I’ll do whatever it takes to make today work. Whatever you need. Whenever you need it.’

Liani’s eyes met mine for the first time since yesterday. ‘Thank you, but I’m working on a plan. Besides, as if this madness wasn’t enough, I need you to deal with our visitor.’

I sat up straighter, wondering if James was pulling his rocking-up-at-my-work stunt again.

‘I’ll be in the next room going over the panel questions,’ Liani said, then called out through the open door. ‘You can come in now.’

But it wasn’t James. A sheepish, wide-eyed Kat shuffled in, wheeling a suitcase and scuffing the floor with her sneakers.

‘Hey, Jose,’ she said.

I could have wrapped my manicured hands around Kat’s scrawny little neck. I reminded myself I was the older sister and should be mature, but then I yelled my head off anyway. I yelled that she shouldn’t scuff her feet on the floorboards because renting this place cost indi a fortune. I yelled that I couldn’t believe she’d done this to Mum and me, today of all days. I yelled that she was grounded for the next four hundred years.

‘I get it — you can make your voice go really loud,’ she said. ‘What do you want to do today? I was thinking shopping … or maybe the movies … When I was at the station I saw an ad for a musical that —’

‘How could you?’ I said, my voice trembling. ‘You can’t waltz in here and demand your own tour of the city. I’m working. I have the launch. How did you even know where to come?’

Kat rolled her eyes. ‘It isn’t a secret — all the info is on indi’s website. Anyway, I was kidding. I’m here to help with the launch — and meet Maxxy — but mostly to help out. I should score brownie points for being this awesome.’

I sighed. ‘I let you off the hook last time. And forget about Maxxy — she’s not coming.’

‘What? You’re kidding me! Why not?’

‘Focus, Kat. I can’t believe you did this. You could get me fired.’

I didn’t mention that I was pretty close to getting myself fired. How had I ever thought I could pull this off? I was so far out of my depth I should have been wearing floaties.

‘Jose, I called Mum from the train,’ Kat said. ‘She was angrier than that time you and me catnapped the neighbours’ pets. But once she calmed down, she said it might be good for me. And you.’

I shook my head and dialled Mum’s number.

‘I’m grounded for a month, but she says I have to stay with you tonight,’ Kat went on.

‘What?’

‘She’s working late so she can’t pick me up, and she doesn’t want me getting the train back by myself at night.’

‘Mum?’ I said into the phone.

‘Love!’ she said. ‘I’m guessing your package has arrived. I’m sorry, love, but as she’s there, I’ve told her to help you in any way she can.’

‘But I —’

‘I know, I’m angry too … but, Jose, she misses her big sister.’

‘This isn’t like letting Kat join me and Angel at a sleepover, Mum … this is my work. And there’s so much going on at the moment I can’t even …’ I trailed off, my mind swirling with Sia, James and Edwina.

‘Sometimes you’ve got to be tough,’ Mum said. ‘I wish my daughter hadn’t run away, I wish I was eating blue cheese right now and I wish I owned a Louis Vuitton bag, but we can’t always have everything we want, can we?’

I took a deep breath. ‘No … we can’t.’

‘Love, whatever is on your mind, you can handle it,’ she said. ‘You’ve never stopped making me proud, Josie Browning — even that time you pulled down your pants and mooned the other kids at preschool.’

‘Mum!’

‘I mean it — you mooned with flair!’ she gushed. ‘That was the moment I knew you were going to be someone special.’

‘Yeah, I was special alright.’

Her laughter sang down the line.

‘Mum …’ I choked up before I could finish.

‘I miss you too, sweetie. I’m right here, you old softie, always have been.’

‘Everything feels impossible right now.’

‘Look, you put that little sister of yours to work, okay? Whatever else is going on, chin up and face it head on,’ she said. ‘I know you can, so no more doubt, no more hesitation, just do it, my girl. I’ll drive up with Rodgie in the morning and pick Kat up. But before her grounding begins, perhaps we could all do brunch? I’m quite fond of brunch these days.’

‘Okay. Love you,’ I said.

Kat stared as I hung up. ‘Well?’

‘You’re still grounded for life, Rodger’s hijacking our family brunch tomorrow, and yes, you’re staying with me for one night — one night only.’

‘Sweet.’ She grinned. ‘Rodger’s alright, you know. You should ease up on him.’

I didn’t reply.

‘He taught Mum how to make risotto that doesn’t taste like Clag.’

I had to laugh. ‘That is a feat. Fine, I’ll give him a chance, but only because Mum deserves to be happy and, for reasons that can’t be explained, this guy is making that happen. But if she makes me call him “Rodgie”, I’m out. And if he so much as —’

‘Not every guy’s like Dad. Remember that.’

I bit my lip. ‘Yeah.’

‘I’m right, as always,’ Kat said. ‘Now, what can I do to help today, and more importantly will I get paid?’

‘Paid? No! Come with me and try to stay out of the way. We need to organise the goodie bags.’

Kat’s eyes lit up. ‘Goodie bags? Cool!’