Page 40 of Isn’t It Nice We Both Hate the Same Things
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Tuesday morning, and I’m in the midst of a schedule rejuggle.
We’re still struggling to book interviews. I’m trying, really trying, but the publicists are telling me there’s no time left in anyone’s schedule. Then I hear the talent on every other breakfast program.
They just don’t want us anymore.
We’re on the countdown until Graham leaves. A few more weeks and he’s going to depart and we’re not worth anyone’s time until that happens. Until a new host comes in, and we’re given a fresh start.
Graham doesn’t seem as crushed about it as he should. ‘It is what it is,’ he says, after we wrap an ad break and I tell him about the latest cancellation. ‘It’s fine.’
Ivan, nearby, makes a confused face. ‘He’s so delusional.’ ‘Surely it’s a mask,’ Dora offers.
‘Of course it’s a mask,’ I say.
Ivan smiles. ‘He’ll crack soon. It’s inevitable.’ He’s been saying that for weeks.
Later, my sister rings. Normally, I wouldn’t answer calls while the show is on air. But, well, my sister never calls me at this hour. My sister never calls me, full stop.
‘Naya, hi. Is it Mum?’ I rest the phone between my ear and my raised shoulder while I rewrite briefing notes for Graham.
‘No, Mum is fine.’ Naya is short of breath. ‘It’s me, Charlie. It’s me .’
‘What’s wrong? Are you okay?’
‘Leonard’s back is still hurting him, and I love the kids but they’re hard work, Charlie.
’ Her voice wobbles, and then there’s a pause and I know it’s because she’s crying but doesn’t want me to hear it.
‘And I got upset and told Mum she relies on us too much and now things are strained and it’s really hard. Really hard.’
‘Oh shit, Naya.’ I hold the phone in my hand, wheel back from my desk. I signal to Dora and she takes over the notes for me.
‘I know, I know. I feel terrible. But it’s all a lot right now … I don’t know the last time I was calm. Are you calm?’
It’s such an odd question – I’m not entirely sure how best to answer.
‘Are other people calm ?’ she asks.
‘I’m not sure anyone is calm, Naya.’ Graham’s getting fired, Dora’s organising a wedding, Genevieve’s got one chance to have a child and she’s terrified it won’t go to plan. ‘Are you okay?’
‘No, I am not okay . You have no idea what it’s like. You’re never—’ She stops. ‘Have you booked your flights home?’
Shit. ‘God, I’m sorry. I haven’t, but I promise—’
‘Jesus Christ , Charlie. You’re impossible.’ She lets out an exhausted, passionate cry. I know better than to try and defend myself. ‘Everything we do here, everything we do for Mum and all you have to do is book some flights. How hard is it, Charlie? Your life is so easy and you have no idea.’
She hangs up on me.
Not ten minutes later, she sends me an apologetic, embarrassed message.
Let’s forget that happened, okay? I’m having a bad day.
I respond,
Yeah, sure, okay.
But I can’t forget it happened. It’s the first time she’s said anything like that to me in years. Since we were teenagers, and she’d rouse on me for just about anything.
What does she mean by impossible? The anniversary dinner is ridiculous, anyway. Let’s all sit around a table and talk about Dad like he’s not been gone from our lives for two decades.
Still, being forgetful isn’t a good enough excuse and I know it.
The first thing I do when we wrap the show is book my flights home.