‘That’s fine. I’m just down at the beach, enjoying the quiet, especially knowing what’s ahead of me at Bondi.’
She chuckles politely. ‘It’s certainly the day for it. But that’s actually what I’m calling about. It would be much better to say this in person, but I know you’re set to leave tomorrow, and—put that down! Sorry Josie, I’m at the movies with my kids.’
What the hell? Natasha Harrington has kids? Who knew?
‘Sure, what’s up?’ I reply.
She clears her throat. ‘I know this puts you on the spot, but I’m sure you realise by now that things move pretty fast in our world. Genevieve Meleska has been poached by Melbourne,’ she huffs. ‘And I’ve been looking through a stack of CVs this weekend, but it just hit me that it’s been staring me in the face this entire time.’ I sit up higher, my breath catching. ‘I know you had that slip-up, Josie, but the way you followed through with that brave report on anxiety was, frankly, spectacular journalism. In fact, that story got more eyes on NRN News around the world than we’ve ever had. And you already know that I think you’re a lovely newsreader. So, take the afternoon to think about it, but if you’re interested, I’d be willing to give you another go on the presenting desk. You would be replacing Genevieve as the weekend newsreader on a trial basis—if you can promise to continue getting the support you need with your health. And, if I’m honest, I can’t thinkof anyone else I’d want more in that seat. You’ve truly got something special.’
My heart thrashes in tandem with the waves lashing the shoreline, an entire future that I’ve never imagined exploding across my vision.
‘Short notice, I know,’ Natasha adds when I’m too gobsmacked to reply. ‘But I wanted to talk to you about it before you left for Sydney. If you choose to accept, you wouldn’t need to start right away. You could still go down and sort out your things and head back up here in a couple of weeks. I can have a contract drawn up for a three-month trial, but if all goes well, of course, I’d be happy to keep you indefinitely. You’re a real asset to us. In fact, Iknowthe Sydney team will want you eventually, so I’ll need to work hard to make sure you’re happier here with us.’
I’m trying to make words, but all my breath is trapped in my lungs. ‘Thank you so much,’ I gasp. ‘I’m blown away and thrilled and am kind of having trouble speaking right now.’
‘Ha, that’s understandable. As long as it doesn’t happen on air again.’
‘It won’t,’ I add quickly, wanting to slap myself for reminding Natasha of that, but her tone stays light.
‘It’s all good, Josie. But I’ve got to run; I’m going into a bloody Minions movie.’
I snicker, and we end the call as a dazed grin spreads across my cheeks.
‘Oh, my fucking god!’ I cry out, and a mother clutching a toddler’s hand frowns while they totter past me.I clamp a hand over my apologetic face that can’t stop smiling and shakily dial Christina’s number.
When she answers with her baby cooing in the background, I spill the news about the job offer in a breathless gush.
‘Darling! That’s fantastic!’
‘I can’t believe it,’ I reply, still reeling, still figuring out what this means.
‘Itisin Newcastle, though. I guess you have to ask yourself if you want to live there for the foreseeable future.’
I glance at the uncrowded ribbon of sand bleeding into an aqua-blue ocean; this whole place looks like it’s snatched off the cover of a luxury travel magazine. ‘I freakingloveit up here,’ I say honestly. ‘It’s got everything I like about Sydney, but with no traffic and a ten-times-easier lifestyle. In fact, apart from seeing you, I was kind of dreading going back to Sydney.’
She squeals. ‘Oh, I’m so happy for you! But I will miss you so much.’
‘I’ll miss you too. And I’m still coming down tomorrow for a couple of weeks to tie up loose ends and give Ashtonallthe snugs.’
She murmurs cute sounds at her little boy as it dawns on me that I’m going to say yes to this job. I’m going to be a newsreader, and I’m going to be doing it in a city in which I can genuinely imagine building a life. Plus, after years of getting nowhere with Oliver Novak, I made the biggest screw-up of my career with NatashaHarrington, and she not only forgave me for it, but she promoted me. I can’t promise Natasha or myself that I won’t ever drop the ball like that again, but she trusts me enough to let me try. That’s the kind of person I want to work for.
Christina’s voice shifts tone. ‘Darling, I have to ask: is this about Zac? Is he the reason you want this job? Because there would be nothing wrong with that. Work is important, of course, but so is love. If Pete needed to move to East Timor tomorrow, there’s no question I’d go with him.’
An uncomfortable flutter takes possession of my stomach. ‘No, he’s not the reason. In fact, I’m not even going to tell him about this right away. I don’t know when I’ll tell him. I just … I don’t want him to think I’m stalking him by moving up here, and I’m also not ready to be around him yet. It hurts too much.’
‘I understand.’
My head flops against the beach chair, and I let the soothing breeze caress my face while Christina fills me in on Ashton’s intense feeding schedule and her severe lack of sleep. She wants me to feel sorry for her, but all I do is smile into the phone with a silent hope that, one day, I’ll find my Pete and my Ashton. And I don’t care what my man does for a living, or what social circles he moves in, or if he has a beach house. There’s only one criterion now.
He has to make me feel the way Zac Jameson does.
*
The lead-footed shuttle driver drops me off forty minutes early for my train, so I settle on one of the benches with my to-do list to keep me occupied. Every few minutes, an arriving train blasts its horn, awakening the sleepy platform with a flurry of activity before the air deadens again.
After messaging my sister to ask when she can catch up over a video chat, I email the removalist company, telling them I’m going to need all my stuff that they picked up from Zac’s place turned around and sent right back up again.Classic. There are plenty of messages I still need to send, but I switch to browsing a real estate website for a place to rent in Newcastle. Natasha hasn’t mentioned salary yet, but I’m confident she’ll offer me an increase that reflects my promotion, and excitement fizzes inside me as I click through images of a cute little weatherboard home in Merewether. Although, I think, I wouldn’t mind being closer to Nobbys.
‘Josie.’
