Sydney house prices. A fiction in four parts. Part 3

It’s 6am. Fay rises alone. The house is quiet and the sun is well and truly up.

Fay pads curiously through the house. Past Sean’s stuff; teetering towers dominating the hall landscape. Past the inherited ceramics she hates. Down the worn carpeted stairs. Past a soaking casserole dish.

Where is her husband.

She enters the garage. Les is sitting in Sean’s car, his head is back, his right arm hangs out the window loosely holding an unlit cigarette.

It’s been 26 years since Les smoked, thinks Fay.

Les leans over and opens the passenger door for Fay.

She slides in. Floral pyjamas against black leather interior.

Les says, Do you know how long it’s been since I smoked?

Fay shakes her head.

25 years, says Les. I was 30.

You were 29. Fay thinks to herself.

They are both thinking where does time go. But both know neither has the answer.

So they sit silently in their son’s luxury German automobile, wearing pyjamas.

Eventually, Les says, this car was made before Sean was born.

Les is rolling the unlit cigarette back and forth between his fingers. He had forgotten he liked to do that.

Let’s go for a drive.

Fay looks down at small flowers against black leather.

Can I get dressed first?

But she sees a freedom in her husband’s face she hasn’t seen since maybe he was a smoker.

She smiles at their youthful selves.

A door bangs inside.

Oh hell. He’s awake! Les tries to move frantically. The car is low and makes quick escape for the unfit 60 something comical.

What’s wrong? Fay wants to throw caution and floral pyjamas to the wind.

We don’t have permission to be in here! Les whispers, losing his breath.

He accidentally breaks the cigarette and loose tobacco spills over the driver’s seat.

Damn it! I’ll get in trouble!

Les is sweating, and brushing down the seat unsuccessfully. Tobacco gets in the seat creases.

Fay laughs out loud, and Les holds his index finger to his mouth to suggest quiet. But he is laughing as well.

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Part 4 next newsletter. Tune in.

Click here to read Part 1

Click here to read Part 2

This is of course not to be taken as legal advice.