A Different Path
AN UPLIFTING SHORT STORY WRITTEN BY GLYNIS SCRIVENS
It was a tempting offer – so why was she so reluctant to make the commitment to something new?
“Could you please repeat that?” Denise asked.
A noisy car had driven past as Janelle spoke. Surely, she hadn’t heard her correctly.
But no, she had.
“Why don’t we swap houses for a few months next year?” Janelle repeated. “You love autumn colours. Imagine having two autumns in the one year.”
They stood on the lawn outside the National Library of Australia. The deep blue of Lake Burley Griffin provided the perfect backdrop for the brilliant yellow poplars along its shoreline. In the opposite direction, liquid ambers and pin oaks clamoured for attention with their red leaves fiery against grey government offices.
“I’m quite serious, so give it some thought,” said her friend.
Janelle’s bus pulled in. With a quick peck on the cheek, she was gone.
Denise had arranged to meet another friend in nearby Manuka, so she decided to walk there to clear her head.
The leaves crunched underfoot, and the air felt crisp and clean.
Greg was waiting for her at the café. They’d worked together in the civil service in London for ten years before she’d set up her own software design business. He’d been appointed to the British High Commission in Canberra, so it was only natural to meet up while she was here for an IT conference.
As colleagues, they’d drifted into a close friendship which at one stage had seemed destined for a deeper commitment. But Denise had taken a step backwards, not feeling ready.
Two years later Greg had met someone else in Canberra. Today was their first reunion since he had become a widower three years ago.
“You look lovely,” he said, rising to kiss her lightly on the cheek.
A waitress handed them menus.
“The orange almond cake is nice,” Greg said. “And I’ll have an espresso.”
“Make that two, please,” said Denise.
Her phone beeped. It was Janelle.
We’d swap cars too. And pets.
Denise looked at the images of a Border collie, a Persian, a black Audi, and a brick bungalow with chimneys. There was a glimpse of Lake Burley Griffin in the background.
She showed Greg.
An old friend wants to swap houses with me next autumn.
“She’s missing her family in Rudyard,” she explained.
“Three months?” Greg looked stunned. “That’s a big commitment.”
She nodded.
“And a big temptation. It doesn’t really matter where I work. And I’ve got friends here, and in Sydney.”
“So, what are the negatives?”
The waitress arrived with their orders.
“I’ve always had a bit of a phobia about commitments,” Denise admitted.
She recalled an occasion when she and Greg had woken up together the morning after an office function. It was a Saturday. Instead of a leisurely lie-in and brunch, she’d invented an obligation.
Did he still remember it?
“You’ll need to decide whether you want to commit yourself for three whole months. Your friend would have no problem finding a housesitter if you decline.”
Just as Greg hadn’t had any problems finding a woman ready to commit.
“There are other possibilities, of course.” Greg sipped his coffee.
“Such as?”
The faint scent of his aftershave drifted on the breeze, arousing memories of dinners, walks, camaraderie. Why had she been such a short-sighted idiot?
You could stay on in Canberra now. See if you’d want to stay longer.
She shook her head. “Too expensive.”
“Not necessarily,” he said. “I have a granny flat that’s just been vacated. I rent it out to international students. My last one flew back to India last week.”
“What do you charge?”
“The rent is two hundred dollars a week. Plus doing odd jobs like cooking.”
“I pay that much a night at my motel.”
“Think about it,” he said. “I’m very flexible. You could stay a day, a week, a month. Just take things a day at a time.”
Outside the café, a maple and birch provided a red and gold curtain.
“Which suburb are you?” she asked.
“A mile and a half away, towards Red Hill. We could walk there now, if you like – have a look at the granny flat.”
Does he still have feelings for me? she wondered. She felt reluctant to say goodbye to him.
“That sounds perfect,” she said.
One day at a time, Greg had said.
Yes, that suited her fine.
It felt as though life was offering her a chance to go back in time and follow a different path.
