The Grass is Greener (5 page)

‘But she's not aggressive,' Bronwyn protested as Elsa barked at the other dogs, all of which cowered in one corner of an outdoor play pen.

‘There's a vicious looking scar on her back,' remarked the administrator. ‘Explain that to me.'

To be honest, Bronwyn had not had the time to notice it, but now that it had been brought to her attention she tried to block it from view at Pet Play House and Hound Hotel. It was to no avail.

‘We don't take pitbulls, mastiffs, or staffies.' The teenager with dark-purple painted nails that matched the streak in her hair drummed her fingers on the counter. ‘Or any breeds known for their aggression. They just put too much wear and tear on the premises. And we aren't willing to risk the liability.'

Surprisingly, Elsa was best behaved when riding in the car. Happy to gaze quietly out the window at the blur of passing buildings with her tongue lolling.

‘Why can't you be like this when we go inside?' Bronwyn demanded.

Elsa whined slightly and scratched her ear.

‘You know, it's for your own good. If we don't get you into a place soon I don't know where you're going to sleep tonight.'

Elsa barked, her tail thumping against the seat.

‘Not at my place,' Bronwyn said sternly. ‘I live in very nice apartment in Subiaco. No pets allowed.'

Elsa seemed pleased with this and the tail only thumped harder.

Finally, about five o'clock that afternoon, Bronwyn found Canine Comfort. It was a large property, further out of the city than all the rest. Situated, in fact, in the outer coastal area of Yanchep, a suburb home to one of Perth's national parks. She had to drive over an hour to get there but figured it was probably worth it. If ever there was a perfect spot for a dog kennel, this was it. She just hoped the patrons might be more ‘relaxed' than the others she had tried.

Across the road was a large park, which Elsa tried to run off to the second she bounded out of the car. Luckily, Bronwyn was
now getting quite used to her spontaneity and had managed to wrap the leash twice around her wrist before it pulled taut.

‘Nice try,' she smirked triumphantly and pulled Elsa towards the doors of Canine Comfort, chanting all the way,
Please don't turn me away. Please don't turn me away.

By now at least she had a bit of system going and some good lawyer spiel to increase her credibility up front. Before the girl at the counter could even greet her, she opened her argument.

‘Hi, my name is Bronwyn Eddings. I'm a lawyer from Bantam, Harvey and Grey and I'm here on behalf of my client. How are you?'

The young girl behind the counter removed the lollipop from her mouth and sat up straighter. ‘Er … good.'

Bronwyn passed her card swiftly across the counter and as the girl picked it up, she continued talking. ‘This is his dog, for which we require a temporary holding. Unfortunately, I do not have Elsa's vaccination or flea treatment papers on my person but if you give me your email or fax number I can have those directed to you within twenty-four hours. How does that sound?'

‘Er … good.' The young girl nodded slowly.

Bronwyn curbed the urge to dance on the spot before saying, with a complete lack of emotion, ‘Fantastic. Do you have some consent forms I can complete for you?'

‘Sure.'

The girl pulled these from a pigeon hole. While Bronwyn was filling them out, she walked around the counter so that she could look at Elsa.

‘She's a mastiff,' she observed.

‘A very placid one,' Bronwyn hastily added, relieved to note that lightning did not strike her dead as the white lie tripped easily off her tongue. ‘Most of the time.' At least for once Elsa was sitting calmly at her feet, panting happily.

‘Hey, girl.' The teenager got down to Elsa's level and rubbed a hand over her glossy coat. ‘Aren't you good-looking.'

‘Yes, she is,' Bronwyn added for good measure. ‘Very well groomed by her owner. I'm sure she'll be no trouble to you at all.'

‘How long will you leave her here for?'

‘A few months, maybe more. Where do I sign?'

The girl, whose hand had slowed over the side of Elsa's belly, frowned. ‘Actually, nowhere. I don't think you should.' She stood up.

Bronwyn froze. ‘Huh?'

‘We won't be taking her today.'

‘
What?
Why?' Bronwyn cried. ‘She's been so well behaved and not in the least bit aggressive.'

‘Yes, poor thing,' the girl nodded. ‘Being a bullmastiff she must get lumped with that stereotype a lot. But that's not why I'm passing.'

‘Then why? I don't understand. Haven't I considered all of your requirements? Vaccination? Fleas? Grooming? Behaviour? There can't possibly be something else you object to.'

The girl shrugged. ‘She's pregnant.'

‘
She's what
?'

‘Pregnant. And pretty far along from the look of things.'

‘No, that can't be right. She doesn't look that fat.'

‘Her nipples are quite prominent. I wouldn't think she's more than a few weeks away from popping, if that.'

‘Seriously?'

‘I'm sorry, but we can't deliver puppies here, we don't have the liability insurance for it.' She glanced meaningfully at the card on the counter.

Bronwyn glared at Elsa, who put her head down between her paws as though to stave off the lecture. ‘What did you do?'

Elsa made a slight whiny noise.

‘Does your father know about this?'

Elsa barked.

‘How could you do this to me? How could you do this to
us
? This place was the last kennel on my list within driving distance. What am I supposed to do now?'

‘Er …' the young girl interrupted, ‘could you take her back to your client?'

‘I would,' Bronwyn retorted, ‘only the bastard's in jail, isn't he?'

‘Oh,' the girl smiled uncertainly. ‘So did you want your card back then?'

‘
Damn it!
' She tugged on the lead. ‘Never mind. Come on, Elsa.' She stomped all the way back to her car. ‘I've just wasted five hours of my life on a wild goose chase.'

She lifted her keys to remotely unlock her car when Elsa happened to notice the park across the road again. She barked ferociously and then tore off in this direction, pulling Bronwyn across the bitumen with her. When they were off the road, Bronwyn had the good sense to simply let go of the leash. As Elsa ran to the far end of the park, she dropped her hands to her knees to catch her breath. Her feet were two lumps of pure agony. She reached down and yanked off her high heels, throwing the shoes away from her. Sighing with relief, she hobbled over to the kids' play equipment and sat down on the swing. Elsa did laps of the surrounds, stopping to sniff the ground at intervals.

Bronwyn was sure if she looked at her phone there would be at least a dozen missed calls from Simon. No doubt he expected her back at the office by now, dog-free and ready to explain herself. Instead, she was still here with Elsa, with red blistered feet and the unwelcome discovery that yet another person had managed to take advantage of her.

As if refusing to be ignored, her phone buzzed in her handbag.

Great.

She supposed she couldn't avoid him forever. Fishing the phone out, she closed her eyes and said, ‘Hello?'

‘Bronwyn, what's your status? I need you on the Hayman case. You should have been back hours ago.'

What, no ‘How are you, Bronwyn? Do you still have all your fingers or did that dog take one?'

Frown lines appeared at the bridge of her nose and the first pin of rebellion stuck in her spine. ‘My status is busy. I still have Peter Goldman's dog with me.'

‘Why?'

‘Because no kennel will take her. She's pregnant.'

Simon groaned. ‘For fuck's sake, take the dog to the pound.'

‘But they'll put her down if they can't give her away.'

Pregnant and aggressive. Bronwyn did not like Elsa's chances.

‘That's not our problem. That dog is a fuckin' imposition. Not to mention the damage to our property, which I fully intend to add to Peter Goldman's bill. Get rid of that dog, Bronwyn, and get back here now. We can't waste any more of your time on this.'

‘No.'

There was a heady pause in which she felt all her senses go on high alert. The sound of the crickets in the grass grew louder, her upper lip moistened. She licked it, tasting her own sweat as she waited. Claudia was right. There was the perfect answer to all her problems.

‘
What did you say?
'

‘I said … er … No, sir.'

‘And what exactly do you intend to do instead?'

Bronwyn licked her lips again. ‘I'm going to keep the dog, sir. And I need a little bit of time this afternoon to sort that out.'

Simon laughed. A laugh that was neither humorous nor warm. ‘Perhaps you'd like to take tomorrow off too to buy it a dog bowl and blanket?'

‘Actually, that would be perfect.'

‘Bronwyn!' he barked. ‘I don't care if you are an Eddings or not. I will have no hesitation in firing you if you do not get back to your desk immediately.'

Her heart sank. ‘Oh.'

‘The truth is, despite your very impressive pedigree, you lack the qualities I admire the most in your mother and father.'

Bronwyn's slumped shoulders lifted. ‘Really? I do?'

‘Definitely. While you are competent, I expected so much more grit in the daughter of Bianca Hanks.'

‘Of course you did.'

‘In fact, I don't think you should have become a lawyer at all!'

Bronwyn laid a hand on her chest. ‘Sir, that is the nicest thing you have ever said to me.'

‘Are you being sarcastic?'

‘No.' She frowned. ‘Of course not.'

‘Good, because we stand to incur penalties if you don't get the Hayman documents filed in court by tomorrow. You need to get back to the office now. Do you understand me?'

‘I understand you perfectly, sir.' Bronwyn's features hardened as another pin of rebellion was driven home. ‘But I am not taking this dog to the pound.'

‘Then you're fired.'

‘Thank you, sir, I was hoping you'd say that. I would have quit but I didn't want to work notice.'

‘
What?
'

‘I'll come and pick up my things another day,' Bronwyn said. ‘Like I said, I have a dog to sort out.'

Elsa barked happily at her as she cut the line with shaky fingers. She put the phone back in her handbag, trying to process what had just happened.

Surprisingly, her panic was subsiding and she was feeling good.

Really good.

She began to swing slowly, backwards and forwards.

Up and down.

The wind whipped her hair, causing strands to come out of her stylishly loose bun and brush against her face. She could hear wild birds tweeting in the trees and the roar of the occasional car from the main road in the distance. It had been a long time since she'd been to a park and sat on a swing.

Life was one long rat race and there was no time for anything but the game.

This was her defining moment.

This was the point where she realised it all had to change.

She'd been such a coward up until this point, more concerned about hiding who she was than revealing it. But the truth was she'd been moving towards this moment for a long time.

She let the sides of the swing go and flung herself out. Jumping into the sand like a symbolic leap of faith. She rummaged in her bag again for her phone. It only took her a second to find Claudia's number and only another five for her best friend to answer the call.

‘Hey, Bron, I'm just heading to your place now. Had a hellish day.'

‘Me too. I'm coming home as well.'

‘Oh really? Isn't it early?'

‘Yeah. I sort of have a bit of problem.'

‘Okay. What?'

‘You know that dog you told me not to take at any cost?'

‘Y-es.' Claudia's tone was deeply suspicious.

‘I kinda … did.'

When Claudia arrived at Bronwyn's super-slick Subiaco apartment building, it was not to be greeted with the luxuries of inner-city living. Instead, the vision that greeted her was of Bronwyn streaking across the car park, being dragged by a dog the size of a small pony. Her friend looked a mess. Her hair was out and windswept, her skirt suit in crumpled disarray and her feet bare and dirty. It was like she'd been bitten by a pixie and gone wild.

‘
Bron?
'

‘Hey.' Bron stopped next to Claudia's ute, completely breathless, her bright smile indicating that her current state caused her none of the unhappiness that you might expect. ‘Glad you finally got here. This is Elsa. Beautiful, isn't she?'

‘Sure.' Claudia slowly lowered her hand to the dog's head, giving it a tentative pat. ‘If you discount the fact that her father's in jail, she's pregnant and by association you're currently ineligible to stay in your own apartment.'

‘And I got fired because of her as well.' Bron merrily shook her finger.

‘
You got fired?!
'

‘Did I forget to mention that? I guess in the information offload over the phone, it got missed out.'

‘Yeah, right,' Claudia retorted. ‘You didn't tell me on purpose.'

Bronwyn rolled her eyes. ‘Maybe because I knew you would react like this and really there's nothing to be worried about.'

‘How can you say that?' Claudia gasped. ‘What are you going to do?'

‘Do?' Bronwyn's eyes lit up like Christmas lights. ‘What can I do but enjoy it?'

‘Which part exactly?'

‘All of it. This is one of the best days of my life and it's shortly to become the best day of yours.'

Claudia frowned. ‘I'm not seeing it.'

‘You will.' Bronwyn nodded as she struggled with Elsa, who clearly wanted to take off again. ‘Perhaps if we take a walk down to my local park I can tell you all about my cunning plan.'

‘You've got a cunning plan?' Claudia raised her eyebrows. ‘Okay. Who are you and what have you done with my friend?'

‘Stop it,' Bronwyn laughed. ‘Simon reckons I have no grit either, but maybe it's just with law. Maybe I can be brave at something else.'

‘There's bravery and there's stupidity.'

‘Come on, don't be like that. I'll explain on the way.'

‘You're going to take a walk without shoes?' Claudia looked down at her feet.

‘Good point.' Bronwyn handed her the dog lead. ‘I'll be back in a jiffy.'

As soon as she was gone, Elsa clearly recognised Claudia as the inferior authority and ran circles around her, winding the lead about her body.

‘Hey,' Claudia cried with a half laugh, half groan. ‘Quit it! You've already caused enough trouble as it is.'

She had no idea how Bronwyn was going to keep this dog, especially living in a two-bedroom apartment on the second
floor. It was just no place for an animal, especially one of this size. She ran a hand down Elsa's back, pausing curiously at a scar on her right shoulder. A thought distracted Claudia.

Maybe Bron's decided to move.

Her eyes widened.

Was that the plan? After all, she had just lost her job. Claudia felt a pang for the place. She'd always loved Bronwyn's fancy digs but knew it would probably be too expensive to keep without the fancy job as well. Whatever the case, change was coming and it was going to be drastic.

It took Bronwyn about ten minutes to return, so Claudia figured she was probably getting changed as well. She used the time to imagine all sorts of harebrained schemes that her best friend might have in mind to fix her life. Bronwyn was such an idealist and often far too trusting. Claudia had never heard her say a bad word about anyone. Even her own parents, and it wasn't like they didn't deserve it.

Claudia remembered one summer she had signed them both on to a Big Sister program that hooked up well-adjusted young adults with teenagers who ‘needed new role models'. They had taken two sixteen-year-olds to Adventure World, Perth biggest fun park. One of them told Bronwyn she'd left something in the car and Bronwyn had just given her the keys to go and retrieve it. They'd been left stranded in Bibra Lake all afternoon.

Unsurprisingly, Bronwyn's shock was not at the girl's dishonesty but her age. ‘She's only sixteen,' she had said. ‘Who knew she could drive?'

Claudia sighed at the memory. She really hoped Bronwyn hadn't bitten off more than she could chew this time as well.

‘Ready to go?' her friend asked brightly when she returned, holding out her hand for the leash.

‘Ready as I'll ever be.'

They took off down the street, Bronwyn's arm stretched out before her as Elsa tried to increase the pace. ‘Heel, Elsa, heel,' she chided gently.

‘Okay, I'm sick of waiting. Tell me what you've got in your head, because imagining the worst is driving me crazy.'

‘Well, it's really quite simple.' Bronwyn grinned. ‘We both hate our lives right now. It's just making us both miserable. I think one of the ideas we came up with earlier would really work.'

Claudia gasped. ‘You want to fake our own deaths?'

‘No, doofus! I want to swap places. It's the perfect solution.'

‘Yeah,' Claudia rolled her eyes. ‘Perfect if I had your DNA. Bronwyn, you're dreaming.'

Bronwyn ignored her friend's response. ‘It's not only possible, it's actually perfect timing.' The excitement in her voice stepped up a notch. ‘I've lost my job and gained a pregnant dog. I can't live in this apartment. I need a big country house with lots of open space. You, on the other hand, need to start working in law again.'

‘Are you suggesting I apply for the job you just got fired from?'

‘No,' Bronwyn shook her head immediately, ‘I'm suggesting you apply for a job at Hanks and Eddings.'

Claudia sucked in a breath. ‘You want me to work for your family?'

‘Well, Mum sent me an email today saying she'd set up an interview for me with Uncle Cyril tomorrow. So I called his secretary and notified her that you'd be attending instead.'

Claudia gasped. ‘
You did what?
'

‘Ten am. Don't be late.'

Claudia choked. ‘But you can't do that. Your mum isn't recommending me.'

‘Who cares?' Bronwyn swatted her hand. ‘Uncle Cyril's secretary doesn't know that. All she knows is that I'm an Eddings, so I must know what I'm talking about. I told her that I was leaving town and couldn't make the interview so my mother was recommending you instead.'

‘And your uncle will be fine with that?'

‘Most likely he won't know about the swap till tomorrow morning,' Bronwyn assured her.

‘And that's a good thing because …?'

‘Once you're in the door, you'll impress the hell out of him and he'll forget who came with what recommendation.'

‘I think you're reaching a bit there, Bron.'

Her friend only laughed. ‘I know you, Claud. You've got the grit that everybody wants. Just use it.'

By this time they had reached the park and Bronwyn bent down to unclip Elsa's leash. The second the dog was free, Elsa tore off towards the tree line.

‘Bronwyn, your mum will be furious when she finds out I took the job that was meant for you.'

‘Don't worry,' Bronwyn promised. ‘Once you're working there, she won't say a word. If there's one thing my mother hates more than anything, it's being made to look like a fool.'

‘I was afraid you were going to say that,' Claudia groaned.

‘You worry too much.'

‘You worry too little.'

‘Isn't that what you like about me?' Bronwyn smiled.

‘I wish I had your blind trust, Bron, but I really don't think it's that simple.' Claudia shook her head. ‘Why would your mother recommend me of all people?'

‘Because you're a close friend of the family, of course.'

‘Your close friend maybe, but she never liked me. I was always the bad influence who used to steal you away to the country. I remember she used to resent the hell out of it whenever you'd bring me to an Eddings family function.'

‘That's only because she was secretly annoyed that I didn't have a boyfriend of good pedigree to bring instead,' Bronwyn retorted as she sat down on a nearby park bench, watching Elsa sniffing at an invisible trail that weaved into a bush. ‘I absolutely hated those events. I would have been so miserable without you there.'

While Claudia deplored high society fluff, wasteful amounts of food and needless condescension, she was by no means
immune to the opportunity to play Cinderella for a night with her best friend. She winced guiltily. In fact, she had secretly loved attending Bronwyn's family events, just to see how the other side lived – all those high-profile guests she read about in the media, and the gorgeous venues she'd never have set foot in but for their invitation.

She'd actually seen, though not formally met, Bronwyn's Uncle Cyril, who headed up Hanks and Eddings. She'd been to his daughter's wedding. It was the last event she had attended with Bronwyn, over two years ago. It had taken place on a yacht and Cyril had given an entertaining speech full of humour and goodwill. It had lacked only one element to reflect the significance of the occasion – depth.

Cyril struck Claudia as someone who was good-natured as long as it didn't in any way inconvenience him – the very embodiment of the ‘fairweather friend'. She doubted he would remember her, but then she was sure that people such as herself who hung upon the fringes of his family's society like desperate band groupies did not make it into his memory bank. Not that she thought this was malicious or mean. She just suspected that his primary concern, like most Eddingses and lawyers alike, was the firm.

Claudia sat down beside Bronwyn. ‘I'm still not completely comfortable walking into an interview that came from a fake recommendation.'

Bronwyn sighed. ‘Look, my family has never cared what I wanted. They have manipulated me my whole life to be who they want. What we're doing is nothing. Besides, what's the worse they can do? Not hire you? Come on, Claud, you know this is what you've always wanted.'

It is.

And then some.

She felt her will wavering. ‘And what will you do?'

‘Elsa and I will hop in your ute and make for the hills. Oak Hills. I will take on your role as manager of your father's winery. You know I could do it, right?'

Claudia nodded slowly, wincing as she went. She had seen Bronwyn in action on her parents' property before. Her best friend knew a lot about their business and how they ran things. However, there was a big difference between helping out and managing the place full time.

‘I mean, I know it's a little more responsibility than your family ever gave me but if I have any problems you're just a phone call away, and I figure Oak Hills is already on its last legs, so it's not like I can do any real damage.'

Claudia's mouth twisted as she thought of her family. ‘You'd be surprised.'

‘Well, I have a hankering to show you what I can do!' Bronwyn announced passionately.

‘What are you saying?' Claudia asked dryly. ‘That you'll succeed where I have failed?'

‘I didn't mean it like that,' Bronwyn eyed her worriedly. ‘I just meant I'm going to give it my all.'

Claudia rubbed her temple. ‘I know. You love that place more than your own home. But I think you're oversimplifying the situation. You've forgotten the most important part of the Franklin Estate.
The Franklins
.'

Bronwyn's gaze dropped to her hands, which were clasped firmly in her lap. ‘Your family won't like it?'

‘I think there would definitely be some unease,' Claudia said slowly. ‘I mean, you know they love you, Bron. They talk about you all the time. Ask when you're coming to visit and all that. But … you coming home
instead
of me? They'd be shocked and probably a little hurt too.'

Bronwyn's shoulders drooped. ‘That's true. I guess I wouldn't want to go somewhere I'm not welcome.'

‘Not welcome?' Claudia blew on her fringe. ‘No, it won't be like that. Chris will love having you around. And Mum, you know her, she'll be too consumed with excitement to see the wood for the trees at first.'

‘It's your dad I have to worry about, isn't it?'

Claudia frowned. ‘To be honest, he's been grumpy since his retirement. Hasn't agreed with most of the changes I've implemented at Oak Hills over the years. So that'll be nothing new. But are you prepared to deal with him?'

Bronwyn raised her eyes slowly. ‘I think I can certainly give it a shot if you'll let me. Come on, Claud, take a chance.'

A light, airy feeling entered Claudia's chest, almost like it was filling with butterflies. To hand over all her obligations to another so that she could pursue her own dreams? It seemed too good to be true.

Did they dare risk it?

‘When were you planning on leaving?' she asked breathlessly.

Bronwyn leaned forward. ‘First thing in the morning. I can conceal Elsa in my apartment for one night perhaps, but not for much longer.'

Claudia thought hard. It was all happening so fast, her head was beginning to spin. For so long, she had been trapped by what her family wanted. Bronwyn had too.

Did they dare be selfish?

It was such a fantasy. Such a risk to both their situations. And to Oak Hills as well.

Her family would think she'd gone off the rails.

Maybe she had.

‘Don't overthink it, Claud.' Bronwyn grabbed her hand. ‘If you do, you'll never agree. We just need to take what we can and prove that we deserve it later.'

Claudia squeezed her best friend's hand in return. ‘Are you sure you're up for this? You don't know how bad it's become at Oak Hills. It really is a sinking ship.'