The Happiness Show (23 page)

 

The next morning they all woke late. It took a while for Lizzie to remember what was what. Where was Jim? That's right: next door with Scarlet. Why was she smiling? That's right: Tom. Lizzie looked down at her hand. The ring was gone. Her mind raced. Had she dreamed it? Then she looked back down at the bright white sheets and there it was, like an offering from the sandman. The elephant ring.

‘Fucking nice mate you turned out to be, Lizzie,' called Keith as he passed her at breakfast.

‘Sorry, Keith.' Lizzie swallowed the last of her eggs. ‘We lost you. What can I say?'

‘Sorry. That's what you can say.'

‘I just did.'

Keith didn't seem seriously peeved, just glad of a chance to chastise her. ‘Anyway, what did you get up to?'

Lizzie didn't know what to say. What had Tom told him? ‘We met up with a few Thai ladyboys and had some crack.'

Tom and Felicity appeared and Keith turned his attention to Tom. ‘Nice one, mate. Australians I can understand, but you're fucking British.'

‘I don't know what happened,' said Tom, ‘We went back but we couldn't find you.'

‘I waited for a bleeding hour, mate.'

‘You know what?' Lizzie drained her orange juice and stood up. ‘Go to the hardware store, buy some wood, build a bridge, get over it.' Then she pinched Keith affectionately on the cheek.

‘Celia was sick last night,' said Felicity. ‘How are Reuben and Scarlet?'

With immense relief Lizzie realised that Felicity didn't suspect a thing.

‘Really? You too? I was up with Reuben all night. He seems fine now. He ate his body weight in Coco Pops for breakfast, which is always a good sign.'

‘Provided he doesn't throw them up all over you. You coming to the pool?'

‘Yes, we'll just get our stuff.'

‘Meet you down there.' Felicity saw Lizzie's hand and picked it up ‘That's a divine ring. Did you get it here?'

‘Yes, last night at the night market.' Lizzie felt herself blushing.

‘I don't usually like rings, but I
really
like that. Would you mind if I bought one like it?'

‘I wouldn't. But you're out of luck. There was only one.'

 

They spent the day by the pool. Helena stayed upstairs with the twins, beeping Becky when it was time to come up and feed. By late afternoon everyone was comfortably numb, drifting in and out of sleep on the sun lounges.

‘Well,' said Becky, hoisting herself up and peering out to sea. ‘I better enjoy this while I can. Helena resigned this morning.'

‘Really?' said Felicity, Tom and Lizzie simultaneously.

‘Why?' asked Felicity. ‘It seemed so perfect.'

‘Man trouble, apparently.'

‘What are you going to do?' asked Felicity. ‘You could use Nagem.'

‘I wondered about that. But I think I might give it a go by myself for a while. I don't want to outsource their whole childhood.'

‘Good idea,' said Lizzie. ‘Pretty soon they'll hate our guts and be backpacking around Europe. Enjoy them while you can and remember what the Buddhists say: “This too shall pass.”'

‘And if all else fails, self-medicate with alcohol,' offered Jim.

And then a very wet and very freaked-out Reuben ran towards the sleepy, slightly tipsy grown-ups. ‘CELIA,' he screamed. ‘CELIA! SHE'S DROWNING!'

‘What?' everyone cried.

Before Lizzie knew what she was doing, she was running to the sand. The others were trying to get information out of Reuben. Tom raced after her. As she ran barefoot along the beach her hat and sunglasses fell behind her. She ran so fast her brain couldn't believe her legs were moving at such speed.

Lizzie caught a glimpse of Celia's little head going under a wave. The surf had turned choppy and there was a visible rip. A wind was whipping up.

Lizzie dived in and swam towards Celia. The little girl wasn't waving or struggling; she was being thrown about by the waves like a rag doll. Lizzie nearly reached her and tried to grab her, but the water snatched her away. Lunging again, Lizzie tried to keep her eyes on the girl's bathers. Each time she caught sight of her, a wave would move Celia a few metres further away. Lizzie could feel the power of the sea and she knew it would take all her will, all her might and a dose of luck to save this girl's life.

Lizzie ducked under a wave and Celia's body brushed against her hand before being dragged away yet again. She was so close. Lizzie took a mouthful of salt water and came to the surface, gagging. She was about to dive under again when she felt Celia's leg. Grabbing it with all her strength, Lizzie clutched Celia to her as a wave pulled them both further out. She dragged Celia's head above water and saw at once that she was having a seizure. Lizzie held on tight and thought back to her bronze medallion days. Head up, clear the airway, conserve energy and wait for help.

Celia was frothing at the mouth now and her eyes had rolled to the back of her head. Lizzie tapped desperately at her face. ‘Celia. Stay with me, sweetheart. Celia.' A wave rolled beneath them and they were both taken back under.

It was only when they resurfaced that Lizzie noticed how far away they were from the shore. And she was frightened. There was a strong current and she knew she couldn't fight it while hanging on to Celia as well. She could see the lifeguards preparing to launch their boat, but it looked like the boat was in trouble. It wasn't moving and a crowd had formed around it.

‘Relax. Relax. Relax,' Lizzie chanted as the little girl twitched and writhed. As the waves lifted them up, Lizzie tried to make out Scarlet on the beach to make sure she was okay. She was starting to panic and was very, very scared. Suddenly she realised there was someone in the water close by. She craned her head to see. It was Jim and he was calling for her.

‘Lizzie! Lizzie! Are you okay?'

‘She's having a fit, Jim. She's alive. I can't hold her much longer.'

Jim took Celia from Lizzie. ‘We're all going to swim back now, Lizzie. Swim across the current, not against it. You start. I'm behind you.'

And for the first time in her life Lizzie did what she was told. They swam, taking turns to carry Celia. Her seizure was subsiding, but she was battered and confused. By the time they reached the shore, the lifeguards had their boat working. Lizzie stumbled up the beach and collapsed, vomiting. Jim carried Celia and placed her on the dry sand.

‘She's alive,' said Jim. ‘She's alive.'

Lizzie opened her eyes. They had survived. And then she looked down at her empty finger. The ring, she thought. My ring is gone.

 

That night it rained. It rained as if it would never stop. Celia was given the all-clear at the local medical centre and they all gathered in the restaurant, shaken but relieved.

Lizzie and Jim ached everywhere but were high as kites. Everyone seemed to know what had happened and strangers bought them bottles of champagne.

‘I don't know how to thank you both,' said Felicity, in tears. ‘You saved her life. What can I say? I've never seen such bravery.' Felicity hugged Lizzie and Tom hugged Jim. And then Felicity hugged Jim and Tom hugged Lizzie. Not like he'd held her the night before but not in the way world leaders greet each other, either. Celia, dazed and exhausted, hugged them too. ‘Thank you,' she said, looking into Lizzie's eyes. ‘Mummy and Daddy only have one child.'

 

As they were packing to leave the next day, Lizzie came across one of Celia's bright pink sandals. It had snuck its way into Scarlet's beach bag.

‘I'm just going downstairs to give this to Celia,' she told Jim.

Wearing linen pants and a shirt for the plane, she felt over-dressed next to the pool.

‘Hey,' Felicity greeted her. ‘All packed?'

‘Almost. I found this.'

‘Oh, thank you. We were looking for that this morning. I found something, too.' Felicity untied a string from around her neck and shook something into her hand. It was the elephant ring.

‘Oh!' Lizzie's eyes shone. ‘You found it! How did you find it?' She slipped it onto her finger.

‘It was here, next to the lounge you were on yesterday.'

‘Oh, Felicity!' Lizzie couldn't help hugging her. ‘I thought I'd lost it in the water. See, it's a bit too big and it keeps slipping off.'

‘This is what you do.' Felicity took Lizzie's left hand and slipped the simple silver band off her ring finger. It wasn't strictly speaking a wedding ring but it was near enough. Jim had given it to her years ago. ‘You take off your wedding ring and you put the elephant ring on first and then your wedding ring will hold it on – keep it safe.'

Lizzie looked down at the two rings next to each other. They looked great.

 

‘Okay,' said Lizzie as they were about to climb onto the bus. ‘This is it.' They said their goodbyes and things got a bit teary.

‘Thanks, Aunty Lizzie,' said Celia. ‘I made you a card with our address on it.'

Lizzie bent down and kissed her. ‘Now you stay out of trouble.'

‘Come and see us, Lizzie. Will you promise?' said Felicity, hugging her.

‘I promise. But I don't know when.'

‘And email me that recipe for pavlova. I gave you my email, didn't I?'

‘Yes. I've got it.'

And then it was time to say goodbye to Tom. Lizzie grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards her, kissing him on the cheek. ‘Bye, Tom,' she said, trying desperately to keep it together. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her.

Lizzie knew she was going to lose it. She pulled away quickly and shepherded the kids onto the bus. They piled in and she looked out the rear window. Tom, Felicity and Celia were waving and grinning like lunatics. Keith and Becky came tearing across from reception and leapt onto the bus to say goodbye. They hugged and kissed and then they were gone.

 

The plane took off and Lizzie's heart sank. As she looked at the rice paddies below, she thought about the things you leave behind. Wherever you go, you leave something and you take something with you. Jim handed her a drink.

‘You know, I was wrong about Tom. He's a really decent guy,' he said, opening his peanuts.

 

*

 

‘I'm so glad you're back,' said Jules when she heard Lizzie's voice on the phone.

‘I'm not glad to be back,' said Lizzie. ‘And have I got a story for you.'

‘No, I've got a story for you. I'm pregnant and this time it's for real. What's your deal?'

‘Oh, Jules, that's brilliant. Fucking brilliant. My deal is not appropriate for a phone conversation. It's a Scrabble conversation. When are you due?'

‘Mid-January. See you Friday, then.'

 

‘Why couldn't Reuben drive you?' asked Jules.

‘He's at his boyfriend's place. They had a huge one last night, just finished their exams.'

‘Ah, Para on the Yarra. Good times. Will you be back in time for the results?'

‘Oh yeah, I'm only gone ten days.'

‘Still travelling with your working-class-cred sack, I see,' said Jules as Lizzie tossed her backpack into the boot.

‘Never leave home without it.'

‘I bet it's chock-full of lube and frangers.'

‘Don't be crass. It's full of dildos and drugs.'

‘Where's Jim?'

‘He and Scarlet are painting sets for the Rock Eisteddfod.'

‘How many years is it now? Thirteen? Lizzie Quealy, I do not know how you keep getting away with this.'

‘But I do. And if it ain't broke …'

‘So where do you tell Jim you're going these days?'

‘Same thing. Happiness conference. I think more couples should give each other a fortnight off a year. I seriously don't think we'd still be together if I didn't get my yearly long-service leave.'

‘What does Jim do with his fortnight?'

‘No idea. Don't ask, don't tell.'

‘I couldn't do it.'

‘You don't have to. But I can. And it keeps me alive. It's good for my health, I reckon.'

‘How so?'

‘Well, they say the key to happiness is having something to do, someone to love and something to look forward to. And it stops me letting myself go. Every year I know I have to look as close as I can to the year before.'

Jules laughed. ‘Ah, Lizzie, don't gild the lily. You're just a massive slut. But in a good way.'

‘Is there any other?'

 

As the plane took off Lizzie fiddled with her elephant ring and looked out the window. Then she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Twenty-six hours later she touched down in Paris. Lizzie fizzed with a familiar feeling of anticipation as she collected her backpack, hopped into a cab and asked the driver to take her to
La
rue des
Mauvais Garçons
, the street of the bad boys. As they pulled up outside the Grand Hotel du Loiret, her heart fluttered. This bit was her favourite. ‘Ah,
oui,
Madame Quealy. Your friend is already in the room. 308, as usual.'

Lizzie took the lift up. There it was, 308. Still there. How many times had she relived this moment, savoured it? She knocked gently as her heart pounded.

Footsteps. Handle turning. Hinges yawning.

‘Darling!'

‘Lizzie!'

Tom pulled her in as he always did, closed the door as he always did, held her face in his hands as he always did and they both said at the same time, as they always did:

‘Now, where were we?'

 

Reading group notes

by Catherine Deveny

A reader's introduction to
The Happiness Show
:

At thirty-eight, Lizzie Quealy thinks she has things sorted: a happy relationship, a couple of gorgeous kids, a steadfast best friend and a career she loves. But when Lizzie bumps into Tom, an old flame from her globe-trotting twenties, her life begins to unravel.

Tom is her ‘unfinished business': the man she might have spent her life with, if things had gone a little differently. Ten years on, the spark is still there – but how far is Lizzie prepared to go to recapture it, and at what cost?

Set in Melbourne, London and Bali, via Tokyo and the Trans-Siberian Express,
The Happiness Show
is a refreshingly honest story about love, fidelity and the messiness of second chances. Sexy and hilarious, it explores the rules and taboos of contemporary relationships – and what happens when they stand in the way of one woman's pursuit of happiness.

 

Questions for discussion:

 

1. Lizzie and Tom had a whirlwind love affair in their twenties. Do you think their relationship would have sustained the same passion if they had married and had kids together?

 

2. Why do you think Tom and Lizzie had such an amazing relationship? Was it simply because they were young and travelling and away from home, or was it a genuine connection? When they meet up again, what part does nostalgia for their younger selves play in their attraction to each other?

 

3. Do you think most people have “unfinished business”? Is it important to pursue these relationships if the opportunity arises later on in life? Do you believe some people are meant to be together?

 

4. Lizzie seems to have it all, but when she runs into Tom again, she considers risking everything to be with him. When she mentions this to Jules, Jules asks: “How will you live with yourself?” To which Lizzie responds: “Jules! How will I live with myself if I don't?” Where do you stand on this? Is it more important to be faithful and avoid the hurt infidelity can cause, or to follow your passions?

 

5. Lizzie suggests that an affair might sometimes save a relationship. What do you think? Is infidelity ever a good idea? Is it ever morally acceptable?

 

6.
The Happiness Sho
w shifts back and forth between the present and the past. Did you enjoy this technique? How does it build anticipation about Lizzie and Tom's relationship?

7. Lizzie is very conscious of class differences, both at home in Australia and with Tom in the UK. What role do you think class would have played in Lizzie and Tom's relationship if they had stayed together? Does a person's social class determine her definition of happiness? Can money buy happiness?

 

8. Lizzie is fascinated by different ideas of happiness, as the title of her TV show (and the novel itself) suggests. Do Jim and Tom represent two different kinds of happiness for Lizzie? If so, which do you think is more desirable, and/or more sustainable: the quiet, steady happiness of a long-term relationship, or the more intense excitement of a new romance? Can we ever have both?

 

9. Do you think Lizzie's solution to her dilemma is sustainable? What do you think Jim does with his annual “week off”?