Part 27 (1/2)

'Fine, thanks. An odd man at Immigration asked if we were related to Ruby. I guess it's a much smaller airport than Heathrow.'

Daphne spotted the fogging around the rims of Fran's sungla.s.ses. 'How about Clementine and I get the car and we'll come to pick you up with the luggage?'

'Sounds like a plan,' I said.

'I'm keeping it all in for Clementine,' Fran said when we were alone, clutching my hand, 'but I'm not sure how long I can do that.'

'I could take you somewhere quiet. Just the two of us. We can talk about it.' I pushed the trolley towards the footpath.

'I can't talk until I've had time to think. I need sleep first, food, possibly alcohol and room to think.'

In the car on the way to the Yarra Valley, Clem sang every line of 'Just You Wait' complete with hands on hips and finger wagging, Fran made small talk with Daphne about the weather and I tried to attend a conference call with Melissa Hatton.

'The worse I look, the more Donaldson loves me, Roo,' said Melissa. 'We've got the front page of the paper today as well as a vox pop and editorial on dirty campaigning.'

Reluctantly, I un-muted my BlackBerry. 'Sounds like a decent turnaround.'

'Oh ho ho, 'enry 'iggins, just you wait!'

'Where in G.o.d's name are you?'

'Down you'll go 'enry 'iggins! Just you wait!'

'Community event.'

'Sounds torturous,' said Melissa. 'Thanks for everything. I'll let you get back to it.'

'Feel free to call if I can help at all.'

She hung up.

'Did you like that song, Aunty Wooby?'

'Very much so,' I said. 'The ending was my favourite part.'

Finally, following a deafening rendition of 'The Rain in Spain' for which Clem adapted her accent to both parts of the duet, we made our way up the driveway. Debs stood cradling a tiny pup on the deck.

'Who is that lady, Daphne?' asked Clem.

'That's my friend Debs.'

'Does she live here too?'

'Yes, this is her house.'

'What's that puppy's name?'

'JFK.'

'Where are the other puppies?'

'Inside.'

'Where are the puppies' mummy and daddy?'

'Pansy, their mummy, is inside. I don't know where their daddy is.'

'He's probably with my daddy at the Jewish Poodles Conference in Bang the Desk.' Clem leaped out of her seatbelt and marched towards the deck.

'Bang the Desk, indeed,' muttered Fran.

'h.e.l.lo, Debs,' Clem said before anyone could introduce them. 'My name is Clementine Genevieve Gardner-Stanhope. Your friend Daphne is my great aunt because she has so many ears.'

'Nice to meet you, Clementine Genevieve Gardner-Stanhope.' Debs bent to shake her hand.

'You don't have to call me that, silly,' she said. 'Aunty Wooby calls me Clem.'

'Righto,' said Debs, 'Clem it is.'

'This is my mummy,' said Clem when the rest of us had caught up with them.

'Thank you for having us in your beautiful home,' said Fran.

'Pleasure. Shy kid you've got here.' Debs lowered herself to Clem's level. 'Want to pat him, Clem?'

'He's very soft,' Clem whispered.

Debs took Clem by the hand and led her inside. 'Let me introduce you to the others.'

While Fran and Clem showered, Daphne insisted on doing my was.h.i.+ng and Debs and I made a pot of tea.

'So, are you legal yet, kiddo?'

'Yes, thanks to you. Your fee is at the dry-cleaner's.'

'Good to hear. So, you and little Lukey Harley, eh?' She slapped me on the back as if we were blokes on barstools.

'What about me and Luke?'

'No need to be coy,' she said. 'He's a good guy.'

'I know he is. He's my boss.'

'He's the Chief of Staff. It's a week out from polling day and he left a meeting with his boss to rescue you. You seriously expect me to believe you're not doing him?'

'Excuse me?'

'It's fine. I won't judge you for it. I mean, he's not my type.'

'Clearly,' I said as Daphne joined us.