And It All Falls Down

And It All Falls DownJoy Namdar Copyright © 2023 JOY NAMDARIANAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems - except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews - without permission in writing from its publisher, Namdar Books.This is entirely a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales and incidents are either the work of the author’s imaginations or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Scenes involving Victoria Police, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The Royal Children’s Hospital are imagined, and do not reflect on the true workings of these highly-respected organisations.All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Namdar Books is not associated with any product or vendor in this book.First published in 2023Published by Namdar BooksKew, 3101 Victoria, Australiawww.namdarbooks.com.auCover design by Blanche ChuaA catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of AustraliaE-book ISBN: 978-0-6453303-1-1 For Vivian CHAPTER ONE“You know, Christine, I don’t like to gossip.”Christine is not aware of this fact.“But we’ve been neighbours for over a year now. Archie and Zack are best friends. I tell you, the two of them are like peas in a pod! And, well, we know how hard you work to care for your family. Having a child like Carly, with all her health challenges…”Mel pauses and turns to look at Carly, who is in her standing frame watching cartoons on her iPad.“Oh! She’s looking good today!”Mel is a large woman with voluminous glossy black hair. She is frequently seen in loose floral dresses and large chunky jewellery. She intertwines her thick bejewelled fingers on her knee.“I admire you, I truly do. You do such an amazing job with the kids. Honestly, I don’t know how you do it. And I don’t like interfering in other people’s affairs but I feel terrible about what your husband is doing.”Before becoming a full time stay-at-home mum, Mel was a lawyer, and she was as tough as they came. Seeing her hesitate now, and unsure of herself, Christine feels a sense of dread wash over her.Bad news is coming.“There is no easy way for me to say this so I’ll just go right ahead and say it. Christine, just last week, you were telling me about your temporary separation. You said that Josh needed space so he could focus on getting a job. Well, he’s lying to you. He’s having an affair with one of the mums at school.”Mel registers the confusion on Christine’s face. I was right, she doesn’t know.“Josh?” Christine asks, although she knows exactly who Mel is talking about.“Yes. Josh.”“No. This can’t be true. How do you know, Mel?”“There’s been talk at the school. It’s been going on for a while now. You couldn’t have known about it, I guess, because you’re hardly ever at the school, and we do the drop-offs and pick-ups. Also, he’s living with her.”“What? But he told me he rented an apartment in the city.”“No. He moved out of this house into her house.”“This can’t be true. Josh couldn’t be with someone else already. We’ve been separated not longer than six months. How could he have not only met someone but moved in with her so soon? Who is she?”“Anita Grainger,” Mel replies. “Tall, blonde, always in active wear. Mum of Caleb in grade four?”Christine shakes her head.“I don’t know her.”Besides Mel and her husband, Christine doesn’t know any of the parents at school. Josh had done all the school stuff while Christine stayed home to care for Carly. Since kindergarten, Josh had been responsible for all of Zack’s playdates, birthdays, etc. He thrived on social events and they always put him in a great mood, so Christine didn’t mind missing out.“Josh picked Caleb up from school today. The nerve of that man! We haven’t seen him much lately since his new job. He was…”“Hang on a tick…” The nervous current that was surging through her body is now at unstable levels. “Josh has a job?”“He’s had a job for several months now. Oh no, Christine, I’m so sorry. I thought you’d know that at least.”Christine shakes her head. “That bastard! I literally spoke to him this morning and he pretended he was going to a job interview.”“Well, that’s what I heard anyway. Maybe I’m wrong. You should have a chat with him. But what I really need to tell you is…”There’s more?“...that Zack was so excited to see his dad at pick-up. He ran up to Josh yelling ‘Daddy! Daddy!’ and Josh just walks out the gate pretending he didn’t hear him. Zack was screaming and running after his dad but Josh got into his car with Caleb and just drove off. That made my blood boil. I couldn’t believe he did that! I tell you, that Josh is a sneaky one. Don’t go back to him, Christine. He’s no good.”Christine is trembling with rage.Breathe, Christine, breathe. She repeats this over and over in her head, like what she often pleads for her daughter to do when she has apneic seizures. Breathe, Carly, please breathe for mummy.“I told Zack that his dad didn’t hear him. He asked me why he picked up another boy instead of him. I said I wasn’t sure, and that you’d be able to explain everything to him.”“I need to call Josh,” says Christine.“Of course,” says Mel, standing up abruptly to leave.“Thank you for telling me all this, Mel. I…I have to call Josh.”“Yes, of course. I’ll bring Zack to mine for a playdate with Archie. Just pick him up whenever you’re ready.”Her phone is already calling Josh when Mel slips out the door. Christine goes out to the backyard, keeping an eye on Carly through a closed window.The grass in the backyard is overgrown. Fat flies