The Road Back Read Online Free PDF Page B

not an option.’
    Jill’s response wasn’t surprising, but Chris decided to press on. ‘Jill, I’ll talk to the editor, explain the situation to him. I won’t be taking off out of town all the time. I’m sure he’ll understand.’
    Jill was unmoved. ‘Chris, you’ll never manage. You are far too bound up with your work. And you won’t be able to put in all those extra hours you always do if you have to get home to Megan.’
    â€˜Okay, Jill, you’ve made your point. But can I ask when you’re off to the west?’
    â€˜Towards the end of the Christmas holidays. Have to get there in time to settle the kids into school.’
    Chris paused for a moment, his mind racing. ‘Then how about this idea? What if I have Megan for the holidays. They’re long enough for us to live with each other and see if we can fit in together. If it doesn’t work, then there’s no harm done.’
    â€˜Of course there’s harm done,’ said Jill shrilly. ‘You can’t raise her hopes then take off as you always do.’
    â€˜Jill, I promise you I will walk into the office and tell them I can’t take Bangkok, and ask them to give me a job here in Sydney,’ Chris said firmly.
    â€˜You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?’ said Jill, her voice lowered. She paused a moment and Chris hoped it meant she was considering the idea. ‘I can’t say that I’m too pleased about this plan. I just think Megan’s overreacting. Still, I guess you’ll both find out, one way or another, if you two can live together.’ And with that, Jill said her goodbyes and hung up.
    Almost immediately, Megan called. ‘Hi, Dad. It’s me. I can’t believe you talked to Mum! I’ll be so, so happy if you’ll do this for me. I promise I won’t be any trouble. You won’t regret it. I’ll work twice as hard at school, you’ll see, and we’ll find a bigger place to live in and I’ll keep it clean and we’ll get on really, really well. I promise.’
    Chris was gratified by Megan’s enthusiasm, but he knew it wouldn’t be as easy as she obviously thought it would.
    â€˜Megs, nothing is settled yet,’ he cautioned. ‘This is just a trial and I still have to talk to my boss. He might not be any happier about this idea than your mother is.’
    Megan was undeterred. ‘Oh, Dad, yes he will. You just wait. Please go and see him. Please, please.’
    After a few more exchanges, Chris rang off. He sat down heavily in a chair and stared at his phone. Megan sounded so excited, but Chris frowned. He wondered if he’d bitten off more than he could chew.
    *
    The following day, Chris phoned and made an appointment to speak to the newspaper’s editor. With a few minutes to spare before the meeting, he called in to the newsroom to greet his colleagues, but while everyone acknowledged his arrival they all seemed too busy to stop what they were doing to chat. As he approached the editor’s office, Rhonda, the editor’s assistant, hurried towards him.
    â€˜Hello, Chris. Sorry, I’ve been trying to call you. There’s a slight change to your appointment this morning.’
    â€˜Hi, Rhonda. Oh, sorry, I had my phone off. Forgot to turn it back on. A change of time? That’s okay.’
    Rhonda shook her head. ‘No, your meeting’s not with John. It’s upstairs with the new chief operating officer, Mr Honeywell.’ She turned to her desk and picked up the phone. ‘Susie, could you please tell Mr Honeywell that Chris Baxter is on his way up.’
    Chris nodded and peered over her shoulder to the shadowy figure behind her in the glass cubicle. ‘Tell John I’ll catch up with him later.’
    â€˜Certainly, I will.’
    Chris walked through the open-plan floor with its rows of identical desks and computer screens, though only a