Conviction(74)

I shower, then head to my office. I call Marley Layton and he informs me that SNL want us on the show this coming Saturday. Luckily it’s filmed in New York so the flight won’t be too long. If Meebs can get away from work on Saturday, we could fly out Friday night and be home by Monday morning.

Marley also informs me that the EP containing the recording from Saturday of our versions of ‘With You’ and ‘Where I Are’ have gone straight to the top of the download chart. It’s been a while since I had a number one and it feels good. I can’t help but think as Marley talks though, that for Meebs, I would still give it all up. I’ve had ten years in the spotlight. Ten years of touring, cameras going off in my face, interviews and intrusion. It’s made me a shit load of money and I’ve experienced things that would blow your mind, but right now, I feel the time is right. I’m thirty-four-years-old and ready for the next stage of my life and I want Meebs to be a part of that. I’ll find another way to be involved with music. I’ll write, produce, whatever, but I’m more than happy to step out of the glare of the public eye now.

I reply to a couple of emails. I talk briefly to Jordan and Ty on the phone as well as make some calls to a couple of people that can hopefully dig some dirt on the arsehole brother and soon to be ex-husband of Meebs. Then, I finally give in and text her.



Me: Hey x



I must check my phone at least twelve times a minute for the fifteen minutes it takes for her to reply.



Meebs: Hey baby. Watcha doin'? x

Me: Missin u. x

Meebs: Baby, you have no idea. x

Me: I think I do. x

Meebs: I’ve been to four different salons today. Carried out 2 disciplinary actions and sacked one apprentice. :( x

Me: That’s harsh. x

Meebs: That’s business. x

Me: So, you haven’t actually cut anyone’s hair today? x

Meebs: Sadly no. it’s not often I get to cut or colour hair these days. Maybe one day a week. x

Me: Does that mean you’ll have no problem getting Saturday off and coming to NY with me? x

Meebs: WHAT????

Me: NY, you fancy it?

Meebs: Shit!

Me: Is that a yes? x

Meebs: No.

Me: What???? x

Meebs: I mean, yes. x

Meebs: I mean shit. Let me see what I can sort out. x

Me: OK. What time will you be here? x

Meebs: Not sure, why? x

Me: You remember the gate code? x

Meebs: Of course. Might not get there till late tho. :( x

Me: How late. :(

Meebs: Real late. x





I hear Duke and Kaizer going mad at something at the front of the house. Paranoid that it’s the press I head out the front door, only to find Meebs stepping out of a little black mini, fully sprayed up with black and white Union Jacks on the wing mirrors and roof.

My dogs are jumping around her like a pair of psychos.

“Shit, I didn’t realise you had dogs. Oh my God, Con. You got a Pointer.”

She totally ignores me as she bends down and rubs the dogs around their necks and ears.

Many years ago, Meebs and I’d been lying under a tree in our local park when a dog that we later discovered was a German Pointer came over and sat with us. His name was Trevor and for some reason he took a shine to Meebs and had to be dragged away with great force by his owner. We’d decided there and then, that one day, we would own a pair of Pointers. A boy and a girl, and we would call them Duke and Duchess.

I’d never forgotten that day and when this house was finished, I went in search of a Duke, a year later I rescued Kaizer from the dog's home.

Meebs leans back against her car and looks across to where I’m standing on the steps that lead up to my front door. She smiles at me, her eyes shining with tears and I know she remembers that day in the park too.

“You got our Duke,” she says quietly.

“I got our Duke, then I rescued Kaizer,” I tell her. Both of my dogs now laying at her feet. She steps over them and I think she’s about to walk toward me when instead she goes around to the passenger side and undoes the door. My mouth drops open as another Pointer comes bounding toward me.

“I got our Duchess,” I watch her jaw tremble as she speaks.

I take the steps two at a time down to her and pull her into my arms.

“This is surreal,” I say into her hair.

“It’s not fair,” she answers with a sob.

“Baby don’t cry, please don’t cry.”

“But it’s so unfair,” she says into my chest.

“I know, I know it is but we won, we’re here. We found our way back Meebs and we’re here.” I look over the top of her head as the three dogs chase each other around on the front lawn. I turn her around so that she can see them.

“They were meant to be together, Meebs. I think Duchess and her owner need to move in.”

She turns back around to face me. I pull her arms up and wrap them around my neck.

“It’s been forty-eight hours, Con. Can we just ease ourselves into this gently?”

“It’s been about seventeen years since we planned all of this actually, Meebs. I think we’ve done plenty of easing in gently.”

We stand still, just looking into each other’s eyes for a few long moments.