Prologue: Reprehensible Behaviour
July
Ellen POV
The day the team from The Holistic Care Clinic (THCC) have been working towards has finally arrived. Ellen turned to her husband of 20 years with the biggest smile then leaned in to kiss him on the cheek and whispered, “I’m so proud of you Bastian.”
Our two children Ignatius and Isabella have also joined us for the Mental Health - Pregnancy and Parenting conference that Joseph, Bastian and their team have organised.
All four of us are adding the final touches when we spot Bastian’s mentor, boss and long-term friend Joseph approach us. Bastian and Joseph are both consultant psychiatrists working at THCC. The clinic is for children and adolescents offering both pharmaceutical and alternative therapies for children and adolescents with mental health issues, eating disorders and neuro-divergence. It’s quite specialized and is the first of its kind in the state.
THCC employs, physiatrists, psychologists, developmental pediatricians, dieticians, speech therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses. It’s a one stop shop for all your child’s mental health needs. Joseph is the owner/operator and is very passionate and dedicated to providing holistic care to families that are requiring mental health support.
Bastian is on the board and has been instrumental in establishing THCC. Joseph is hoping the center will be franchised so hosting this conference is a great way to showcase THCC.
Joseph greets us with a big smile and hugs. “Ellen, Izzy! You’re both glowing.”
Joseph turns to Iggy and with a big slap on the back and a hug, says “hey man how’s the music going?”
Iggy responds to Joseph’s question with a little curl to his lip, “getting gigs and writing originals with the band Joseph, we’re booked Thursday through Sunday for the next two months. There’s also a decent sized festival included in those bookings.”
“Good job my man, what’s the name of your band again?”
Iggy responds, “we’re called Veiled Reality.”
“Cool cool, I’ll get to one of your shows soon. Maybe it’s something my daughter and I can do together. Did Bas tell you she’s working with us now?”
I look over to Bas, his expression is hard to decipher but he suddenly looks a little uncomfortable at the mention of Joseph’s daughter Jacinta. I make a mental note because even though we seem to be over whatever was causing Bas to be snappy and distracted the last couple of months, I still have no clue as to what caused his behaviour to change.
With a giggle I respond, “of course he has you goose. I have no idea how you became a consultant psychiatrist and owner/operator of your own clinic; you’re such an air head sometimes. Not only did I know she’s working with you guys I’ve even met her.”
We all burst out laughing at Joseph’s aloofness.
Out of nowhere, Bas pulls me in for a hug and kisses my forehead, he then says to me “I’m looking forward to some quiet time on our holiday together next week, my love.”
Iggy and Izzy both pipe up. “We’ll look forward to seeing her again Joseph, because we too have met her and she’s already been to some of my gigs and that BBQ at the river we all went too. Do we need to worry about you and dementia.” Iggy, said while laughing.
Joseph says a little defensively, “haha you guys are very funny. I’ve had a lot on my plate ok. You tell me how good your memory is the next time you put on a two-day conference and have your long-lost daughter return.”
Izzy, perceptive as always gets the conversation back to the conference.
Izzy asks, “is Jacinta presenting today or tomorrow?”
Joseph says, “Izzy my girl, Jacinta will be presenting tomorrow on adolescents with eating disorders and the impacts this has on families. It’ll be from a dietician’s perspective.”
I say, “that sounds like very important work Joseph, I’ll look forward to hearing Jacinta’s presentation.”
I hear Izzy squeal in delight and then start running to the door.
“Uncle Clive what are you doing here?” Izzy says as she grabs Clive in a boisterous hug.
I hear Clive say, “I’m here to help your old man out Iz, he didn’t tell you I was opening the conference with acknowledgement of country?”
“Noo!! he didn’t!!” I heard Izzy say as she glared at her father.
I spoke up in Bastian’s defense and said “now now Izzy, go easy on your dad. You know your uncle Clive is busy and we didn’t know if he’d be able to attend so we kept it a secret as to not disappoint anyone.”
Isabella and her uncle Clive have a special connection. We have been lucky enough to stay connected even with the physical distance between us.
Clive fell in love with a Yindjibarndi girl from the Pilbara so he spends most of his time up there with his wife and 6 children.
Clive isn’t biologically related to us, but he is as good as family. Bastian and Clive have been best friends since they first met playing Auskick at 6 years old. Bastian and Clive’s parents became friends and the boys became family.
Clive is a Noongar man from Ballardong Boodja, where we all grew up. I’ve never seen him open an event with acknowledgement of country and I think witnessing Clive culturally connect with the crowd will be spirituality cleansing for everyone.
Bas breaks up the catch up with “ok, ok that’s enough chit chat, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch up over the next two days.”
Bas asks me “Ellen do you have all your equipment ready for your photography?”
“I’m all set and ready to go Dr Morgan”.
“Ok, I’m going to take Clive, Izzy and Iggy with me just to double check the tech. I’ll catch up with you guys later. And Joseph, I don’t want to catch you hiding somewhere sleeping. This is your event, and you need to pull your weight.”
Joseph looks over at Bastian with indignation and says, “Oi! Who is the boss here Bastian?
That’s right, I am! And if I want to catch a nap you, nor you, or the pony you rode in on will stop me.”
What the fuck are you on about you Irish fucker?” Bastian asked on a laugh as he walked away shaking his head.
The next two days pass in no time. The presenters are all renowned in their fields and they’ve come from all over Australia and the globe. I’ve learnt so much and taken so many photos. I feel proud of Bas, Joseph and the team. Even Jacinta’s presentation was really engaging and informative.
When Joseph introduced her as one of the newest team members and commented how grateful he is to have his daughter on board and how dietetics will add more dimension to the center, I could feel the pride radiating off him. I turned to Bas as I could imagine how he’d feel if one of his children worked alongside him but instead of pride, Bas was wearing a strange expression.
The conference was a wrap. We all decided to stay at the Grand Promenade, the same location where the conference was held. The team and their significant others were heading out for dinner and drinks at one of the restaurants. Bas and I had a room booked but our kids decided not to stay and would go home after to feed the animals, just a couple of chickens, our dog Rick and cat Morty.
Bas, “I’m just going to head to our room to freshen up before we head to dinner.”
“No worries darling, I’ll see you in 30mins. I’m just going to help pack up the last of our stuff and head to dinner too” Bas says.
I give him a kiss on the lips with a little tongue and whisper, “I’ll see you soon.” As I turn away with a wink, I spot Jacinta looking in my direction with a scowl on her face. I shrug it off and think, how bizarre that girl is.
I’m finished getting ready. I decided to quickly shower and put on my sparkly teal off the shoulder shift dress. It makes me feel a little sexy and my legs look good in a pair of gold strappy heals. I’ve got some light make up on and my dark brown hair is down and straightened. I feel good.
I’ve always struggled with my weight as has Bas, but we are both working at it and are probably the most physically fit and healthy that we’ve ever been. As I step out of the room my Spidey Senses tingle. I see Jacinta waiting at the elevator, so I greet her with a smile, she looks up at me with a strange expression on her face. Jacinta is wearing a floral-patterned jumpsuit, heals, light make up and minimal jewelry.
She towers over my 5ft 5inches, I’m guessing she is close to 6ft and has long straight red hair, blue eyes and a splattering of light freckles. I take her in, she’s quite striking.
I have a strange thought that Jacinta and Bas with his broad shoulders, dark hair, grey eyes and 6ft 3 height would make a stunning pair. I then giggle at my absurdity. Bas and Jacinta, haha, she’s only 5 years older than our son and my faithful and loving husband has never given me reason to doubt his fidelity.
My attention turns back to Jacinta, “congratulations on your new appointment. It must so be exciting to join your father and his team, and I must say your presentation today was on point.”
“Thank you, Ellen, your words mean a lot to me. Working with dad, Bas and the team is a dream come true. You and Bas look like you’ve got a solid relationship and your children are wonderful. I hope I get what you have one day.”
Jacinta looks away with a faraway look on her face and I think to myself how odd she is and what an odd thing to say. As we step into the elevator, I get a whiff of her perfume. I’m compelled to ask because I don’t come across it too often on other women, especially her age.
“Are you wearing Christian Dior Addict, Jacinta?”
With popping the p, she simply replies, “Yep!”
We ride the elevator in silence.
We both walk into the restaurant together and Bas greets Jacinta with a small nod and me with a squeeze of the hand and a kiss on the forehead, “come sit with me my love.”
I do as Bastian instructed.
“You look beautiful Ellen; I love this dress on you.”
We sit down and I hear Jacinta sigh, but I pay her no mind. Conversation flows, the food is delicious, and Bas and the team are all getting quite merry. I lean over to talk to Iggy when Bas and Izzy excuse themselves to go to the bathroom. I watch Bastian walk-away and notice him trip a few steps, hmm.
So deep in conversation with my son I didn’t even noticed Jacinta was no longer at the table. I smile when I see Bas return looking flushed, must be the alcohol I thought. “You took your time Dr Morgan.” I got no response as he wobbled into his chair and stated yammering to Joseph and Clive.
Izzy and Jacinta return at the same time and I can tell Izzy is itching to tell me something. Our girl loves to talk.
“Mum, mum! Guess what I heard when I was leaving the bathroom?”
“What did you hear darling?” The words come out of Izzy’s mouth like rapid fire.
“There was a little alcove off from the bathroom, it was dark but definitely occupied. I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear whispering, I’m pretty sure I heard the words I can’t, and we shouldn’t. You know I can’t help myself and I’m a nosy parker, so I eavesdropped.”
“Izzy! I admonished, “it’s none of your business what those people were up to.”
“But mum, that’s not the worst bit or best bit depending on how you look at it. I heard the sound of a man cumming, I’m sure, and what could have been interpreted as slurping. Do you think the one providing the pleasuring swallowed down the ejaculate and that was the slurping sound I heard?”
I burst out laughing, “Izzy my girl, ejaculate? I’m glad your science undergrad is getting put to good use.”
I shake my head, I have no idea where Izzy gets these crazy thoughts from. I place my hand on Bastian’s thigh, it feels really tense.
I ask “Bas, are you ok love?”
“I’m good,” he croaks. “You do not seem too good hun, I think we should head home,” I say to him. “Not just yet my love, we can’t be the first ones to leave”, he slurs. Concerned, I give him a unsure smile, shrug and return my attention to Izzy.
“I think I heard straightening of clothes and the sound of a zipper.” I just smile at my daughter, and I verbalise my thoughts before thinking and said, “you’re lucky your father was back well before you returned Izzy, Jacinta was missing too.”
I say with a laugh.
“Oh, after what I thought I’d witnessed I had to go and ring Siobhan and tell her. I know my best friend would get a kick out of it. I felt like I was on the phone for ages.”
I just look at my daughter and smile and think thank goodness she is totally unaware of the war she has stirred in me. I turn to Bas, he is also completely unaware lost in conversation with Joseph or so I thought.
I think I spot a mark on his neck but it’s hard to tell because he is looking really flushed. Unfortunately, it turns out I’ll be coming back to this moment when my world falls apart.
