Out Of My Depth

The next day, I head around to my parents' place for the farewell party that they are throwing me for at least the tenth time in me going away but this time it’s a permanent or at least more of a long-term move than the other trips.

My frustrations of Courtney not being there aren’t obvious to everyone as I don’t bother telling Mum or Dad that she isn’t going to be there when I get back because they’d try and convince me to stay a bit longer here in Broughton. I’m sitting there as Nath wheels himself over to me “Fresh air would be good right now” he says almost as if that’s an order for me to go outside with him because he can sense something is bothering me.

“So, what’s wrong? I know something is bothering you and it’s not just moving away because you’re over that and you’d be excited to see Courtney” he says as I close the back door and stand on the deck.

“Courtney’s in Europe for the next two weeks, she’s visiting a fashion show in Italy and then doing something in Spain for their fashion week” I explain the situation to Nath almost wanting a sense of sympathy from him but I should have realised that it was never going to come.

Nathan looks up at me “So what? You’re going to mope for the next two weeks whilst she’s gone because you can’t see her?” he says as he looks at me “What about all the times when you were away for weeks and months at a time travelling the world and she couldn’t see you? How do you think that she felt?” Nath hits the nail on the head as I look at him.

“Yeah, I know that but it’s just been tough because I thought we were past the trips away from each other and like I’m moving to a new city without knowing anybody” I try and almost plead my case with him for some reason even though I know inside my head that he is 100% right.
Nath looks at me “Bro, you managed to become mates with everybody that you ever met and I know that it’s going to be the same once you get to Harrington Cove as well”. Mum comes wandering out to check on us “Everything ok with you two out here?” she asks as we cover what we’re talking about like usual.

“Yeah, just having some 1-on-bro time really that’s all,” I say as we walk back inside and enjoy everything that Mum has done for me tonight. After a few hours, all the extended family leave and the rest of us just spend time together even though we’re having breakfast in the morning together before I leave.

Staying at my parents’ house is like I’m back being a child again, it’s a weird feeling especially sleeping in my old room which is weird because it’s got so many memories and that most of my trophies, medals and awards are in the wardrobe right now in there.

I don’t bother having a shower and head to sleep in my briefs, laying there I struggle to get to sleep thinking about all the memories that I’ve had here in Broughton with so many being around swimming but there are plenty of other memories that I have been able to make.

The memories flood back both good and bad as I lay there thinking about them all from having the courage of finally asking Courtney out after knowing each other forever and becoming close in the months leading up. Followed up by the days and weeks not knowing if my best mate/brother would ever wake up from his coma after his accident and then the months of rehab seeing whether he could ever come back from what happened which he did more than anyone expected.

Coming back from South Africa to be there with him was the longest time in my life because it took 2 days to get out with the lack of direct flights and then connections being so far apart. The worst kept crossing my mind as I flew back leaving the World Championship given that I cancelled a catch-up between Nath and I in the days before leaving to go to the training camp that we had in the month before going to South Africa.
Thankfully, Nath pulled through and is still with us and is essentially my life coach on everything like he was today when he pulled me into line over doubting the move again. I finally fall asleep at about 2 am after hitting the bed at about midnight, I can’t say that it was a good night of sleep but it was definitely sleep nonetheless.

Sunday goes so quickly and I wish I could put an extra few hours on it but sadly the time just flies by and because I’ve got to be out early to get the 7:45 flight we all decide that we need to get an early night so that I don’t miss the flight.

The next morning, my parents are waking me up at 4:00 which I could’ve had the extra half-hour of sleep but they don’t want to risk being late which I have done on more than one occasion getting to the airport either right on cut-off time or getting there too late.

Reluctantly I get up out of bed with Mum nagging me about needing to get ready “Mum, I’m 30 I don’t need you nagging me anymore” I say back to her as I go and have a shower. Though before having a shower I quickly learn that I am not too old for a smack off mum when she lets rip with the backhand.

“Yes, you are 30 Braxton, but it doesn’t mean that you can backtalk me like that,” she says almost taking pleasure in telling me off. I have a shower and just try to relax myself about everything and how my parents will react. I get out of the shower and do all my usual skincare routine and take the advice that Courtney has left me to get through the plane ride perfectly fine.

I get dressed in shorts and a polo shirt to make sure that I can get a decent breakfast in the business class lounge at the airport because it’s always got good food. It’s about 5:30 when we leave my bags already packed into the back of the car last night and everything is packed.

Mum and Dad bicker about who’s driving but Mum wins out even though it’s Dad’s car so we go below the speed limit the entire way and get to the airport about a quarter past six. It’s an emotional time as I say goodbye to them and head into the airport checking in and then leaving them to head to the departures and head into the lounge where I start to have breakfast and load up my laptop to do some work.

Sitting there having Coffee and an amazing omelette, I’m working on my blog as Courtney messages me “Hey you make it to the airport ok?” she messages me as I quickly reply back. “Yeah, I’m in the lounge having some breakfast just chilling out before the flight because you know me and plane food”.

I can sense her laughing and her response suggests that before she gives me all the details about what is going to happen in Harrington Cove when I get there. There is going to be a car waiting for me organised by Grove Media and she has left the keys to the house at her office where everything will be waiting for me to pick up and go to our new place.

Sitting there, my nerves are almost at levels they were at the Olympics about the move but I get onto the plane and thankfully it’s a long-haul Boeing 777-300ER that is doing the flight so I get a business class seat all to myself which I’m grateful for.

The flight is uneventful and I get to Harrington Cove at just after 9:30 am local time and meet the driver who takes me to Grove Media so that I can pick up the keys from the office. It’s weird because I’m nervous because these people are all co-workers and friends and meeting them is going to be weird because they all love her and it’s going to be weird meeting them without her.

I wander into the office and walk up to the receptionist at the desk “Hi there, welcome to Grove Media how can I help you” the happiness and enthusiasm in her voice are a bit overwhelming at this time of the morning. “I’m Brax McGregor, I’m picking up some keys and documents, my wife Courtney left them for me,” I say as she looks down at her desk “Oh yes, they are with her assistant and I’ll give a call to get someone to help you”.

About 10 minutes later, a young man comes down “Brax?” he says putting his hand out towards me as I nod “I’m Todd, Courtney left all your stuff up with me if you want to come upstairs and I can give it to you” he says as I follow him up the modern office and sit down as he gets out the key to the townhouse and the other things that Courtney has left for me which was more than what I was expecting but knowing Courtney half of it won’t matter.
Todd looks at me with a bit of awe “It’s actually a real honour to meet you Brax, I’ve been a fan of swimming and I won’t lie I’ve always adored your Instagram with all your posts and your especially fitness blog and Courtney always talks about you, so it’s good to meet you in person”.

I smile and nod “Thanks Todd, means a lot to me that I’ve still got fans and Courtney has talked about you heaps as well especially how easy you’ve made it for her since she’s moved here” I leave the office and head back to the car.

The driver already knows the address and we drive into a pretty modern part of what is already a modern city and pull up near a row of houses “Number 31 just over there is your destination sir” the driver says as I get out of the car.

Walking up to the steps, I unlock the door and look at the pretty spacious living room that Courtney has set up almost like she did our apartment back in Broughton. I go back and get the bags out of the car and bring them inside, giving the driver a tip even though he’s already been paid by Grove Media for the job.

I text Courtney to let her know that I got to the house alright and that everything looks good around the place. After putting my clothes away in the drawers in the bedroom, I take a shower and get changed so that I can go for a walk around town so that I can figure out where everything is near around town. I go around the bay also trying to get a good route before realising that I haven’t let Mum know that I got to Harrington Cove safely.

Finding a spot on a bench I ring Mum and let her know that I got here safely “Hey Mum” I hear her with a massive sense of relief in her voice. “So glad you got there alright Brax, how are you after the flight? Have you eaten since you got there? How is your house?” she says without taking a breath.

“Got there fine, picked up the keys from Courtney’s office and I ate plenty on the plane, the house is really nice and it was already furnished and Courtney made it all really nice,” I say trying to address all her questions, “I’m just going for a walk now just to get my bearings with what is around town so that I can find the perfect route to go for a run and then try and find somewhere nearby with a pool or if you can swim out in the bay”.

Mum’s tone about that isn’t approving, “you’re not going out to swim in the ocean Brax” I just agree with her before she has to go back to teaching. I head back home and try to find things in the cupboards and end up watching TV for a while whilst playing poker on my laptop before Courtney rings me and I start talking to her for a while.