Chapter 1

Sally leaned her head against the cold glass window of the bus and stared out at the depressing scene of a rain swept street. After the dismal view became too much she closed her eyes, and imagined a tropical beach, but the only picture she could summon up was Rosie and Sonia waving to her from Waikiki.

She was still stuck on a bus in the peak hour of a miserable Sydney winter.

Thanks, girls. Catch some sun for me.

Sally hated winter. Water droplets ran down the outside of the dirty window and she put her hand on the back of the seat in front of her as the bus lurched to a stop at yet another set of traffic lights. The man beside her pulled out a handkerchief and she tried not to breathe in as he coughed.

That’s all I need. A dose of the flu would cap this winter off perfectly.

But she could only take the blame herself. She could have gone with Sonia, but as usual her work ethic kicked in. The weather had been bleak, and business had been slow in the house at the beach. The engine roared as the bus took off again and Sally turned her attention back to the grey world outside. A flash of lightning relieved the dim vista and the thunder rumbled soon after. The gutter at the edge of the footpath was running, and spouts of water were streaming over the rubbish that was being swept long in the torrent. A young woman stood waiting to cross the road and as Sally watched her red umbrella turned inside out when the chill wind gusted in from the sea. The girl’s eyes were wide and she looked as disgusted as Sally felt at the moment.

She closed her eyes as the bus stopped to let passengers off and a blast of cold air roared up the passageway of the bus. The southerly busters had arrived one after the other this winter and last Friday night on the news, the weatherman had said it was the coldest Sydney winter for fifty years.

‘No shit, Sherlock,’ Sonia had commented as she’d lounged on the sofa beside her. She’d picked up the postcard that had arrived from Hawaii and read it aloud for the third time.

‘Gals, we are renting a huge condo right above the beach. Come and visit, I’d love to see you both it’s been too long. All it will cost is an airfare and there are deals at the moment. Ring me when you are going to arrive, Love Rosie.’

When Sonia had arrived home the next afternoon and waved a ticket at her, envy had almost eaten up Sally.

‘Come on, Sal. Book a ticket too. Get away from this cold weather,’ she’d pleaded. ‘I’m leaving Monday. Free accommodation in Hawaii. Sun, surf and sand. Come with me. Pleeeeease?’

‘Monday!’

‘Yep, no point hanging around. Business is slow, and I’m off to have a good time. They’ve been few and far between lately.’

‘What few customers?’

‘No, good times. I need a fun roll in the hay.’ Sonia giggled. ‘Or maybe the sand.’

Sally shook her head. Honestly, even though they were twins—fraternal—she and Sonia couldn’t be more different. Sometimes she thought life might be more fun if she did have a free and easy attitude like Sonia. But Sally had inherited their mother’s cautious and considered manner. Anything she did had to be thought through and planned.

 Not like Sonia taking off for Hawaii on a whim.

‘Come on, Sally. We could have a great time.’ Sonia tipped her head to the side. ‘You need to do something to get out of the rut you’ve been hiding in since—’

‘I can’t.’ Sally had folded her arms and cut Sonia off. ‘I’ve got commitments now. I can’t close my appointments book off now that I’m working over at the Wellness Centre.’

‘I don’t know why you ever started work there. We’ve got our own centre.’ Sonia glanced across at her twin sister as she filled the kettle. ‘Or we did have. You want a coffee?’

‘Yes, please.’ Sally pulled out a chair and looked down with a smile as her kitten wound his way around her ankles. ‘I did it because my appointments here dropped off after the footy team folded. And you know it’s not been the same since Rosie moved away. Besides who’d look after Muggins here.’ She reached down and smiled as the rag doll kitten snuggled into her chest.

‘You can’t call her Muggins. That’s an awful name for such a pretty little girl.’

‘It’s only temporary until I think of the right one.’

Sonia rolled her eyes. ‘And you make up your mind so fast, she’s likely to be Muggins when she’s old and grey.’

 ‘Don’t be sarcastic. I like to think things through, not like you. Mrs Rush-Tear-and Bust. Sally pursed her lips. ‘I still can’t believe you’ve bought a ticket to go to Hawaii.’

Sonia frowned and pulled out the chair beside her twin. ‘Sal, don’t be so boring. I worry about you. It’s bad enough that I’m still living here in the same house that Aggie let us move into with Rosie when we were starting out. But at least I do things and go places. When was the last time you took a holiday?’

Sally bit her lip and looked down at the kitten in her lap. ‘I don’t need a holiday.’ She gestured to the window. ‘Look, we live in the most vibrant city in the world and Bondi Beach is at our doorstep. I don’t need to go anywhere.’

‘You’re never going to get over him, are you? He really did a number on you.’

‘Sonia.’ Sally kept her voice low and she injected a warning note into it. ‘Don’t go there.’

‘I’m going to. You’re turning into a boring recluse. God, Sal. It’s been three years since Blake dumped you for that…that bimbo. When was the last time you spoke to a man who wasn’t a client?’

Sally had stood, held the kitten tight and glared at her sister. ‘I’m happy in my life. Okay? Forget the coffee. I’ve got work to do.’

‘You really need to be pushed out of that boring comfort zone you’ve settled into.’

If she’d seen the calculating look on her twin sister’s face as she strode out of the kitchen, maybe she would have bought a ticket to Hawaii.

Sonia had been gone five days and when Sally stepped off the bus on Friday afternoon into rain and wind, she muttered beneath her breath. ‘Not only the coldest winter for fifty years, but the damn wettest too.’

Muggins was waiting at the door as she pushed it open, and Sally dropped her umbrella onto the tiles before she shouldered her coat off. It was so damp it would need to go in front of the fire.

If she could be bothered lighting one. It would mean a trip out to the back shed to get some firewood, and she was pretty sure that she’d used the last of the split kindling the other night. Taj had offered to put reverse cycle air conditioning through the house on their last trip home, but Sally had shaken her head.

‘Waste of money, guys. It doesn’t get cold enough here to need it.’

And what she didn’t say was that it would hike up the power bill, and she and Sonia had to watch their finances lately.

Especially now that her work had dropped off so much. At least tomorrow was Saturday and she could stay home. She would get the fire going late. It would warm some of the house for what was looking like a bleak weekend.

And a bleak life. The words flitted through her mind. She straightened her shoulders and reached down to pick up the kitten; her purr was at full throttle and she was warm in her hands. It was time to stop feeling sorry for herself and listen to Sonia. This weekend she would do something out of her comfort zone.

Sally fed Muggins before she pushed her wet hair back from her face with a sigh, and headed for the bathroom. A hot bath, her winter PJs and dressing gown and some hot soup would warm her up. As she headed back to the kitchen to pour a wine to take into the bath, the front door bell pealed.

For a minute she considered ignoring it, but then realised it could be a potential client. Every one counted.

Juggling the wine glass in one hand and the door key in the other, she headed for the door.