Nel’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Sophie following Lauren into the living room.God, this town was small.They stood talking at the end of the hall, Sophie’s boy by her side, holding a plastic machine gun.She was tiny but wiry, in a floral dress and a long cardigan that she pulled around herself like a shield.
‘Nice outfit,’ Sophie said, referring to Lauren’s camo-print miniskirt and cap, with two black lines of face paint on each cheek.
‘Oh thanks,’ Lauren said.‘The boys are out the back, Charlie.Follow the shouting!’
He trotted off.Sophie looked across the expansive room and out the bi-fold doors to the stretch of yellow sand and the ocean beyond.‘What a beautiful home.’
‘Thank you, we’re really happy with how it turned out.The reno was a complete nightmare!’Lauren said.
Sophie put a hand to her forehead.‘We forgot Leo’s present!’
‘Oh, don’t worry.’Lauren waved a hand.‘This is my sister, Nel.’
‘Of course, yes,’ Sophie said as Nel stood to join them.‘We met a few days ago.’
There were squeals of excitement from the backyard.‘It sounds like Steve needs backup,’ Lauren said with an exasperated sigh.
She hurried outside, leaving Nel and Sophie alone.How much did she know about Maddie, Nel wondered?How much had Ryan told her?
‘Will you stay for a glass of wine?’Nel asked, already taking a glass from the cupboard.
‘Oh, no, I can’t stay … I’ve left Ryan at home with the younger kids.I told him I’d drop and run so …’ She clicked her tongue.‘Actually, I’d love a glass of water, if that’s okay.’
‘Sure, of course.’Nel filled a glass at the dispenser on the fridge as Sophie sat down on a stool.She looked tired, Nel thought.Her complexion was pale.Maybe she was coming down with Harvey’s cold.‘How’s Harvey feeling?Did the antibiotics do the trick?’
‘Yeah, he’s pretty much a hundred per cent again now, thanks.’
Nel sat down beside her.‘How many kids do you have?’she asked, trying to keep the conversation casual.She wanted to quiz her, to find out anything Ryan had told her about Maddie and that night, but she sensed it was best to go gently.
‘Three.Charlie’s twelve.’Sophie gestured towards the backyard.‘And I’ve got Jasmine who’s ten, and Harvey.’
‘Sounds busy.’Nel thought of what Viv had said about Sophie, that she was always broke.‘Do you work too or are you at home with the kids?’
As soon as she said it, she felt she’d got the tone wrong.It was so fraught, asking mothers about their work.They got so defensive.
But Sophie wasn’t defensive.‘I used to.I liked it.’She had a wistful look as though she was thinking of an old friend.
‘What sort of work did you do?’
‘Just bookkeeping and admin for a fishing charter company down at the port.Nothing very exciting, but I liked it.I enjoyed the … the sense of order … I suppose.’
‘Did you stop when you had the kids?’
Sophie nodded.‘Ryan wanted me to be at home with them.’She hesitated then added, ‘His stepmum didn’t work, so …’
Nel remembered Mrs Warner vividly, an immaculately presented woman with a beauty pageant smile who was universally considered a saint for marrying Roy Warner and mothering his three young boys as if they were her own.It had been a shock to hear of her cancer diagnosis in one of Cath’s emails.The end had been quick, apparently.
‘Do you remember her?’Sophie asked, as though she could read Nel’s thoughts.‘I guess you might have met her at the Warners’ place … with Maddie.’
Nel’s heart sped up at the mention of the name.‘I did, yeah, once or twice.’
There was a taut silence.‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to …’ Sophie shook her head, suddenly self-conscious.‘What were we talking about?’
‘I asked about work.You never wanted to go back?’
‘I did, but when the kids were little it just felt too hard.We had two under two when Jaz was born, and then along came Harvey.By the time I felt like I could manage it, Ryan said my skills would be too rusty, that no one would give me a job.’A pause.‘He’s probably right.’
Nel’s skin prickled with suspicion.Had Ryan dissuaded her from working to isolate her?Increase her dependence?‘I don’t know.Does bookkeeping change that much?’
