Chapter 34
Issy always thought Boxing Day should be plan-free, a chance to relax after the silliness of the festive season, but instead she was plumping cushions and straightening coffee table books in an effort to make the display apartment presentable for Hugh’s brother, who would be arriving any minute. It was the last thing she felt like, if she was honest, but he was her future brother-in-law and the poor man had found himself suddenly single, at Christmas no less.
She was slicing cucumbers for gin cocktails when the doorbell rang.
‘Hugh, can you please get the door?’
She waited.
‘Hugh?’ She bit her lip. His phone had rung ten minutes before and he’d disappeared into the spare bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
‘Hugh!’
Still nothing. A ripple of suspicion ran through her.
The doorbell rang again. She took a deep breath and went to open the door. ‘Marshall!’ she said. Oh. Carmen was standing by his side. ‘And Carmen! How lovely! Come on in.’ What were they doing here together? Hadn’t they broken up? Clearly not. Hugh must have forgotten to fill her in on their speedy reunion. Wherewashe?
‘Issy, lovely to see you again.’ Carmen held out an enormous bunch of flowers wrapped in garish yellow cellophane. ‘These are for you. Thank you for inviting us.’
Carmen, a psychologist, was one of those serious women who spoke in a deep tone and held eye contact for too long. They’d only met twice before, briefly, and both times her company had the effect of making Issy feel like a silly little girl.
They followed Issy through to the kitchen, where she put the flowers in the sink.
‘Mate!’ Hugh entered and gave his brother a rough hug. ‘Carmen, looking lovely!’ He leaned in and kissed her cheek. Issy thought he seemed twitchy beneath the amiable facade.
‘Drinks?’ he offered.
‘Beer, mate,’ Marshall said.
‘Just something soft for me,’ Carmen said. ‘Thanks, Hugh.’
Hugh disappeared into the little laundry room where he’d put drinks on ice in the sink.
‘Please, have a seat.’ Issy gestured towards the lounges, where a grazing platter sat on the coffee table. She’d had her mother’s caterers deliver it earlier.
‘Much traffic on the way down?’ Issy asked.
Marshall gave a detailed rundown of the route he’d taken out of Sydney, but when he’d finished, Hugh still wasn’t back.
‘I might see if Hugh needs a hand with the drinks,’ Issy said.
When she entered the dark laundry, Hugh was standing at the bench, doubled over, his head in his hands. She put a gentle hand on his back, but he startled. She stepped back, shocked at the sudden movement.
He rubbed his forehead. ‘Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.’
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yeah, I just have a headache.’
She frowned. He’d seemed fine before he’d received the phone call.
‘Who was on the phone?’ she asked, trying to keep her tone light.
‘What? Oh, just Spencer.’
‘On Boxing Day?’ Issy kept her face neutral. ‘What was he calling for?’
Hugh pressed his thumb and forefinger against his closed eyes. ‘A property deal he wants to close before New Year’s.’
