Daisy Ashworth was on Meg’s mind as she studied the Champagne range at the little bottle shop next door to the Red Lion. Meg had seen her across the room at the fundraiser, in a slinky white dress with cutouts in places only an eighteen-year-old could pull off. The moaning Meg had heard through the wall of her hotel room replayed in her mind and she shuddered at the thought that it was Daisy Ashworth with her aunt’s fiancé, who was thirty years older than her.
No wonder Hugh had paid Georgie to keep his sordid secret. It was so callous, so cruel. Poor Issy. She deserved to know, but Meg had to keep the secret. For now, anyway. It was exactly the sort of leverage she needed. What else would he do, Meg wondered, to keep his betrayal from Issy? Would this information be enough to force a confession about the bribes?
She yawned, suddenly tired, and decided she wasn’t in the mood for Champagne after all. A few beers and an early night was what she needed. Ideally, she would be asleep before the nine o’clock fireworks illuminated the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
She moved down the row of fridges to where the beer was stocked and reached for a six-pack, then weaved between shelves and stacks of wine boxes to the front of the store, catching her breath when she saw Issy standing at the register.
There was a beep as the attendant scanned Issy’s bottle of expensive-looking Champagne.
‘Got something fun planned for tonight?’ the pimply guy behind the counter asked her.
‘No, not really,’ Issy said, flatly.
The attendant frowned at the unexpected admission. ‘Oh, that’s a shame.’
Meg turned away, pretending to peruse the vodka selection, listening.
‘I was supposed to be going to Sydney with my fiancé, but I decided to stay here at the last minute,’ Issy said, as though she wanted him to know she had options. ‘So it’ll just be me and my bottle of Bolly.’ She laughed, an attempt to lighten the moment, but it sounded false.
Meg felt a pang in her chest and wished she didn’t know about Daisy and Hugh. Before she had time to think things through, she turned around to catch Issy as she finished at the counter.
‘Meg!’ Issy smiled. ‘Happy New Year!’ She leaned in, kissing both cheeks.
‘Happy New Year!’ Meg said. ‘Thanks for sorting out a room for me.’
‘Happy to help,’ Issy said, waving a hand. She glanced at the six-pack. ‘Where are you off to tonight?’
‘Nowhere, actually.’ Meg hesitated. ‘I’d love company, but Georgie’s going to a party, and I don’t really know anyone else …’ She shrugged. ‘If you’re not busy, would you like to come around to the hotel? You probably have plans—’
‘I don’t actually,’ Issy said. ‘I’d love to join you.’ She held up the bottle of Bollinger Meg had seen in the fridge for one hundred and nine dollars. ‘I’ll bring bubbles!’
‘Great,’ Meg said, feeling her Netflix-in-bed plans slipping away. ‘Say six-ish?’
Issy’s blue eyes sparkled. ‘Perfect.’
DNA Sleuths Facebook Group
Natalia Gomez:Hi all, I’ve been contacted out of the blue by a man who matches me in the range of an uncle, and matches my mum in the range of a sibling. He’s six years older than my mum. Could this be a mistake? We only did the tests for a bit of fun, now this!
Top comments
Mary Louise:DNA tests should come with a warning on the box! A bit of fun has a way of turning into something far more serious!
Fergus Schmidt:I dream of someone contacting me with news like this. One of your mum’s parents must have had a child before they met.
Particia Pine:Although the OP says a sibling, not half-sibling.
Wendy Turner:What lovely newsNatalia! Whatever the story behind this match, you’ve found close family!!
Zelda Merlino:Does he match your mum as a full sibling or halfNatalia?
Natalia Gomez:Full sibling but she has never heard of him. Weird!
Zelda Merlino:How old would your grandparents have been when he was born?
Natalia Gomez:Both sixteen
Zelda Merlino:I have a theory about what might have happened here. I’ll DM you now.
