I smile at him, full of relief. ‘So what do you want to do today?’
‘Suggestions?’
‘We could go for an Easter barbecue at Richard’s friends’ house. Or we could go sightseeing, body boarding, check out a museum or aquarium or the zoo or something like that?’
‘Would Richard be offended if we didn’t go for lunch?’
‘Of course not. You’ve hardly got any time here – he’ll know you want to make the most of it.’
‘I wouldn’t mind going for a walk around the Rocks, play tourist for a day.’
‘We can do that.’
In the end, Richard decides to drop in at Sam and Molly’s and leave us to it, and I encourage him. We’ve got in some champagne and a lobster for tonight so we’ll still spend some of Easter Sunday together. As I rarely get to see Josh, it’s nice to be able to have quality time alone with him.
We walk down the hill into Manly and hop onto a green and cream ferry to the south side of the harbour. It’s a clear, sunny day, but there’s still a hefty breeze whipping my hair around my face.
‘It really suits you like that.’ Josh nods at my haircut.
‘I had it done years ago!’ I exclaim.
‘I know,’ he says. ‘But I don’t think I’ve ever said it out loud.’
‘Well, thanks.’
‘You’re quite a babe these days.’
‘Josh!’
He shrugs. ‘You are.’
‘Now you’re winding me up.’
He laughs. ‘I’m not.’
It’s funny how we can be like this with each other, but there’s absolutely no attraction there whatsoever. I love it. It’s comfortable. I notice a couple of girls staring at us enviously and instinctively want to mouth, ‘I’m not with him!’ but manage to restrain myself.
The sailboats are out in force again and the sun is hitting the waves with the same spark of light that made me first wish I had my camera back. On impulse I get out my clunky old contraption and aim it at a sailboat which is about to criss-cross with another. I click off a shot, but don’t think it quite works.
‘I recognise that camera,’ Josh interrupts before I can line up another shot. ‘You used to take loads of photos when you first moved to Australia, didn’t you? Then you stopped. That dawned on me one day when you were at school, but I never remembered to ask you why.’
I pause for a moment and stare down at the object in my hands. ‘I guess I got caught up with my new friends and forgot about my hobbies.’ I put the camera away, feeling too self-conscious to continue now. ‘Hey, do you ever bump into Tammy down the pub?’
‘Now and again.’
‘How’s Shane?’
Josh grins. ‘He’s pretty good. I’ll tell him you asked after him. His spirits will soar and then I’ll reveal you’re getting married and they’ll crash and burn.’
‘Meanie.’ I slap him on his arm, good-naturedly. ‘Has he got a girlfriend now?’
‘No. Still pining for you,’ he says sadly.
‘Stop it! Shane never fancied me, really.’
‘Yes, he did,’ Josh says firmly. ‘But then you became friends with his little sis and Tammy would have threatened to smash up all his computer games rather than see any friend of hers hook up with her brother.’
I laugh. ‘Shewasa bit like that, wasn’t she?’
