“Shall we go?” Danika says.
Kim nods, and they go find the girls, who are in one of the bedrooms. It’s obviously a room Cami stays in often. There are twin beds with green quilts, and posters of the Matildas on the wall. Kim recognises Cami’s favourite, Kyra Cooney-Cross, as well as Bella’s hero, Mary Fowler.
“We’re off now,” Kim says. “Have fun, be respectful of Shirley and Paul, and eat your veggies.”
Bella grins and wiggles her loose tooth with her tongue. “What if my tooth falls out? Will the tooth fairy know how to find me?”
“If she doesn’t, bring your tooth home. She’ll find you at home for sure.”
Bella hugs her. “Bye, Mummy. Have fun on your date.”
Date. She’d told Bella she and Danika were on a date.
“Mummy says you’re staying at our house,” Cami says from where she sits cross-legged on the bed. “You can sleep in my room if you want.”
“That’s nice of you, Cami. Thank you.” She suppresses a smile.
Kim and Danika drive in their separate cars to Danika’s house. Kim walks up the brick path, through the overgrown grevillea to the blue front door with the worn paint where small hands have pushed it open.
She knows the house well now, but this time, she’s coming in on a different basis. This time she’s staying over. She walks down the hall behind Danika, who stops by her bedroom door. “You can leave your bag in my room.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “I heard what Cami said. You better have a solid reason why you didn’t sleep in her bed.”
“Can I tell her the real reason?”
Danika thinks. “Yes, why not? We can just say you slept in my bed. That’s all that’s needed.”
“Will we do much sleeping?”
Danika hums. “Hopefully not.” She leads the way to the kitchen. “You know, we never figured out what we’re going to do on this date.”
“I leave that up to you. This is your area.”
“There’s not the choice you have. There’s a wine café, but it’s not as atmospheric as the one in St Kilda. Or a Thai restaurant that’s nice. You can sit on floor cushions, although they’re not as comfortable as they look. Or we could drive out to one of the pubs for a meal. I haven’t cooked anything.” She grimaces. “Too busy tidying up.”
Kim sets her basket on the counter. “I brought wine. And I’m honestly happy whatever we do. I just want to spend time with you, and some of that time alone with you.”
Danika’s eyes sparkle. “Impatient.”
They decide to go for a drink and then consider the Thai restaurant.
It’s still early, so the pub is fairly quiet. They order wine and sit outside at one of the tall tables. Kim looks around. It’s a different demographic to St Kilda. More families, fewer singles and couples with no kids. The pub is on a side street, directly across from the Thai place, and borders a park that is more natural bushland and less manicured grass and swing sets. Less inner-city funkiness, more outer urban space.
She tries to imagine herself living somewhere like this—somewhere she never thought she would. She’s always loved the inner city, and St Kilda is inner city with a beach, which truly is the best of everything. But her apartment is small, it’s difficult to run her business from there, and the traffic will never improve.
She shakes herself back to the present, to Danika, sipping wine with sparkling eyes.
“Cami’s birthday is next week. She’s determined to hold me to my promise of a dog. Tomorrow afternoon, we’re visiting a breeder who has a litter of dachshund puppies. I’m not sure a dachshund is the best dog for Cami—I think something more energetic would be best. But she’s insisting we at least look.”
“They’re cute though.”
“The real sticking point is selling the house. And where will we buy? What if we end up in a townhouse where you’re not allowed pets?”
“You wouldn’t,” Kim says with certainty. “And if you did, maybe Shirley and Paul would take the dog. At least Cami could see it then.”
“Maybe.” Danika takes a sip of her wine. “I’d ask you and Bella to come too to look at the pups, but honestly, I don’t think I could resist CamiandBella begging for one.” She takes Kim’s hand and leans in. “I’d rather you begged me for…other things.”
“That can be arranged,” Kim says as a thrill courses through her body. Did she beg last time? She can’t remember. But she does remember Danika doing incredible things. “You know, for someone on their L plates for sex with a woman, you caught on very quickly.”
“L for lesbian,” Danika says, and her teeth flash in a grin. “When do I get my P plates?”
