“I’m sorry,” she says to Lucinda. “That sounds incredibly stressful.” She pulls out her phone. “Let me at least find you someone to clear out the house.”
The following Saturday, Kim sits with Danika, Shirley, and Paul in their shady backyard. The adults are lounging on the deck, full of lamb chops, grilled halloumi, and eggplant expertly barbecued by Paul. Cami is showing Bella the less manicured part of the garden, where there’s a chook house with two plump, brown ISA hens, piles of mulch and compost, and various garden features for Paul’s landscape gardening business. Although the hens free-range for much of the day, the girls are busy feeding them their uneaten salad.
Kim sits on the couch next to Danika. There are a few centimetres between their bodies, enough that they don’tinadvertently touch, but close enough that the pull of Danika’s pale, smooth thighs makes Kim’s fingers twitch to touch them. The memory of Danika’s skin—so soft, so warm, so pliant—is still fresh in her mind. The memory rises and breaks over her like the surf, sometimes catching her unawares, just like the waves.
She sees Danika looking at her, and for a moment they stare at each other before Danika looks away. Is she thinking the same thing?
Maybe.
Shirley greeted her and Bella with big hugs and then treated Bella exactly the same as Cami—as if they’re both her grandkids. And in a strange way, they both are. Paul is smiley, but less outwardly affectionate with them—but that’s okay. Kim understands that men have to be more careful.
“I had an appointment last week with someone who wants to sell the most amazing house,” Shirley says. “It’s quirky and rambling with eight bedrooms; all look as if they were added on one-by-one in the days before planning permission.”
“So about 1890 then,” Paul says.
“About then,” Shirley agrees. “It was originally a farmhouse. Now, of course, it’s part of greater Melbourne. It will be difficult to set a price, so it will go to auction.”
That reminds Kim about Lucinda. “Do you sell houses around Oakleigh?” she asks.
“No, that’s not my area. But I can put you in touch with someone good if you want.”
“It’s not for me. It’s a client I had last week—who turned out not to be a client after all.” She explains about Lucinda and her situation.
“The one you mentioned on the way back from Johanna Beach?” Danika asks.
Kim nods. “She was lovely, and I felt for her. It’s a difficult time.”
“It might not take as long as she thinks,” Shirley says. “It’s a straightforward formula when someone dies intestate. The courts rarely drag their heels granting the Letters of Administration. Could be trickier with the relatives overseas, but not impossible. Or the State Trustee could administer.” Her gaze rests on her daughter for a moment, as if expecting her to add something.
Danika looks back, one eyebrow lifted.
Bella and Cami come running back. “We brought our hobby horses with us,” Bella says to Paul. “Is it okay if we ride them in the garden? We’ll be really careful.”
“That’s okay,” Paul says. “Maybe make this a dressage day, though, rather than show jumping.”
The girls nod and go to get Lily and Cloudy.
“Last time Cami practiced show jumping, she broke several branches of the grevillea, and then ended up in the climbing roses when she said Lily shied.” He smiles indulgently. “We could just pay for riding lessons,” he says to Shirley.
“She likes her hobby horse. And it’s great for fitness, coordination, and control.” Shirley looks out to the garden where Cami and Bella are riding in a circle on the grass, lifting their feet high, the hobby horses’ heads bobbing as a real horse would do.
Shirley rises and goes to the bar fridge on the deck to retrieve the wine, offering a top-up.
Danika shakes her head; Kim accepts a small amount.
“I hear the camping went well,” Paul says. “Where else do you go other than Johanna Beach?”
“Johanna is our favourite,” Kim says. “But we also used to go to Wilsons Prom, and along the river at Bright. That’s lovely in the autumn when the leaves change on the deciduous trees.”
“Gum trees are some of the most beautiful, but there’s nothing like the changing colours on a maple or similar,” Paul says.
Kim looks at Danika. “Maybe we could take the girls camping again before the weather cools. The caravan park at Bright is lovely. Riverside camping, bike paths, and near enough to town to get pizza if we don’t want to cook!”
“That sounds fun,” Danika says. “Let’s figure out when we can do it.”
“Maybe a weekend in February.” They’re negotiating holidays, planning and arranging just like a couple, Kim realises. The thought is an uneasy one.
“Before soccer training starts again,” Danika says.
