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Hazel beamed back. Molly had been right. She had no reason to be anxious.

Serena wandered towards Hazel, her right arm trailing behind her. Serena stopped and turned around. Hazel saw a tiny blonde head poke out from behind Serena. Quickly spinning around, Serena revealed the little girl who had been hiding behind her just seconds ago. The girl gave Hazel a shy look, and when Hazel waved to her, she looked up to her mother, unsure. Serena whispered something and nodded to the girl, and they continued over to where Hazel was waiting.

“Hazel! It’s so good to see you!” Serena dumped her bag on the ground and rushed over to give Hazel a hug.

“I’m sorry it’s been so long,” Hazel replied.

Serena ushered the little girl into a chair and sat down opposite Hazel. Hazel noticed Serena’s previously short golden hair had grown out and was now as long as her own hair, stopping just before the waist. Serena wore light makeup with a dusting of rosy blush and a hint of brown eyeliner that made her teal blue eyes pop.

“Mari, this is Aunty Hazel,” Serena said to her daughter.

Maribel, like her mother, had waist length golden blonde hair, pulled together in two braids. She wore a little pink and white striped dress with a small cat shaped clip in her hair.

Hazel smiled at her. Maribel’s lips curled up slightly, and she gave Hazel a tiny wave.

“Hi Maribel, it’s nice to meet you,” Hazel said softly.

“Hello,” Maribel squeaked back.

Serena brushed a hand over Maribel’s hair. “Mari, why don’t you go and have a play in the playground?”

Maribel smiled and nodded at her mother as she scrambled from her chair and headed outside.

“What does the name Maribel mean?” Hazel asked as she pushed her hair behind her ear.

“Star of the sea,” Serena said with a smile. “It’s a little different, I know, but it was the only name Jack and I both liked!”

“Well, it suits you both. We always called you a mermaid! Now you both have ocean names to match. She’s adorable, Serena.” Hazel noted as they watched Maribel through the window.

She had run straight to the jungle gym and was climbing around like a little monkey.

“Yeah, she’s very cute. She’s an angel, actually. I know I sound like every other mother who thinks their child is God’s gift, but she really is such a sweet little thing. We’re getting ready for grade one next year! I can’t believe how fast it’s gone.” Serena paused.

Hazel took her chance to apologise, knowing her feeble words would never make up for the hurt she may have caused. “Serena, I’m so sorry that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.”

They locked eyes, and Serena gave Hazel a small smile.

“Hazel, please don’t worry about it. We both got so busy. I’m to blame just as much as you. Besides, you’re here now,” Serena winked. “To be honest, we hadn’t spoken in so long, and when Jack died, I was such a mess that I didn’t even notice who was around me. It was like I just wanted to curl up and die, but I couldn’t. I had a baby who needed me.

“I didn’t realise how much I needed her too. Mari and my parents, they saved me. They got me out of it. I lost so many friends and I, retreated. I didn’t just lose Jack, I lost my entire life. My parents helped me pack everything up almost straight away. I couldn’t stay there. It was too hard. Honestly, Hazel, please, don’t beat yourself up over it. I would have just tried to shut you out anyway.” Serena smiled, but it wasn’t enough to hide the sorrow in her eyes. Hazel laid her hand over Serena’s. It was astounding how easily they slipped back to being best friends. There was no awkwardness, just a feeling of effortless friendship. It was as if Serena finally felt free to release the words she had kept to herself for so long.

“Sometimes I dream of him, and when I wake up, I still feel him, still reach for him. Then I open my eyes and remember. There’s a new wave of grief, and the devastation hits again. The distance of it - five years now, I guess makes it easier to handle those moments. I see him in Mari. I can’t tell you how heartbreakingly beautiful it is. She has his eyes, the exact same shade of navy blue. I’m so glad he’s there, a part of her, but it’s so difficult and so hard to describe. Again, it’s like a wave crashing, happiness and sadness at the same time. Then I think, at least I have a piece of him, my little Mari.” Tears formed in Serena’s eyes, and she blinked back the grief. “Sorry, Hazel, to release all that on you.”

“Serena, go for it. I’m here now. You can always talk to me. I guess that’s what’s so nice about our friendship. We can pick up as if nothing happened. Be as close as we used to be.”

The two friends smiled at one another, Hazel’s hand still clasped over Serena’s. Over coffee and cake, they discussed Hazel’s crossroads and Serena’s new life back in Bells Bay. She filled Hazel in on her time in Perth, where she had studied to become a primary school teacher before she had Maribel. Serena spoke of how she eased her way back into work by relief teaching at the primary school in Bells Bay and eventually began teaching year four.

“I’m actually looking for a house in town. I love living in the hills, but I want Mari to be close to her friends and to be able to walk to school, as we did. I haven’t started looking seriously yet, but I’m keeping an eye on things, waiting until the perfect house comes along. I will be forever grateful to my parents for everything they’ve done, but I think it’s time for Mari and me to get our own place.”

“That’s great news, Serena! Do you think Mari will like school?”

“Oh yes, she is so jealous of me when I leave in the mornings. She’s sick of staying with Mum all day. She doesn’t know I’m jealous of her! Mari gets to help Mum in the garden. Every day, they cook lunch together, and on Tuesdays they bake sweets for Mum’s book club. I’d love to do all that instead of dealing with other people’s kids all day!” Serena laughed. “I’m joking. The kids are fine. It’s the parents you have to watch out for.” Serena held her hand over her mouth as if she were disclosing highly sensitive information.

“The parents? What do you mean?” Hazel asked, incredulous.

“Most of them are great, but there are a select few that are just, butt heads, to be honest. They complain about everything! They expect us to parent their children, they blame us for their kid’s bad behaviour, complain about the things in the curriculum that we have to teach them. I could sit here for days complaining.”

Suddenly, Maribel came running inside, puffed with rosy cheeks. She stood close to her mother, leaning against Serena’s arm.