Frazer instantly thought about turning around and walking out of the restaurant. The leisure centre was just around the corner. She could go back to the pool and keep swimming until all she could do was float. Like she had that morning. And the night before. The smell of chlorine still lingered on her skin.

Soon it would warm up, and she could get back in the ocean. The smell of salt and the warmth of the sun on her back as she swam parallel to the shore all but an enticing memory.

She exhaled deeply. Going back to the pool or swimming at the beach was impossible now that her sister had seen her. “Funny,” she said and headed to Jemma’s table.

“Oh, I’m hilarious. I have a lot more jokes like that. We live twenty minutes from each other, yet I’ve not seen you more than three times in as many months.” Jemma put her elbows on the table. “Do you know what that means, big sister?”

“Um… I’ve been busy?” Frazer reached for the menu.

“No, it means I haven’t seen you more than once a month. Once a month. Me. Your baby sister. The apple of your eye. Your favourite person. The only one in our family who isn’t mildly insane.”

“Right now I doubt that part.”

The joking tone left Jemma’s voice and Frazer was left with a sister who was looking at her almost plaintively. “What gives?”

Guilt, an emotion Frazer had hoped she’d be done with now that she was done with whatever was going on with Cora, flipped her stomach. “Jem, honestly, I’ve been busy. I really am sorry.”

Jemma just kept pouting at her.

Frazer rubbed her hand over her eyes. “I’ve been the worst sister ever. Absolutely shit. You are marvellous, wonderful, fantastic, even. You deserve one hundred times better than me. I bask in your glow as a sister.”

Jemma jutted her chin out and sniffed. “Good. As long as you’re aware.” But her lips twitched up. “Bask?”

“You seemed to want dramatic.”

“Glad you recognised that.”

The waiter appeared. With a glance at each other, they ordered two plates they’d end up sharing. As the waiter stuck his pen behind his ear and collected their menus, Jemma nudged her leg under the table.

“How’s that programme going?”

Now this was something she could talk about. “Really well. We’re starting to set up more mentors. The clients we have now are giving us a lot of feedback. It’ll take a few years to really have it settled, and by then, if it’s all going well, we should have more funding.”

“That’s great.”

“Yeah, I’m hoping it’s something we can see more hospitals set up. To go statewide.”

“And,” Jemma said, “eventually nationwide?”

“That’s the dream.”

“Great. So, who was that Cora lady?”