Back Flying the Nest Save as PDF
Chapters (66)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Also by Rachael Johns
  5. Title Page
  6. Dedication
  7. Chapter 1
  8. Chapter 2
  9. Chapter 3
  10. Chapter 4
  11. Chapter 5
  12. Chapter 6
  13. Chapter 7
  14. Chapter 8
  15. Chapter 9
  16. Chapter 10
  17. Chapter 11
  18. Chapter 12
  19. Chapter 13
  20. Chapter 14
  21. Chapter 15
  22. Chapter 16
  23. Chapter 17
  24. Chapter 18
  25. Chapter 19
  26. Chapter 20
  27. Chapter 21
  28. Chapter 22
  29. Chapter 23
  30. Chapter 24
  31. Chapter 25
  32. Chapter 26
  33. Chapter 27
  34. Chapter 28
  35. Chapter 29
  36. Chapter 30
  37. Chapter 31
  38. Chapter 32
  39. Chapter 33
  40. Chapter 34
  41. Chapter 35
  42. Chapter 36
  43. Chapter 37
  44. Chapter 38
  45. Chapter 39
  46. Chapter 40
  47. Chapter 41
  48. Chapter 42
  49. Chapter 43
  50. Chapter 44
  51. Chapter 45
  52. Chapter 46
  53. Chapter 47
  54. Chapter 48
  55. Chapter 49
  56. Chapter 50
  57. Chapter 51
  58. Chapter 52
  59. Chapter 53
  60. Chapter 54
  61. Chapter 55
  62. Chapter 56
  63. Chapter 57
  64. Chapter 58
  65. Epilogue
  66. Acknowledgements

Her question stumped me. ‘Well, life’s busy with a business and two children in different schools, so we don’t have a lot of opportunity.’

She stared at me intensely.

‘I guess maybe we haven’t been spending as much time together as we once did, but I assumed it was just a stage of life thing. We’re getting older, relationships change and grow.’

‘This is true. Some couples grow closer as time passes by and others simply grow apart. I know you’ve said you’re busy, but if you were to make the time … what things do you both enjoy doing? What interests do you have in common?’

‘We …’ I felt my cheeks redden.

‘What brought you together in the first place?’ Megan prodded.

‘Hormones.’ I laughed nervously. ‘I didn’t have this extra tyre around my middle back then and Adrian’s hairline hadn’t started receding.’

Megan didn’t seem amused.

‘We got together when we were at school and we both liked all the usual stuff teenagers do,’ I said, trying to make her understand. ‘We listened to music, watched movies, hung out with our friends. Discovered sex. Had a lot of it. Adrian played footy and I went along to watch. Then when we went to uni, we got more freedom—being able to drive and stay out later—and we went to the beach lots and to concerts. Life consisted of studying, part-time jobs and lots of parties with our friends.’

She held up a finger. ‘Did you do the same course at university?’

‘No. I did journalism and Adrian podiatry.’

‘Okay,’ she continued, ‘what things do you like to do in your spare time?’

‘Spare time?’ This time I did laugh. How many conversations had I had with other mums about how little time we had for ourselves since having kids? I suspected Megan didn’t have children. ‘I don’t really have time for hobbies.’

‘Does Adrian help you much in the home?’

I swallowed. ‘I guess we have a quite traditional division of tasks—I’m the homemaker and do most of the kid stuff because I don’t have a permanent job, but Adrian mows the lawn and keeps the garden under control.’

She nodded again. ‘Okay, let’s pretend you have a week free of your normal obligations. What would you do with your time?’

I took a moment, thinking of the week I’d just spent in Ragged Point. ‘Well, I’d probably take our dog for long nature walks. I’d get back to reading. Maybe I’d restore some old furniture or redecorate something—I love that kind of stuff. Oh, and I used to like sewing as well—I made all the kids’ clothes when they were little. Is that enough?’

Megan almost smiled. ‘That’s a good start. Now, does Adrian have any hobbies?’