The Last Paradise
About The Last Paradise
‘There’s no denying the beauty and opulence of Morrissey’s rendering of place . . . She is a master of the genre.’ Weekend Australian
Grace has the perfect life: a job she loves, a beautiful daughter and a rich, successful husband. But one night, when their world falls apart in a shocking disaster, Grace suddenly sees what she couldn’t admit – her marriage and her husband are a fraud.
With the life she knew in tatters, she takes an assignment promoting the launch of a unique luxury hotel, hidden in a stunning, untouched oasis in the heart of tourist-crazed Bali.
Here, in this last paradise, Grace gathers the strength to take charge of her world. And, inspired by a woman’s story from long ago, she discovers a path to a future she’d never dared to imagine . . .
Contents
About The Last Paradise
Title page
Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About Di Morrissey
Also by Di Morrissey
Digital imprint page
To K’tut Tantri.
And to her friends, (the late) Sandra Paul, Michael Paul and Professor Tim Lindsey.
And to my dear friends of long standing, George Muskens, Gary Elton and Adi Putra, for their friendship and help.
Prologue
Grace stood at the window staring into the late summer garden of neat lawns and beds of heavy headed roses about to rain petals. The roses would need pruning soon.
She almost smiled. Since when did she care, or even know anything about pruning roses?
Since she’d married a successful businessman, moved into an elegant house with a sprawling garden, and become mummy to adorable Daisy, that’s when.
Their home in Dural was the last house in the street, next to an empty field that had become an informal local park. The area had once been the end of the line, on the rural fringes of Sydney. It was where homes were estates, and locals kept horses; the remnants of pastoral wealth still on display.
What was it her mother had said when she’d first seen this house? ‘You’ve done well, Gracie. I’m happy for you.’
But sometimes Grace missed the buzz of the city. Her favourite café on the corner, a quick meal with friends and colleagues, recognising familiar faces and eccentric locals from the urban neighbourhood. Entertaining in her small Paddington apartment.
Now she lived in a quiet street of nice neighbours, where groomed dogs with expensive accessories were walked on fancy leashes. Voices were never raised and children were rarely heard, unless they were splashing in a pool. On the weekend you might catch the thwack of tennis ball meeting racquet, and occasional laughter and the clink of glasses from a patio in the late afternoon.