A whirlwind of leaves and dust whipped across the main street as Laura drove into town. She passed the pub on the corner, scene of many a get-together on weekends, basketball presentations, birthday dinners, and social events over the years. There were two other pubs but this one was her favourite. Bert Hinder had owned it for as long as she could remember. It didn’t look much from the outside but there was always a friendly welcome, a cold beer and hearty pub food available inside.

She slowed at the intersection as a dusty four-wheel drive crossed in front of her towing a camper trailer. It pulled in at the shady grassed area beside the new toilet block. Being on one of the main routes between Adelaide and the popular tourist destination of the Flinders Ranges meant the town often had extra visitors.

Laura continued on along the main drag, divided by a wide strip dotted with peppercorn trees, then pulled abruptly into an empty parking space in front of a small, freshly painted shop. She peered at the neat white building through her windscreen. It was a shoe shop. That hadn’t been there last time she was home. She got out and glanced at the smart styles displayed in the window. Eight o’clock on a Monday morning was too early for anything to be open, except the school and the coffee shop – and she was here for both. She dragged her gaze from the shoes and moved on, stopping in front of the hairdressing salon. She glanced around. There was not another soul in the street. She put a hand to the window of the hairdressers and peered in.

She took in the fresh white walls and the floating wood floor. The interior had been made over since she’d been in last. Gone were the large black-and-white linoleum and the hot-pink swivel chairs. Now it had a rustic but modern look with square black armchairs on large silver bases, mirrors surrounded by wide silver frames and track lighting fitted above each station. She liked it, and found herself wondering if they needed staff. She didn’t know the owner but one of her old school friends still worked here.

A car burbled along the street behind her. A shiver wriggled down her spine. She spun around. It had sounded like Kyle’s fancy Subaru but the car was a different colour. Silly to be jumping at shadows but he’d given her a fright outside the gym. She was thankful again she’d never told him much about home and they hadn’t been together long enough for her to bring him for a visit.