She had to admit while her parents seemed to have aged markedly since Christmas they weren’t quite in their dotage. She’d become used to her dad’s gaunt appearance and realised he wasn’t as frail as he’d first appeared. If they hadn’t been visiting her mum or having a coffee in this shop and he wasn’t watching sport on TV, he spent a lot of time tinkering in the garden shed he’d set up as a workshop. Funny really, because she’d never thought of her dad as the practical type but he’d taken to restoring kids’ toys for a local charity. And in spite of her mum’s trip or fall, the doctor had given her the all-clear and she was talking about playing golf again in some competition tomorrow. Natalie’s help was no longer needed.

She picked up her brochures, gave one last look to the image of camels walking on a beach against the backdrop of a golden sunset and slipped them back into her bag as Bronwyn slid onto the seat opposite.

“Planning a holiday?”

“I’d like to. Getting Milt away from the property is the hard part.”

“Where would you go?”

“I don’t know, anywhere really. Overseas might be a push for Milt so somewhere warm like Broome perhaps.”

“I dream of holidaying, anywhere at all, as long as I have to do absolutely nothing but lounge around and be pampered by attentive waiters.” Bronwyn gave a soft snort. “School camp wasn’t quite up to scratch. The kids had a ball though. I wish there were camps that took them for school holidays. You know, like you hear American kids do. My boys would take to it like ducks to water and it would be a holiday for me without them for a few days. I love them to bits but they’re full on.”

Natalie studied her sister. Her hair could do with a cut, there was a hint of grey at her temples she’d not noticed before and her make-up didn’t mask the dark shadows under her eyes. She looked like a woman who needed a break. “Why don’t we take a holiday together?” It was impulsive but they could both do with getting away.

“What?”

“It’s been a long time since we spent some proper time together where we weren’t juggling kids…” She twisted her lips in a wry smile. “And now parents. We wouldn’t have to go far, but at least interstate.” Natalie glanced out at the bleak day. “Somewhere warmer than here.” Enthusiasm for her idea grew, lifting her lagging spirits.

Bronwyn held her gaze. “You’re serious.”

“Yes, I am. Wouldn’t it be great to get away?”

The waitress arrived with their coffees. “You’re not waiting for anything else?”

“No, thanks,” they both said together.