Chapters (48)
- Cover
- Praise
- About the Author
- Also by Tricia Stringer
- Title Page
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgements
- Excerpt
- One
“No. Nothing wrong. Mum hasn’t seen Brenda since she moved away last year. They’re very close.”
“Luckily her co-teacher Claire has filled in for a few days. It’s not easy to get relief teachers at the moment, especially on short notice.”
“She made it tricky for you too.” Laura was still annoyed her mum had left her with all the food prep. Even though there was a lot of extra food prepared in the freezer she still had to defrost it, deliver it and clean up.
“We’re managing.” Once more Paul scratched his ear. “I hope it wasn’t me that’s driven her off.”
“You?”
“We had a bit of a discussion about curriculum the other week. I think I may have put her offside.”
He looked so concerned she reached out and placed a hand over his resting on the table. She smiled. “Don’t let it bother you. Mum’s not easily upset. She just needed a break…” Laura twisted her lips. “From everything I guess.”
“Well, when you talk to her please send my best. She’s been mentoring a couple of new staff and one in particular is missing her support.”
The conversation changed then but on the drive home Laura had time to ponder her mother’s swift departure again. They’d all been so busy there’d been no time to think too deeply about it but now that tailing was over she’d quiz her dad a bit more. He was the only one who would know what was really going on. There was certainly nothing in her mother’s brief texts to indicate there was anything more happening than two old friends catching up.
Nineteen
Nineteen
Natalie did slow strokes to the deep end of the pool then gripped the edge and hung there a moment. Last night she’d been restless and hadn’t slept well. She’d eaten dinner alone again now that Faye and Dot had gone, but she’d found it too quiet and returned early to her room. She’d watched another movie then started the book Faye had left with her but the lack of company gave her plenty of time to think about other things, like home and her inevitable return. Part of her wanted to go home to her girls if not to Milt but she knew if she did she’d be back in the weird mixed-up mood that she’d left in. She was determined to continue her holiday but where next?