“What have you been up to?” Kate’s question was the perfect opening for Laura to pour her heart out but she held back.

“I’m heading home for the weekend.”

“Mum and Dad will be glad to see you.”

“Maybe not at first.”

“What have you done now?”

Laura had always tested anything she wanted to run by her parents on her oldest sister first but Kate’s tone had been sharp. Perhaps she’d start with the easiest thing first.

“I let one of the girls at work have free rein on my hair.”

“Oh no, Laura, what have you done? Please don’t tell me you’ve chopped off your beautiful hair again.”

“No, it’s still way past my shoulders.”

“That’s good. A bit of colour’s okay.”

“It’s more than a bit.” Laura winced. “Think My Little Pony.”

“Cack. Dad will have a pink fit.”

“More like a rainbow-coloured one.”

“Really?” Kate started to laugh. “I wish I could be there to see his reaction.”

Normally Laura bristled when her sisters laughed at her expense but this time she was pleased to hear the sparkle in Kate’s voice.

“I wish you were going to be there too,” she said. “Dad won’t see the funny side.”

“Maybe not at first but it’s only colour. It’ll wash out eventually.”

“Mmm.”

“Perhaps you could put it up and wear a hat.”

Laura groaned.

“Sorry, Laura. I’ve gotta go. I can hear the ute. We’ve had a long day here. I said I’d put something on for dinner and I haven’t started yet.”

There was a pause. Laura pressed the phone to her ear. “Kate?”

“The folks will get over it.” Her sister laughed again. “Wish I was a fly on the wall though. Ring me and tell me how it goes. Love you.”

“Say hi to Sean.” Laura sagged back onto the couch. Her sister hadn’t helped her to feel better at all.

Kate stared at the phone in her hand. Talking to Laura was like taking a breath of fresh air. If only life’s problems were as simple as a change to your hair colour.

She jumped as two strong arms came around her neck and the bristles on her husband’s chin brushed her cheek.

“I didn’t hear you come in.”

“You were on the phone.”

His lips skimmed hers and she tasted lanolin and dust. Her truck driver husband had just unloaded a mob of sheep at a nearby farm. She’d called in to see him on her way to their small acreage on the outskirts of town.

“Done for the day?” she asked.

“Yep.” His face was drawn and his eyes weary. He’d made three trips interstate this week. “I didn’t get back to the office with the paperwork.”

“I’ll drop it in tomorrow.”