I looked at her. She looked smaller. Younger. I felt a pang of something—regret, sadness, need. I had to try, I reminded myself. I had to.

‘Ice sculptures would melt in Bali,’ I said finally. ‘You want some of those living statues. The ones they have busking at Circular Quay. And a magician.’

‘Honestly, Cait, don’t even joke.’ She smiled. ‘So if I go off the deep end, can you kill me, please? Don’t just threaten to. Mum will help you. She hates weddings as much as you do. God.’ She shook her head then, before I could argue, she went on, ‘Last night, your mum was talking about the flowers and mine’s just on her feminist thing about the patriarchy and how I’m going to take his name.’

A question formed on my tongue, and I bit my lip.

‘And look at you.’ She laughed again. ‘You’re thinking it too. If I didn’t know it was impossible, I’d swear we were switched at birth.’

I flinched. ‘I thought your mum was excited.’

‘She is.’ Lina looked away. ‘But you know her. Overthinking everything. Besides, it’s not even Mum’s name, I don’t get why she cares; Dad certainly doesn’t. I called and told him and he was like, Oh, it’s a busy time in the office, Lee-Lee. I’m not sure I can get the time off.’ She made a face. ‘Honestly, I know it’s Bali, but you can fly in on Friday and out on Sunday. You don’t even get jetlag. Matt’s invited a few of the partners at his firm and they can be so weird about time off but none of them are even fazed. He’s just being difficult.’

‘Arse.’

‘I know. Always has been, though, right?’

Lina’s parents had divorced right before we met and her dad had drifted in and out of her life ever since. The last time we’d talked about it, they’d been on good terms, but that only meant he was taking her calls. I’d only met him once, and he hadn’t said anything to me—to be fair, it hadn’t been a good time—and all I remembered about him was his expression, annoyed, irritated that his damn child wouldn’t stop crying, that he had to take care of her. And on a workday, no less.

It had been an ugly divorce, an ugly everything, and Lina had taken it hard. Jenny had taken it hard. She’d been crazy about him. For all his flaws, she’d adored him, for years and years, until he’d broken her heart. Broken her.

‘I’m sorry, Leen,’ I said, meaning it. ‘I know I haven’t—’

‘It’s okay.’ Lina finished off her water. ‘I’m just glad you texted, Cait.’

‘Me too.’ I was. I was hoping I’d sleep now.