This throws him. ‘I’ll miss you too, Darce.’ He wraps his arms around her. ‘But I’ll see you in a couple of weeks and we’ll talk every day.’

Darcy nods, her voice shaky as she says, ‘I know.’ But it doesn’t seem like a big deal to him.

‘I’ve taken the bins out, but you’ll need to grab some milk and there’s laundry in the machine that needs to be hung out.’

Darcy prickles that the last things he needs to say to her are about housekeeping. Their relationship has come down to garbage, groceries and washing. She’s only twenty-five; this isn’t right. She checks the time on her phone, deciding she can spare twenty minutes and stay behind even later tonight. ‘Want to get a coffee?’ They can snuggle on the bench seat of the cafe around the corner and soak up their last minutes together.

‘Nah, better not. I told Mum I’d be back for a late dinner. You know what she’s like—she’ll stress if I’m driving for too long in the dark.’

Darcy feels her neck tighten, knowing Sheila would have made him a roast and apple crumble—two things Darcy has attempted to make on several occasions, but somehow can’t make quite as good as Drew’s mum. ‘Okay, have a safe trip and make sure you give me a call when you get there.’

‘Of course.’ He leans in and they kiss. She’s ready to savour the moment, but it’s over too soon; their lips part and he’s walking off down the street towards his car. ‘Love you,’ he calls with a wave. She can see the excitement in his eyes.

‘Love you too.’ She waves back. She plans on watching until his car disappears down the street, but her mobile buzzes. Work is calling.

Chapter 5

5

The yoga studio looks quaint and welcoming. Deep green shutters against a white cottage, a lavender bush growing under one of the windows, a cat lazing sleepily near the doorway. Penelope’s body is craving the release. She’s been practising each day in her small unit, but she wants someone else to guide her today. She needs to hold on to their voice and instruction as she pushes her body until it floats away.

She hears chatter as she steps up onto the veranda. A welcome sign hangs on the door. She pushes it open and it creaks.

A few ladies are already there amid a hum of conversation. Penelope smiles a hello and goes to set up away from the group. The instructor, who she spoke to a few days earlier, comes over and welcomes her to the class, telling her they’ll get started in a few minutes.