‘Okay, I can’t watch that,’ said Cathy.

But Becky clutched her hands together at her chest. ‘Oh my goodness and oh my god, that’s so sweet! They’re the cutest couple I’ve ever known, and that includes Winona and Johnny, may their relationship rest in peace,’ she said, and crossed herself.

‘Nah, Leonie’s too good for him.’ Cathy smiled, then flopped back down on her towel and covered her face.

‘Oh shit,’ said Becky. ‘Oh shit, shit, shit.’

‘What?’ Cathy stayed lying down. With Becky, it was always better to make sure it was a real emergency before exerting any energy.

‘Oh fucking shit!’ Becky rarely swore. ‘It’s your fucking dad.’

‘What?’ Cathy sat up.

‘There on the road.’

Becky pointed and Cathy saw her father’s car crawling along the road and then picking up speed and driving away. She looked at the pontoon and saw Danny and Leonie in full view, Danny’s arm slung around Leonie, Leonie leaning into him, their lips connected, their fingers entwined on Leonie’s shoulder.

30

Hessel said it again. ‘Anna! Where are you, you little bitch?’

Shock and alarm spread to my fingertips. Hessel was standing at the back porch looking out towards Bromley, and then he turned back into the house and a moment later he was there again with my half-open suitcase. I watched him carry it to the gate and throw it out onto the gravel. Bette came out behind him. She was reaching for him, trying to stop him. He went back inside and came out with my laptop and my backpack.

I ran out the door and pounded across the yard. ‘Hessel! What are you doing?’

He threw my things onto the ground, my laptop landing on the backpack and then sliding onto the dirt, and then he turned on me.

‘What have you been saying to that lady doctor!? Why have the police come to find me at the vet, asking questions about me?’

‘What? Nothing! What would I say?’

Bette was worrying Hessel’s arm, trying to pull him back into the house.

‘Where’s Polly?’ I said.

Hessel yanked his arm free of Bette. He pointed his finger at me. ‘I want you gone!’

Bette wailed. ‘No, Hessel, no!’

‘Polly’s dead!’ he said. ‘Of course she is. They both are!’

‘Hessel, I’m so sorr–’

‘Get out!’ he screamed at me. ‘You filthy Arab-loving girl. Get out! Now!’ I felt my face go stiff with shock.

A ute pulled up on the main road and Basil leapt off the back before it kept driving away into town. Basil began sauntering up the drive but when he saw the stand-off between me and Hessel he began to run towards us.

Hessel turned as he came up. ‘And what have you told her, you piece of shit? Only you and me and Bette. Only family. We were going to keep this to ourselves.’

Basil held his hands up. ‘Whoa up there, old man. I haven’t told her anything, for your information.’

‘You two together. You’re traitorous. Just like your mothers.’