Page 9 of Larapinta

Give me strength.

‘Paul’s an investment banker and we lived in New York for a while before he agreed I needed to live back in England. At least we were near his family there. Mummy said I’d be bored with him at work, but I managed to fill in my days. Paul says another couple of years and he’ll have made enough for us to retire. I have a lot of friends in London but most of them work, so I go to the gym, and I read a lot. I subscribe to that travel magazine you’re reading too. I love walking too, but this trek? I’m still not sure. Where do you live, Graysen?’

For fuck’s sake.

‘I don’t,’ he said shortly. He blinked as his vision blurred. ‘I travel.’

‘Oooh, how exciting. But don’t you get bored not having a home to go to? I thought when we came to Australia, I’d really, really hate it, but you know what I’ve discovered since we spent a week in Sydney?’ Cecily spread her manicured hands in front of her.

She stared at him and he was obviously supposed to ask.

‘No, I don’t. And Cecily? I’m not really interested. May I read my magazine? I have work to do.’

She drew in a deep breath and let out a sigh, ‘I’m really sorry. Paul tells me I talk too much, but you know what? I’m just interested in people and what makes them tick.’

Graysen nodded and opened to the spread of the giraffes in the Serengeti National Park. The text was jumping all over the page and he focused on breathing his way through his stress. How stupid to let a ditz like this give him grief. ‘Admirable.’

‘Are you okay?’

He reached up and wiped the sweat off his forehead. ‘I’m fine.’

‘What makes you tick, Graysen? Why are you going on the trek?’ He looked up as her voice changed. Maybe she wasn’t the ditz he’d thought she was. There was a hardness to her voice and her gaze was cold as she stared at him.

‘Not a lot. I’m a pretty ordinary guy.’

‘An ordinary guy who travels the world and doesn’t have a home? You sound pretty interesting to me.’

He stared at her for a moment and then turned back to his magazine.

The next thing he knew, a fresh glass of whisky was in front of him.

‘There you go,’ Paul said.

‘Thank you. Appreciate it.’ He picked up the glass and took a deep swig as Paul took the seat closest to him.

‘Paul.’ The little girl voice was back. ‘Take me down to the concourse please. I want to look at the shops. I might buy some more shoes. And I don’t think I have enough warm clothes packed. I need some more nail polish too.’

‘Aw, honey. I was going to sit and have a drink and chat to Graysen here.’

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. ‘No. Shopping, please. Now.’

Relief filled Graysen as Cecily stood, and grabbed her husband’s arm, and dragged him away.

Graysen couldn’t help the smile as her loud whisper reached him. ‘Look for somewhere else to sit. He is such a rude man.’

I’ll save you the bother, sweetheart, he thought as they disappeared past the restrooms. Graysen picked up his drink and drained it. Gathering his laptop and camera bags, he left the business lounge. He’d fill in the time in the glassed-in area of the observation deck. Two whiskies were enough; they’d warmed him and taken the edge off his anxiety. It had been a few months since that tight feeling had gripped his chest, and he didn’t like it.

Chapter 3

Darwin Airport - Sunday, June 7

Sandra’s three daughters and James had gathered at the airport to see her off. Once they—especially Ellie—had accepted that she was determined to do this trip—and do it alone—they’d all pitched in and helped her get organised.

Shopping trips to buy the gear she needed, and coffee meetings in Darwin to consider the different companies running the glamping treks available, had filled in the last three weeks and Sandra had seen more of the girls all together than she had all year.

‘Remember that school holiday when we stayed at the caravan park near the showground and we all came shopping here at Casuarina?’ Emma said one afternoon as they were having a coffee break. They’d just spent an hour choosing the best hiking boots for Sandra to wear.

‘I remember dropping you off and then I went to visit Susan Sordina.’