Lucy in the Sky

was very abrupt. I wonder what it is he’s bought me. I should call him, I think miserably.
    I’m not at all thrilled that Amy, let alone Nathan, saw me looking in such a state so I’m determined to scrub up nicely and get back out to the kitchen and chat to her. I’m ashamed about feeling bitchy towards her earlier. I wash and blow-dry my hair quickly and smooth on some hair serum. My hair is naturally wavy and thankfully it doesn’t often frizz up, but the serum is my insurance policy against the sea air. I put on some of the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser that Mum got me for Christmas, then apply lipgloss and a little mascara. Wrapping my towel back around me I duck outside and make a dash for my bedroom.
    It looks like it’s going to be another scorcher so I pull on a red and white dress from Warehouse and tie the straps of my favourite wedges around my ankles. Not half bad, I think as I look in the mirror; then I head out to the kitchen.
    Oh, for pity’s sake. She’s gone, of course.

Chapter 5
    ‘You look nice,’ Molly gushes, as I walk into the recently Amy-evacuated kitchen. ‘I like your dress.’
    Sam’s nowhere to be seen. ‘Has Sam already left for work?’ I ask.
    ‘Yes, Amy’s giving him a lift to the ferry. What did you think of her? She’s lovely, isn’t she?’ Molly beams. Her eagerness is most definitely not contagious.
    ‘Yeah, she seems really nice.’ I know my voice is lacking conviction, but Molly doesn’t seem to notice.
    ‘Honestly, I can’t believe she and Nathan aren’t all loved up. They make such a fab couple.’
    ‘From the way she was talking it seems like they’re definitely an item.’ I’m fishing.
    ‘I don’t think so. Well, I don’t know. Maybe they are.’
    ‘Well, like what he did for her on her birthday…’
    Molly looks puzzled.
    ‘You know, the fancy picnic with lobster and sparkling wine on the beach and everything.’
    ‘Oh, that! The way Nathan described it to us made it sound like a bit of a beach party.’
    A spark of hope…
    ‘Really? I thought it sounded like he’d put it all on just for her.’
    Molly snorts. ‘You’ve got to be joking, haven’t you? Nathan couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery. He’s hopeless. Nah, I reckon you must’ve got that slightly wrong.’
    I’m confused. Amy made it sound romantic, just the two of them. Could she be jealous? Surely not with the way I was looking this morning.
    I sit with Molly at the breakfast table while she munches on toast. My stomach still feels full from Nathan’s omelette.
    ‘He made you an omelette?’ Molly squeals when I tell her. She really doesn’t have a very high opinion of her soon-to-be brother-in-law, I must say. But I laugh along with her for fear of her getting suspicious. ‘Seriously, Sam was quite concerned when he read your note this morning. I was relieved to see you walk back through the door.’
    ‘Why?’ I ask, irritated now.
    ‘Just that Nathan’s not very responsible. Something could have happened to you.’
    ‘I can swim, you know.’ I try not to sound too snappy. ‘And actually he really looked after me.’
    Molly raises her eyebrows, but doesn’t push it further. Whereas I can’t let it lie. ‘I know Sam doesn’t like the water anymore so I understand he might feel nervous.’
    ‘Who told you that?’ she asks, taken aback. ‘Amy?’
    ‘No, Nathan,’ I answer, then quickly explain. ‘He was just saying how he still loved to surf, despite his parents being killed.’
    ‘He spoke to you about that?’
    ‘Yes.’ I can’t help feeling smug.
    ‘Nathan never, ever talks about their parents. I’m surprised. What time did you say you two stayed up talking the other night?’ she pries.
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Huh,’ is all she responds with.
    ‘Want another cuppa?’ I ask brightly, determined to change the subject.
     
    The next day is Saturday and Molly and Sam’s hen and stag nights are finally upon us. I don’t know about the boys, but the plan is that all the girls will meet in Circular Quay later this afternoon. There are nine of us going in total, including Molly’s boss, Sandra, and another friend of hers from work, Bea, two of Molly’s university pals who I’ve never met and even a couple of girls from our school days.
    Amy is coming to collect Molly, Sam and me at four o’clock to drive us to the ferry terminal so we don’t have to walk down the hill in our heels. The boys are going bungee jumping this