City of Light by Dave Warner

Author:Dave Warner [Warner, Dave]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fremantle Press
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

She remained true to her word, waking me a little after six, towel on her head, steam rising from her naked skin. ‘Ten minutes, Snowy. Can’t leave you here, I’m afraid.’

‘S’okay,’ I growled unconvincingly.

She informed me that she had to get dressed and disappeared back towards her own room.

I groped my way to the bathroom. No towel. There were more linen cupboards than lockers in a footy change room. I took potluck — up and to the left. Bad move — a plastic bag with a horseshoe logo stamped across its flank fell out, and would have hit the floor had my reflexes not surprised themselves. The bag was light for its bulk and I peered in. Bundles of folded notes, fifties mainly, smiled back. I skimmed a bundle at random. Two grand. Make it around fifteen bundles, thirty grand all up. Stealthily, I put the bag back how I found it.

The next cupboard threw up the towels.

After I’d showered and dressed, I stood in the hallway as Celeste checked that she had all her presents for the family. Though still uneasy about what I’d found, I’d resolved to say nothing. ‘Okay?’ she prompted. Today she wore a patterned frock — silk-like, brightly coloured, Parisienne-styled with a wide red belt. I grabbed an armful of gifts and packed them in her car. She gave me a light kiss and climbed in.

‘Will I see you again?’ I felt like some pimply schoolgirl after a beach romance.

‘We’ll see one another. But Snowy, let’s not plan anything. What happened was great. I liked it. I’m not ready, though …’

What could I do but nod? My hand reached inside the window and rested on hers in a gesture of friendship, then she kicked over the engine and I retreated.

As she reversed out the driveway, I let the morning envelop me. It was crisp, heading hot later. Of all my Christmas Eves, this was the one I would most remember.

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