The Last Paradise by Di Morrissey

Author:Di Morrissey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Published: 2019-09-20T05:01:30+00:00

7

There was something unique about airports, Grace thought as she waited for her mother and Daisy to arrive. They were a kind of time capsule, filled with a sense of excitement mixed with anxiety; so many people in one space, all going in different directions, lives intersecting perhaps only for a few seconds.

Daisy was clutching her nana’s hand, looking totally overwhelmed when Grace caught a glimpse of her. At that moment, Grace felt the tension in her shoulders ease and her heartbeat slow to normal. Lawrence or his lawyer could have stepped in right up until the last minute before the plane took off, and even though it seemed they hadn’t, it wasn’t until Grace actually laid eyes on Daisy that she could let go of the gripping stress she’d been feeling.

Tina and Daisy both looked a bit tired and cranky as they emerged through the Arrivals gate and started searching for Grace among the sea of Balinese drivers holding name signs and calling out for their unknown passengers. Grace rushed towards them, breaking into a jog when she noticed that Daisy seemed really frightened now.

‘Daisy, over here, hello, sweetheart,’ Grace called, a huge smile on her face.

The little girl turned her head and her pinched expression changed to one of joy. She dropped her grandmother’s hand and ran to Grace, squealing, ‘Mumma, Mumma!’

Grace swept her daughter up, holding her tight as Daisy threw her little arms around her mother’s neck. They were both crying and raining kisses on each other.

‘Oh, it’s so wonderful to have you here,’ exclaimed Grace as Daisy slid to the ground, then, holding Daisy’s hand, Grace embraced Tina. ‘Thanks so much for taking such good care of Daisy, Mum.’ She blinked back fresh tears.

‘It’s my pleasure, darling girl. We’re glad to finally be here!’ said Tina happily. ‘But I don’t recognise a thing in this new airport. I feel like an ant in a castle! And getting through Customs and finding our luggage took forever. Where to now?’

Grace introduced the smiling Sutini from the Kamasan, who stepped in and took charge of their luggage trolley. ‘It’s lovely to meet you both. Please, follow me,’ she said.

‘Well, that was kind of easy,’ said Tina. ‘Apart from the slow baggage, I’m impressed.’

‘Sutini has a local SIM card for you. If you give her your phone, she’ll put it in,’ Grace explained as they walked towards the exit.

‘Thank you, Sutini,’ said Tina, handing over her mobile. At that moment they stepped outside into the humid, soupy air that is the first sense of Bali, and Tina stopped still, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Ah, I’m back.’ She smiled. ‘Kretek cigarettes. The cloves. Now this, I recognise.’

Sitting between Tina and Grace, Daisy snuggled up to her mother as Putu drove them out of the chaos of the airport. Daisy and Grace talked and giggled nonstop. Grace held her daughter’s hand, delighting in her excitement and her stories. Tina stared out the window and said to Grace that she was trying to spot anything that was familiar to the nineteen-year-old girl she’d been.

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