The Summer Sisters by Lilly Mirren

Author:Lilly Mirren [Mirren, Lilly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Lab Press

20

January 1997

Cabarita Beach

“Ready to go?” Bindi asked, slipping the purse strap over her shoulder.

Six loaves of bread sat rising beneath cloths on the bench in a rectangle of light from the window. The scent of yeast filled the air.

Kate dipped her head. “Just need to wash the bread dough from my hands.” She ran them under the tap, then wiped them dry on a hand towel. “Let’s go.”

Bindi followed Kate out to the car. They climbed in and Kate started the engine, then sat still, staring out through the windscreen, her hands resting on the steering wheel.

“You okay?” asked Bindi, her brow furrowed.

Kate nodded, inhaled a sharp breath, but didn’t otherwise move.

Bindi watched then pursed her lips. “Hey Katie, is there something you want to talk about?”

Kate faced her, eyes glimmering with unshed tears. “I’m scared.”

“Okay.” Bindi waited for more, her throat already tightening.

“Scared of losing you. I don’t want to find out the test results. I want to sit here, with you, in the car, believing that you’re going to be fine.”

Bindi nodded, swallowing around the growing lump in her throat. “Yeah, me too.”

“I know we have to go, but I want to live in this moment, right now, for a little longer.” Kate brushed a tear from her cheek.

“I’m going to be okay, Katie.”

“I know you are.”

Bindi cocked her head and offered a wan smile. “Besides, you’ve got Alex and Reeda to help you through if anything goes wrong.” Her stomach twisted with anxiety. She was nervous enough about finding out her test results, she didn’t need Kate to make things worse.

Kate burst into tears. “I know I have them, and I’m grateful, but I need you as well,” she wailed.

Tears spilled from Bindi’s eyes. She couldn’t let her sister cry without joining in. No matter what they were crying about, she’d never been able to manage holding in her own tears if Kate or Reeda were upset.

“I need you too,” she reached for Kate’s arm, rested her hand there. “I need you to be strong for me, right now. To help me through today. If the cancer hasn’t gone completely, we still have options.”

Kate sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of one hand. “I know.”

“So, pull it together woman!”

Kate saluted. “Yes ma’am.” She wiped her eyes again.

“I’ll tell you what, let’s go get a croissant and a coffee first.”

Kate nodded. “That sounds perfect.”

Kate pulled the car out of the driveway and headed for the tiny hamlet of Cabarita. There was a small, rustic cafe in the centre of the village called Joys, and when they were kids it was where Mum and Dad used to take them for breakfast when they were staying at the inn and just needed to get out for a while on their own. The place held too many memories for Bindi to have visited much since, but today it drew her in like a warm blanket. She needed to be close to Mum and Dad, to be wrapped in memories.

Joys hadn’t changed much in the past decade or so.

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