Back on Track, page 18
“No.”
“Oh, that’s such a shame – they’re a delight.”
There was a soft grunt from Warren but Simon arrived back to take their orders. Ketty avoided eye contact with Val as Warren ordered the full breakfast.
“I’ve never married, never had children,” Ketty said once Simon had left.
“Warren and I couldn’t have children of our own so we fostered. We’ve welcomed ten children into our home over the years but only five of them have remained close and we ended up officially adopting them.”
Warren gave a snort.
Val poked him.
“I do love them and their kids but—”
“You don’t want to look after them.” Val huffed. “I know.”
“It’s not that, it’s just…I’m getting too old to manage…” He petered out as Simon arrived with their teas and coffee.
Val added a juice to her order and then asked Ketty about her business. The food came and when Ketty saw Val’s plate of pancakes she was glad she’d gone with the fruit and yoghurt parfait. Like Warren, Ketty had overindulged the night before. Perhaps one of the reasons for her crazy dream that still hung at the edge of her consciousness.
No sooner had Warren finished his large plate of eggs and bacon and all the trimmings he rose, patted his lips with his serviette and eased out from behind the table. “Nature calls.”
“I was planning on a coffee,” Val said.
“I’ll have another with you.” Ketty smiled.
“All right,” Val said to Warren. “I’ll meet you back in the cabin in a while.”
He gave a mock salute and hurried away.
Val shook her head. “Too much food and drink does it to him every time but he won’t be told.”
“Everything is so tempting and delicious,” Ketty said. “It’s hard to refuse.”
“You must have a wonderful business. I’ve never visited a dressmaker before. I’m over seventy, a bit old for anything fancy.”
“You don’t need a dressmaker to dress with style. It’s all about how you put it together.”
“You’re right. Our two daughters are clever like that. They always look stylish but neither of them have a big budget. They love op shops.”
“So do I. You can pick up some gems.”
“Warren can take the credit for setting the girls on that path,” Val said.
“A man of many talents.”
“He was so patient with them,” Val said wistfully. “Our budget was tight when they were all living at home. One rainy weekend the girls were bickering over what they were going to wear to a family wedding. They were lamenting their lack of funds for new outfits. I was ready to bang their heads together but Warren sat them down and asked them what they thought they’d like to wear. Of course they had no idea so he suggested they look in magazines at styles they liked and said once they had a good idea about what they wanted he’d help fund it. The girls were so excited.” Val tsked and shook her head.
“I just walked away. I knew they’d pick things way beyond our means to buy and I was sure Warren would be out of his depth. They all surprised me. The girls were selective about what they wanted but the items were still beyond our budget. Warren said he’d take them shopping. They were gone for hours and came back happy as larks. He’d taken them and their ideas to op shops and they got the basics. We dug out the sewing machine.” Val winced. “I can mend things but I’m not a sewer. The girls’ enthusiasm and my little bit of sewing knowledge went a long way. They looked gorgeous on the day. I was so proud of them…and Warren. He’d given them a budget and they’d worked out if they pooled it they’d do better and they helped each other with their outfits.”
“Sounds like Warren killed two birds with one stone.” Ketty was impressed with his smart thinking as well. “How clever to set them a task where they could work as a team and end up with the outfits they wanted.”
“We gave them both sewing machines for their twenty-firsts. Not quite a fancy dressmaker like you but they’ve become quite adept at sewing and remodelling.”
“I like it when clothes get a second or even third adaptation. I upcycle clothing and some of my staff do too.”
“I think it’s so wonderful of you to bring them on this holiday,” Val said.
“I’m very proud of my business but it wouldn’t be what it is today without my ladies.”
“I haven’t had a chance to speak with them all yet but I’ve had a chat with Judith and…Stacey, is it?”
“Lacey.”
“Oh. Lacey’s a perfect name for a dressmaker. She’s such a pretty young thing and wears…” Val leaned in. “I hope it’s not being offensive but her clothes are…” Val screwed up her nose. “Rather unusual but somehow on her they all come together with flair.”
“I know what you mean. Lacey’s one that upcycles and she thinks outside the box, that’s what I love about her. It’s important to have someone like that in a dressmaking business or we could get stuck in our ways. She’s been instrumental in creating a few new lines and she’s a whiz with social media, anything to do with IT really. I resisted having a decent web presence for years. I couldn’t see how we could keep the personal touch but under Lacey’s guidance it’s added another dimension to our enterprise. I’ve learned a lot about that from her.”
“I suppose each of your staff bring something different to the mix.”
“Oh, yes. Ning can do just about anything with a needle and thread. Her embroidery, both with machine and by hand, is exquisite. The brides love her work.” Ketty felt another pang of sorrow for the imminent loss not just of Ning’s skills but her calm presence in the workshop. “Tien and Birgit are excellent seamstresses. I think of them as my soldiers, cutting and sewing. And Judith, well, she’s my right hand. What she doesn’t know about pattern construction isn’t worth knowing, and she keeps her finger on the pulse with paperwork, which is of great assistance to me and…” Ketty stopped. Ning, Tien and Birgit each had a role that was clear and defined. Lacey and Judith had areas of expertise that were broader and sometimes overlapped, such as sharing front-of-house duty with Ketty. From Ketty’s point of view she enjoyed the fluidity of it but perhaps someone like Judith needed more structure. Ketty thought about Warren’s clever way of getting his daughters to work as a team.
“Is something wrong?” Val cut into her thoughts.
“No, not at all. There was a work issue I’d been thinking about this morning and I’ve just had an idea about how to manage it. It actually sprung from your recount of Warren getting your daughters to work together.” At least it was the start of an idea. Ketty would need to work on it a bit more but she felt a little surge of optimism. She smiled as Simon appeared to take their drinks order.
“A cappuccino for Val and a latte for Ketty,” he repeated. “Can I get you anything else to go with it?”
“No, thank you,” Val and Ketty spoke together and then laughed.
“He’s a genial young man.” Ketty watched him walk away, wondering if he had a partner and if he would suit Lacey.
“It’s nice how they remember your name after such a short time.”
“One of the perks of this kind of travel, I suppose.”
“I do like it but I’d be happy to drive places, stop when and where we wanted and stay in cabins,” Val said. “I cook for us then and we don’t eat out as much but Warren loves the train journeys.”
“I love to cruise. It gets in your blood and you keep wanting to go again.”
“We haven’t done a cruise.” Val glanced wistfully out the window. “I nearly had Warren convinced a few years back but he hasn’t been keen since the pandemic. Now he says he’s too old for it.”
“Good heavens! I can’t imagine anyone being too old to cruise. I’m looking forward to going again one day but in the meantime this train journey has been wonderful so far.”
“How’s the cabin sharing working out?”
“With Carlos?” Ketty smiled. “He’s very easy to get along with and really we’ve hardly been in the cabin together except for when we’re sleeping. By the time I got in last night he was already fast asleep. Poor man travelled for days to get here. And then this morning he was up well before me.”
“I never sleep well the first night on the train. And we had a message from one of our sons while we were in Katherine. His youngest has been in hospital for a small op and now she has an infection. Poor little lamb will need some extra recovery time. If Warren and I were home we’d be able to help.”
“You help out quite a lot, by the sound of it.”
“I do. And don’t listen to Warren’s grumbling. He adores our grandies. I just wish he’d help out with them more, help keep them entertained when we have them. He was always so good at it with our children. Even though work took him away a lot in the early days he was hands-on when he was home. He was a travelling salesman until his dad expanded the shop and needed his help, and then of course we took it over fully. Since he’s retired he’s become a different man.”
Simon placed their coffees on the table. Val stirred sugar into hers in sluggish circles. Ketty was reminded of Maurice. “My neighbour has recently retired from a high-powered office job. He’s nearly driving his poor wife, Lee, mad getting under her feet, wanting to help her with things she’s done on her own for years.”
Val snorted. “Warren’s the opposite. Since he’s retired he occupies himself well. He’s extended our back patio and taken up orchid gardening and he enjoys golf. Of course I took up some sport and hobbies once our children had all left home, but they need our help now they have children of their own and Warren’s quite reluctant.”
“Hello, ladies.” Carlos stood beside their table. “May I join you?”
“Of course,” Val gushed and Ketty heard the smoothness of his words as someone new would.
Carlos lavished them with his smile and slid in beside Ketty. “Once more a delicious meal,” he said.
“Oh yes,” Val said.
“I think I’ll get another coffee too since you’ve only just started.”
“Of course.” Val nodded profusely.
Ketty wanted to roll her eyes. Last night Val was ready to crucify Carlos for lying to them and now she was fawning all over him. Ketty was also a little disappointed. Val had been quite forthcoming and Carlos’s arrival had interrupted them.
twenty-three
Day Two – On board the Ghan
Judith glanced out the cabin window. The flat landscape had been replaced by low hills and the vegetation had changed to thicker bush and bigger trees.
“Are we going slower?” Ning asked from the other end of the couch.
“It seems so, yes.” Judith picked up her book again and Ning went back to her tour booklet. They’d both been awake in time to watch the sun come up this morning, then had got themselves ready and gone for an early breakfast. There’d been no sign of the rest of their party, except Judith had seen Carlos disappearing around the end of the corridor in the opposite direction when she’d been returning from breakfast.
Now she and Ning were organised and ready to depart once they arrived in Alice Springs but that was still a while away. She put her book on the table – it wasn’t holding her interest. She kept going over things in her mind and couldn’t concentrate on the story. It was crime fiction and needed her full attention.
She stood and paced the small floor space. Their attendant had folded the top bunk away and restored Ning’s sleeper to a seat while they’d been at breakfast so the space didn’t feel quite so small, but it was still only a few steps from one end to the other. Beneath her sock the plaster she’d put over the gouge on her ankle wasn’t doing much of a job to stop the chafing.
“Is something wrong?” Ning asked.
Judith stopped pacing and sat again. She hadn’t mentioned her foot to Ning – she’d only fuss and besides there were bigger hurts to worry about. “No…I…” She twisted on the seat to look directly at Ning. “Do you think I’m too forthright?”
Ning’s face fell. She opened her mouth but no words came out.
“I’m worried about Ketty,” Judith blurted.
“Why? Isn’t she well?”
“Perfectly. It’s not her health, it’s her…it’s Carlos.”
“Oh.” Ning shook her head. “It’s not right for them to share a cabin but it’s not my place to say.”
“I’m not so much bothered by them sharing a cabin as…” Judith winced, trying to form the words. “I’m worried he’s targeting Ketty for her money as his ticket to stay in Australia.”
“Ticket?”
“You know, visa.”
“Ohh,” Ning said again, drawing the sound out. Then she shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“You don’t?”
“Carlos is a nice man from a nice family.”
“You don’t know his family.”
“No, but I’ve heard about them from Ketty. She’s very fond of Carlos and she is a good judge of character.”
Judith sighed. Ning hadn’t seen the version of Carlos she had. “I tried to warn Ketty last night.”
“What do you mean by ‘warn’?”
Once more Judith winced. “I told her what I told you. That I think he’s after her money and a visa to stay in Australia.”
Ning gasped.
“Not quite like that but…we didn’t part on good terms.”
“Oh, that’s not right.” Ning shook her head. “You and Ketty are old friends. You mustn’t let this come between you. You must apologise.”
“Apologise?”
“Yes.” Ning waved her hands at Judith as if she were shooing a chicken. “You must fix this.”
“Ketty might not want to listen to me.”
“Of course she will. She is a good woman.” Ning clicked her tongue. “And so are you. You must sort this out or you won’t enjoy this holiday and neither will Ketty. Let’s go and sit in the lounge car.” Ning shooed her again. “I’d like another cup of tea and we can watch for the right moment for you to speak to Ketty.”
“You go on,” Judith said. “I’ll be there shortly. I need to change my socks.”
They both glanced down at the thin anklets she was wearing. Ning had nodded her approval when she’d seen Judith putting on her sneakers earlier.
“Don’t be long,” she said.
“I won’t.” Judith shut the door after her and sat down. She wasn’t ready to talk to Ketty, let alone try to apologise for something she’d said out of care for her friend, and on top of that her foot was bothering her. She took off the shoes and socks and the plaster fell away revealing the graze, which was now quite red. It hadn’t looked too bad after her shower.
“Damn,” she muttered and rummaged in her toiletries bag. She applied her last two plasters, and put on a thicker pair of socks and then her sneakers. She tested the injured foot and could hardly feel the graze. All she had to do now was make a quick getaway. She picked up her bag and hat and waited for the train to stop.
They were moving very slowly now. Lacey leaned closer to the window and looked out. A road stretched along parallel to the track and then a group of sheds came into view. Their arrival in Alice Springs was announced via the intercom.
Lacey was wearing her op-shop shorts again, a loose shirt and a hat, and had lathered herself in sunscreen. She and Birgit had opted to go on the Simpsons Gap tour and she wanted to make sure she’d be well covered up. Her legs had turned a little pink yesterday even though she’d managed to be in the shade most of the time. It might not be so easy today.
“Lacey?” The call was accompanied by a tap on her door.
“I’m here.” She smiled as Birgit stuck her head in. “I’m ready.”
Birgit came right in and shut the door behind her. “Change of plan.”
“Oh.”
“Rory and Rhys have booked the camel ride tour and there’s room for two more. I’m keen and I thought you would be too.”
Lacey’s stomach sunk. She’d read about the tour in the brochure. It did sound like something she’d like but she’d noticed there was an extra cost for it.
“No, thanks,” she said quickly. “I’ll stick with the hike at the gap.”
“Oh, no, please,” Birgit pleaded. “It was craic with the boyos last night, wasn’t it? Except for Rory calling Ketty ‘Granny’.”
“I thought Miss Ketty wonderful to speak up. My dad used to call my gran ‘the old woman’. She hated it but ignored him to keep the peace.” Lacey smiled. “Apart from that, it was a great night.” Lacey had been tired but staying up with Birgit and the two fellas had been fun in the end.
“Rhys especially said he hoped you could come.” Birgit smiled brightly then grabbed her hand. “Pleeease!”
Lacey shook her head, wishing she could but there was no wriggle room in her finances. “Camels terrify me.”
“Pfft.” Birgit batted a hand at her.
“It’s a fear, like you and heights.”
“Oh.”
Lacey tried to smile. She wasn’t good at lying. “I’m sure you’ll have fun and we can compare our day over drinks later. It’ll be like getting to do both trips because we’ll hear all about each other’s firsthand.”
“I’m sorry to desert you.” Birgit’s shoulders drooped. “I promised we’d do the hike together.”
“I won’t be on my own. There’ll be plenty of other people.”
“If you’re sure?”
“I am.”
“Are you coming to wait in the lounge car? We’ll be arriving soon.”
“I’ll be there in just a tick.” Lacey picked up the tube of sunscreen she’d been using. “I’ve got to finish lathering and then I’ll catch you up.”
“Okay.” Birgit gave her one last wistful look then let herself out.
Lacey put the tube back on the table and picked up her phone. Once more she checked the balance in her account and once more she was disappointed. Her dad still hadn’t sent through the money he’d promised. Her recent texts remained unanswered and her calls rang out. Her sister, Freya, always said he wasn’t to be trusted but Lacey’s view of him had been different. She’d stubbornly clung to the ideal dad she imagined him to be.
“Oh, that’s such a shame – they’re a delight.”
There was a soft grunt from Warren but Simon arrived back to take their orders. Ketty avoided eye contact with Val as Warren ordered the full breakfast.
“I’ve never married, never had children,” Ketty said once Simon had left.
“Warren and I couldn’t have children of our own so we fostered. We’ve welcomed ten children into our home over the years but only five of them have remained close and we ended up officially adopting them.”
Warren gave a snort.
Val poked him.
“I do love them and their kids but—”
“You don’t want to look after them.” Val huffed. “I know.”
“It’s not that, it’s just…I’m getting too old to manage…” He petered out as Simon arrived with their teas and coffee.
Val added a juice to her order and then asked Ketty about her business. The food came and when Ketty saw Val’s plate of pancakes she was glad she’d gone with the fruit and yoghurt parfait. Like Warren, Ketty had overindulged the night before. Perhaps one of the reasons for her crazy dream that still hung at the edge of her consciousness.
No sooner had Warren finished his large plate of eggs and bacon and all the trimmings he rose, patted his lips with his serviette and eased out from behind the table. “Nature calls.”
“I was planning on a coffee,” Val said.
“I’ll have another with you.” Ketty smiled.
“All right,” Val said to Warren. “I’ll meet you back in the cabin in a while.”
He gave a mock salute and hurried away.
Val shook her head. “Too much food and drink does it to him every time but he won’t be told.”
“Everything is so tempting and delicious,” Ketty said. “It’s hard to refuse.”
“You must have a wonderful business. I’ve never visited a dressmaker before. I’m over seventy, a bit old for anything fancy.”
“You don’t need a dressmaker to dress with style. It’s all about how you put it together.”
“You’re right. Our two daughters are clever like that. They always look stylish but neither of them have a big budget. They love op shops.”
“So do I. You can pick up some gems.”
“Warren can take the credit for setting the girls on that path,” Val said.
“A man of many talents.”
“He was so patient with them,” Val said wistfully. “Our budget was tight when they were all living at home. One rainy weekend the girls were bickering over what they were going to wear to a family wedding. They were lamenting their lack of funds for new outfits. I was ready to bang their heads together but Warren sat them down and asked them what they thought they’d like to wear. Of course they had no idea so he suggested they look in magazines at styles they liked and said once they had a good idea about what they wanted he’d help fund it. The girls were so excited.” Val tsked and shook her head.
“I just walked away. I knew they’d pick things way beyond our means to buy and I was sure Warren would be out of his depth. They all surprised me. The girls were selective about what they wanted but the items were still beyond our budget. Warren said he’d take them shopping. They were gone for hours and came back happy as larks. He’d taken them and their ideas to op shops and they got the basics. We dug out the sewing machine.” Val winced. “I can mend things but I’m not a sewer. The girls’ enthusiasm and my little bit of sewing knowledge went a long way. They looked gorgeous on the day. I was so proud of them…and Warren. He’d given them a budget and they’d worked out if they pooled it they’d do better and they helped each other with their outfits.”
“Sounds like Warren killed two birds with one stone.” Ketty was impressed with his smart thinking as well. “How clever to set them a task where they could work as a team and end up with the outfits they wanted.”
“We gave them both sewing machines for their twenty-firsts. Not quite a fancy dressmaker like you but they’ve become quite adept at sewing and remodelling.”
“I like it when clothes get a second or even third adaptation. I upcycle clothing and some of my staff do too.”
“I think it’s so wonderful of you to bring them on this holiday,” Val said.
“I’m very proud of my business but it wouldn’t be what it is today without my ladies.”
“I haven’t had a chance to speak with them all yet but I’ve had a chat with Judith and…Stacey, is it?”
“Lacey.”
“Oh. Lacey’s a perfect name for a dressmaker. She’s such a pretty young thing and wears…” Val leaned in. “I hope it’s not being offensive but her clothes are…” Val screwed up her nose. “Rather unusual but somehow on her they all come together with flair.”
“I know what you mean. Lacey’s one that upcycles and she thinks outside the box, that’s what I love about her. It’s important to have someone like that in a dressmaking business or we could get stuck in our ways. She’s been instrumental in creating a few new lines and she’s a whiz with social media, anything to do with IT really. I resisted having a decent web presence for years. I couldn’t see how we could keep the personal touch but under Lacey’s guidance it’s added another dimension to our enterprise. I’ve learned a lot about that from her.”
“I suppose each of your staff bring something different to the mix.”
“Oh, yes. Ning can do just about anything with a needle and thread. Her embroidery, both with machine and by hand, is exquisite. The brides love her work.” Ketty felt another pang of sorrow for the imminent loss not just of Ning’s skills but her calm presence in the workshop. “Tien and Birgit are excellent seamstresses. I think of them as my soldiers, cutting and sewing. And Judith, well, she’s my right hand. What she doesn’t know about pattern construction isn’t worth knowing, and she keeps her finger on the pulse with paperwork, which is of great assistance to me and…” Ketty stopped. Ning, Tien and Birgit each had a role that was clear and defined. Lacey and Judith had areas of expertise that were broader and sometimes overlapped, such as sharing front-of-house duty with Ketty. From Ketty’s point of view she enjoyed the fluidity of it but perhaps someone like Judith needed more structure. Ketty thought about Warren’s clever way of getting his daughters to work as a team.
“Is something wrong?” Val cut into her thoughts.
“No, not at all. There was a work issue I’d been thinking about this morning and I’ve just had an idea about how to manage it. It actually sprung from your recount of Warren getting your daughters to work together.” At least it was the start of an idea. Ketty would need to work on it a bit more but she felt a little surge of optimism. She smiled as Simon appeared to take their drinks order.
“A cappuccino for Val and a latte for Ketty,” he repeated. “Can I get you anything else to go with it?”
“No, thank you,” Val and Ketty spoke together and then laughed.
“He’s a genial young man.” Ketty watched him walk away, wondering if he had a partner and if he would suit Lacey.
“It’s nice how they remember your name after such a short time.”
“One of the perks of this kind of travel, I suppose.”
“I do like it but I’d be happy to drive places, stop when and where we wanted and stay in cabins,” Val said. “I cook for us then and we don’t eat out as much but Warren loves the train journeys.”
“I love to cruise. It gets in your blood and you keep wanting to go again.”
“We haven’t done a cruise.” Val glanced wistfully out the window. “I nearly had Warren convinced a few years back but he hasn’t been keen since the pandemic. Now he says he’s too old for it.”
“Good heavens! I can’t imagine anyone being too old to cruise. I’m looking forward to going again one day but in the meantime this train journey has been wonderful so far.”
“How’s the cabin sharing working out?”
“With Carlos?” Ketty smiled. “He’s very easy to get along with and really we’ve hardly been in the cabin together except for when we’re sleeping. By the time I got in last night he was already fast asleep. Poor man travelled for days to get here. And then this morning he was up well before me.”
“I never sleep well the first night on the train. And we had a message from one of our sons while we were in Katherine. His youngest has been in hospital for a small op and now she has an infection. Poor little lamb will need some extra recovery time. If Warren and I were home we’d be able to help.”
“You help out quite a lot, by the sound of it.”
“I do. And don’t listen to Warren’s grumbling. He adores our grandies. I just wish he’d help out with them more, help keep them entertained when we have them. He was always so good at it with our children. Even though work took him away a lot in the early days he was hands-on when he was home. He was a travelling salesman until his dad expanded the shop and needed his help, and then of course we took it over fully. Since he’s retired he’s become a different man.”
Simon placed their coffees on the table. Val stirred sugar into hers in sluggish circles. Ketty was reminded of Maurice. “My neighbour has recently retired from a high-powered office job. He’s nearly driving his poor wife, Lee, mad getting under her feet, wanting to help her with things she’s done on her own for years.”
Val snorted. “Warren’s the opposite. Since he’s retired he occupies himself well. He’s extended our back patio and taken up orchid gardening and he enjoys golf. Of course I took up some sport and hobbies once our children had all left home, but they need our help now they have children of their own and Warren’s quite reluctant.”
“Hello, ladies.” Carlos stood beside their table. “May I join you?”
“Of course,” Val gushed and Ketty heard the smoothness of his words as someone new would.
Carlos lavished them with his smile and slid in beside Ketty. “Once more a delicious meal,” he said.
“Oh yes,” Val said.
“I think I’ll get another coffee too since you’ve only just started.”
“Of course.” Val nodded profusely.
Ketty wanted to roll her eyes. Last night Val was ready to crucify Carlos for lying to them and now she was fawning all over him. Ketty was also a little disappointed. Val had been quite forthcoming and Carlos’s arrival had interrupted them.
twenty-three
Day Two – On board the Ghan
Judith glanced out the cabin window. The flat landscape had been replaced by low hills and the vegetation had changed to thicker bush and bigger trees.
“Are we going slower?” Ning asked from the other end of the couch.
“It seems so, yes.” Judith picked up her book again and Ning went back to her tour booklet. They’d both been awake in time to watch the sun come up this morning, then had got themselves ready and gone for an early breakfast. There’d been no sign of the rest of their party, except Judith had seen Carlos disappearing around the end of the corridor in the opposite direction when she’d been returning from breakfast.
Now she and Ning were organised and ready to depart once they arrived in Alice Springs but that was still a while away. She put her book on the table – it wasn’t holding her interest. She kept going over things in her mind and couldn’t concentrate on the story. It was crime fiction and needed her full attention.
She stood and paced the small floor space. Their attendant had folded the top bunk away and restored Ning’s sleeper to a seat while they’d been at breakfast so the space didn’t feel quite so small, but it was still only a few steps from one end to the other. Beneath her sock the plaster she’d put over the gouge on her ankle wasn’t doing much of a job to stop the chafing.
“Is something wrong?” Ning asked.
Judith stopped pacing and sat again. She hadn’t mentioned her foot to Ning – she’d only fuss and besides there were bigger hurts to worry about. “No…I…” She twisted on the seat to look directly at Ning. “Do you think I’m too forthright?”
Ning’s face fell. She opened her mouth but no words came out.
“I’m worried about Ketty,” Judith blurted.
“Why? Isn’t she well?”
“Perfectly. It’s not her health, it’s her…it’s Carlos.”
“Oh.” Ning shook her head. “It’s not right for them to share a cabin but it’s not my place to say.”
“I’m not so much bothered by them sharing a cabin as…” Judith winced, trying to form the words. “I’m worried he’s targeting Ketty for her money as his ticket to stay in Australia.”
“Ticket?”
“You know, visa.”
“Ohh,” Ning said again, drawing the sound out. Then she shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“You don’t?”
“Carlos is a nice man from a nice family.”
“You don’t know his family.”
“No, but I’ve heard about them from Ketty. She’s very fond of Carlos and she is a good judge of character.”
Judith sighed. Ning hadn’t seen the version of Carlos she had. “I tried to warn Ketty last night.”
“What do you mean by ‘warn’?”
Once more Judith winced. “I told her what I told you. That I think he’s after her money and a visa to stay in Australia.”
Ning gasped.
“Not quite like that but…we didn’t part on good terms.”
“Oh, that’s not right.” Ning shook her head. “You and Ketty are old friends. You mustn’t let this come between you. You must apologise.”
“Apologise?”
“Yes.” Ning waved her hands at Judith as if she were shooing a chicken. “You must fix this.”
“Ketty might not want to listen to me.”
“Of course she will. She is a good woman.” Ning clicked her tongue. “And so are you. You must sort this out or you won’t enjoy this holiday and neither will Ketty. Let’s go and sit in the lounge car.” Ning shooed her again. “I’d like another cup of tea and we can watch for the right moment for you to speak to Ketty.”
“You go on,” Judith said. “I’ll be there shortly. I need to change my socks.”
They both glanced down at the thin anklets she was wearing. Ning had nodded her approval when she’d seen Judith putting on her sneakers earlier.
“Don’t be long,” she said.
“I won’t.” Judith shut the door after her and sat down. She wasn’t ready to talk to Ketty, let alone try to apologise for something she’d said out of care for her friend, and on top of that her foot was bothering her. She took off the shoes and socks and the plaster fell away revealing the graze, which was now quite red. It hadn’t looked too bad after her shower.
“Damn,” she muttered and rummaged in her toiletries bag. She applied her last two plasters, and put on a thicker pair of socks and then her sneakers. She tested the injured foot and could hardly feel the graze. All she had to do now was make a quick getaway. She picked up her bag and hat and waited for the train to stop.
They were moving very slowly now. Lacey leaned closer to the window and looked out. A road stretched along parallel to the track and then a group of sheds came into view. Their arrival in Alice Springs was announced via the intercom.
Lacey was wearing her op-shop shorts again, a loose shirt and a hat, and had lathered herself in sunscreen. She and Birgit had opted to go on the Simpsons Gap tour and she wanted to make sure she’d be well covered up. Her legs had turned a little pink yesterday even though she’d managed to be in the shade most of the time. It might not be so easy today.
“Lacey?” The call was accompanied by a tap on her door.
“I’m here.” She smiled as Birgit stuck her head in. “I’m ready.”
Birgit came right in and shut the door behind her. “Change of plan.”
“Oh.”
“Rory and Rhys have booked the camel ride tour and there’s room for two more. I’m keen and I thought you would be too.”
Lacey’s stomach sunk. She’d read about the tour in the brochure. It did sound like something she’d like but she’d noticed there was an extra cost for it.
“No, thanks,” she said quickly. “I’ll stick with the hike at the gap.”
“Oh, no, please,” Birgit pleaded. “It was craic with the boyos last night, wasn’t it? Except for Rory calling Ketty ‘Granny’.”
“I thought Miss Ketty wonderful to speak up. My dad used to call my gran ‘the old woman’. She hated it but ignored him to keep the peace.” Lacey smiled. “Apart from that, it was a great night.” Lacey had been tired but staying up with Birgit and the two fellas had been fun in the end.
“Rhys especially said he hoped you could come.” Birgit smiled brightly then grabbed her hand. “Pleeease!”
Lacey shook her head, wishing she could but there was no wriggle room in her finances. “Camels terrify me.”
“Pfft.” Birgit batted a hand at her.
“It’s a fear, like you and heights.”
“Oh.”
Lacey tried to smile. She wasn’t good at lying. “I’m sure you’ll have fun and we can compare our day over drinks later. It’ll be like getting to do both trips because we’ll hear all about each other’s firsthand.”
“I’m sorry to desert you.” Birgit’s shoulders drooped. “I promised we’d do the hike together.”
“I won’t be on my own. There’ll be plenty of other people.”
“If you’re sure?”
“I am.”
“Are you coming to wait in the lounge car? We’ll be arriving soon.”
“I’ll be there in just a tick.” Lacey picked up the tube of sunscreen she’d been using. “I’ve got to finish lathering and then I’ll catch you up.”
“Okay.” Birgit gave her one last wistful look then let herself out.
Lacey put the tube back on the table and picked up her phone. Once more she checked the balance in her account and once more she was disappointed. Her dad still hadn’t sent through the money he’d promised. Her recent texts remained unanswered and her calls rang out. Her sister, Freya, always said he wasn’t to be trusted but Lacey’s view of him had been different. She’d stubbornly clung to the ideal dad she imagined him to be.
