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“That’s wonderful!”
“Which is why I have to tell Dad and Mum.”
“Absolutely!”Judith turned the shower on full blast.
“Tonight.”
“Tonight!”This was sudden even by Pippa’s standards.“Maybe you shouldn’t spring this on them quite so soon.I mean, you know Mum isn’t that good with…”
“With what?”Judith watched the steam as it fogged up the mirror.“Go on say it.”Pip’s voice was suddenly strained.
“Things that are…”
“Deviant?Warped?is that what you mean?”
“No!of course not.I mean, things that are outside of her life experience.”
“That’s the litmus test, is it?Mum’s experience of life.If we went by her experience, we’d all be sent to hell for masturbating.”
Crikey, that was a close call, considering where her fingers had been heading when Pippa rang.
“How long are you going to make excuses for her?”Pippa demanded.
“I’m not.”Judith tested the water gushing out of the shower head and nearly burnt her fingers.Turned on the cold tap.“I just understand that her childhood was difficult and—”
“Honestly, right now, I don’t care about Mum’s childhood.That’s not my problem.Shaz and I discussed it after you’d left; the time is right.We’ve been dating for six months and now I’ve told you, that’s it, no more hiding in the shadows.The rest of the fam needs to know.”
“I get that.”
Pippa bowled on, barely drawing breath.“So listen, I’ve organised a table at Harry Tan’s.I’ve asked Luke and Kirsty to come too.Harry’s booked us the private room.”
“Oh, right, so everyone.”
“Yep, and Shaz will be holding my hand.I’m shouting our love to the whole fucking world.Actually, Harry already knows.We’ve been going there for Peking duck ever since we started dating.”A pause for breath.“Look babe, I need to practise what I’m going to say or I’m bound to shout at Mum.Can we catch up beforehand?”
Wham!Wham!Wham!There was so much to take in, her head was reeling.There went her plans for yoga.And seducing Carts afterwards.Judith gulped down her disappointment.But her sister needed her by her side now, probably more than at any other time.
“Of course I can.When… where?”
“Straight after work.At Glide.I’ll make sure I’m quick with my last patient.”
“I’ll be there,” Judith said firmly.
After Pip had declared undying love and appreciation and hung up, Judith stepped into the shower.Thoughts yapped at the periphery of her brain, but she knew there was no time to let them in because if she didn’t rush, Dr Jonathon Pritchard, Echidna Ward’s head psychiatrist (aka Dr Death, aptly named by Polly because of his morbidly pale skin and morose stare) would make toast of her in front of the whole team.
She made it into work in record time.Dr Death’s familiar drone met her ears as she hurried towards the staff meeting room.Quaking in her shoes, she finally summoned the courage to click the latch and push the door open.
The room looked haphazard.Polly lounged on one elbow at the far end of the table, sucking on the top of her pen.Her lips looked chafed, and she was wearing a bright yellow dress with poppies on it more suited to a summer party, incongruently paired with a black leather jacket that was way too big for her.
Solo’s short dark hair spiked more than usual, and a dreamy smile played around his lips.
There was an energy that was palpable.
It was the same kind of energy she sensed she was giving off.What Polly would call “right royally fucked”.Except she hadn’t been fucked exactly…
She slipped into her chair with a mumbled apology.
Dr Death stopped talking and looked around the room, an exasperated pull to his thin lips.
