Page 46 of The Lucky Escape

It took just over four hours in the air, where we slipped into a calmer dynamic – there was less pressure to chat and keep each other entertained, and so we sat side by side incontented silence, occasionally pointing things out in the in-flight magazine, but otherwise amiably quiet. I found myself really enjoying those peaceful moments with him, where we didn’t scramble to make sure the other was having a good time. Patrick wasn’t always the ‘razzle-dazzle’ guy I’d first thought he was – he could be muted and thoughtful. I liked discovering that side of him. I liked peeling back the layers the rest of the world didn’t get to see, unearthing the depths of him and how he trusted me. Having Patrick’s trust was a coup. I was special because of it.

There was a driver waiting for us in Sydney, who wasn’t half as friendly as Bianca had been but was only employed for that one trip instead of for the next twelve days. He drove us right to the water in the city, where our hotel had views of the opera house on one side and the harbour on the other. The lobby was cool marble with huge pillars that ran up a triple storey and plush areas for drinks and business meetings in velvet chairs and on battered-but-expensive-looking leather couches.

I’d worn flip-flops and cut-offs to fly in, which had been fine for Margaret River, but fell a little short in the fancy Sydney hotel with its fancy guests. Where we’d spent the past week had been relaxed and informal. Our new hotel was the poshest place I had ever had a room in – I could tell that even from the uniforms the staff wore. Everything was perfectly arranged and polished, and I swore I could smell jasmine and patchouli, as if even the air was fancier there.

‘It’s a twin room, right?’ Patrick asked the clerk at reception.

The clerk looked from Patrick to me and then back again, assessing our dynamic. It must have seemed odd that we were in one of the best suites (God bless Fernanda and Charles, yet again!) but sleeping separately.

‘Twin room as in—’

‘Yeah, we need two beds please,’ Patrick said, and he shot me a nervous smile, almost apologetic.

‘You’re in the penthouse suite …’ the clerk replied, prompting Patrick to shoot me a second look that saidof course we arewithout him having to do anything other than lift one corner of his mouth. I couldn’t help but notice that whilst we were getting closer, there were boundaries about our friendship that he often gaffer-taped on the floor for everyone else to see. But then, I was also allowed access to tiny moments and in-jokes with him, where nobody else existed. Half the time, me and my friend Patrick had our own little language, our own little world for two.

‘… And the penthouse suite has two king-sized rooms joined by the living quarters. I think you’ll be quite comfortable Mrs—’

‘Ms,’ I interrupted. ‘Ms Wiig is fine, thank you.’

‘Very well, Ms Wiig. If you’d like to head to the private penthouse lift at the very end of this corridor, one of our porters will follow with your luggage shortly. And if you use this key card—’ he slid a small embossed paper envelope across, two shiny black key cards poking out of the top ‘—the lift will open directly to your quarters. Enjoy your stay, won’t you?’

The suite was outrageous, but the novelty of such continued luxury hadn’t worn off and so we both spent a good fifteen minutes walking around exclaiming about the size of the beds, the depth of the bath, the TVs in every room, the view – all of it. It was all modern, angled furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass, even in the bathroom. I’d be showering suspended in the Sydney sky, and beyond grateful for it. Ididn’t think I’d ever go on such an extravagant holiday for the rest of my life. In fact, I knew I wouldn’t.

‘Would it be acceptable if I took your almost-in-laws out to dinner when we get home, so I can thank them?’ Patrick asked. ‘Or maybe I could offer to mow their lawn for a year, or kneel on all fours in their living room to be used as a footrest?’

‘Oh,’ I said, suddenly remembering. ‘They say hi, actually. I’ve been trying to let them know what we’ve been doing every day, and Fernanda specifically asked if you were having fun. I hope you don’t mind, but I sent her the photo of you after you’d lost the water fight.’

‘Not my finest hour,’ he conceded. ‘But of course, send her whatever you want. That’s nice, that you’re chatting.’

‘It’s the least I can do – keep her up to date with our activities.’

We were stood at the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the harbour, late-afternoon sun making the water look like it contained hidden diamonds that sparkled just below the surface. There were the white sails of fifty or so boats scattered about, and high-rise buildings on the other side, which I presumed was the downtown area or the business district. It was everything a person could want from a city all in one eyeline: water, culture, business, the promise of good restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. I knew this part of the trip would be a totally different taste of the country, and I tingled with anticipation of what was in store.

‘And yes, to answer your question: definitely offer the footrest thing.’ I giggled as I pressed my nose against the glass and looked down. We wereveryhigh up. ‘No talking though. Footrests can’t talk.’

‘I think I’d struggle with that,’ he retorted. ‘I don’t know if you’ve noticed but—’

‘Oh, I’ve noticed,’ I replied, and instinctively I reached out a hand to his arm. As we touched it was like gripping live electricity wires and I withdrew as quickly as I’d reached out.What the hell?That was super strange. I’d only meant to emphasize my point, not set us both on fire.

We were interrupted by FaceTime trilling on my iPad.

‘How is that even connected to the Wi-Fi?’ I mused aloud, as I dived into my hand luggage for it.

‘Freddie, Froogle! Hi!’ I said, and at the sound of her name Patrick stood very still over by the L-shaped sofa that occupied most of the joint living space, knowing this would be news about Carol.

‘We found her!’ Freddie said. ‘We found Carol!’

I exhaled and dropped my head, tears pushing at my eyes because only when Carol was safe could I admit I’d been terrified of losing her. I walked over to the sofa too, flopping down in relief.

‘Oh thank God,’ I said, pulling my feet up underneath me. ‘Excellent news, bug. Where was she?’

‘You won’t believe it,’ Freddie said. ‘She was next door! In their garden! I heard her barking this morning when I was getting ready for school. They said they found her at the park and brought her home, but that when they tried to call the number on her collar it was an international dial tone so they hung up. Look, here she is now. She missed us!’

Freddie pulled the dog to the camera right as Patrick looked at me and pointed to ask,Can I say hi?

‘Patrick!’ Freddie squealed. ‘We found Carol! You were right!’

‘I never had any doubt,’ said Patrick, settling in beside me in the nook of the ‘L’. ‘Annie told me how clever you are. I knew you’d figure out a way to track her down.’

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