‘Rafe!’ He dashed in from their verandah, looking concerned, although she noted he was dressed immaculately in a pale suit, his hair combed with precision, clean shaved and skin glowing as though he’d just stepped out of a movie. How had he achieved all of that soundlessly? ‘Sorry, I thought you’d gone,’ she explained. Her shoulders relaxed and so did his expression. Stella shook her head. ‘How did you fit all that into that small holdall?’ she said. ‘I cheated.’ He winked. ‘I had a suit sent on.’ His voice turned businesslike, as though closing a door on the last two days. They both stood on a new threshold and there was only one direction in which to move. ‘Time’s against us, Stella.’ The words sounded prophetic, even as she yawned. ‘I’ll be ready in a blink. Is there some tea?’ ‘Coffee?’ he offered in an apologetic tone. She rose, padded over from the bed and hugged him, not wanting to confront the issue of today that was nevertheless so tangible that she felt it was standing like a third person in the corner watching them.
