Trisha broke the silence that had descended over them as they sat outside staring back at the house.

‘So what do we do first?’ she asked. She blew out a stream of smoke. ‘Ugh I’m smoking too damn much.’

Michaela laughed and reached over, tugged on a curl. ‘Don’t think now’s exactly a good time to try quitting,’ she said.

‘Yeah, ain’t that the truth.’ Trisha stubbed the cigarette out and sighed. ‘Let’s get out of here babe,’ she said. ‘We can drive over to Kenosha. There’s a bar there, has live music on Saturday nights. We can drink too much, dance too much then find a room and fuck till the sun comes up.’ She looked over at Michaela. ‘What do you reckon?’

Michaela leaned over and grabbed Trisha by the back of the neck, pulling her close enough to kiss, which she then proceeded to do, exceedingly thoroughly. When done she looked into Trisha’s dark eyes and smiled. ‘I especially like the part about fucking until the sun comes up,’ she said, ‘but perhaps my gorgeous woman, we should take a rain check on that particular plan.’

Trisha stuck out her tongue and they both laughed. ‘Ah, fuck it all, you’re right of course,’ Trisha said. Then she looked at Michaela. ‘But it’s a date for next Saturday, all right?’

Michaela grinned. ‘Deal,’ she said, then sobered. She fingered Trisha’s long curls, winding them around her long fingers. ‘Trisha?’ she said. ‘I know we had last night together, but I’m not interrupting anything, am I?’ That wasn’t quite what she wanted to know. She cleared her throat and tried again. Trisha was looking at her curiously.

‘Are you seeing anyone, is what I guess I’m asking. I mean, if you’re seeing someone, you’re under no obligation to me. To go to bed with me, I mean.’ She gave up, subsided in silence.

Trisha was staring at her, fine arched brows raised. She looked momentarily uncomfortable before curling her mouth up in a smile. ‘It’s okay,’ she said. She swept an arm around. ‘Have you noticed the size of this place?’ she asked. ‘Place isn’t exactly swarming with potential dates.’

Michaela nodded, embarrassed. But she’d had to ask. She just didn’t think Trisha was the type for celibacy. She leaned back against the chair. She was tired again and checked her watch which was still on Antipodes time. No wonder she was tired. Maybe she should eat something.

‘I need something to eat,’ she said. ‘What about we pick Caro up from wherever she is and grab a bite to eat. I could ask Caro some questions.’

‘She’s at the library,’ Trisha said, looking preoccupied.

‘What’s wrong?’

Trisha shrugged. ‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Bit tired, I guess.’ She stood up and stretched. ‘Yeah okay, let’s do that then. I could do with something to eat too. Although maybe not at the diner, all right? I’m sick of that place.’

‘Which reminds me,’ Michaela said. ‘Do you have to work?’

Trisha shook her head. ‘Told Mom I was taking a few days off. She said she’d get someone to cover.’ She shrugged. ‘I’ll have to go back after the weekend probably.’

Michaela nodded. ‘No problem,’ she said.

Trisha stuck her cigarettes in her pocket and picked up the mugs. ‘I’ll put these away,’ she said, ‘then we’ll go, shall we?’

Michaela nodded and watched Trisha walk towards the house. She looked around at the tiny back yard, the fence that needed a paint and a narrow strip of garden where someone had made a mostly futile attempt to brighten the place up. It wasn’t much of a place, but she guessed it was enough. A roof over your head.

Except for those shadows.

Michaela chewed on her lip. What was she going to do, for crying out loud? What was there that she possibly could do? Trisha was dreaming if she thought Michaela could not only figure out what the hell they were, but get rid of them as well.

She was tired. She only had to think logically about the problem, and she’d be able to make some headway on it at least. That’s the way things worked. But she needed something to eat, and she needed to get over this jet lag as well.

Rubbing her face, Michaela walked over to the car to wait for Trisha. Oh God but it was good to see Trisha again. It made her realise just how damned much she’d missed her the last eight months or so. But that wasn’t the thing to think about either. There was an orchard at home with her name all over it. Responsibilities. She had them back in NZ, Trisha had them here; what bloody hope was there?

Trisha came down the steps, car keys in hand. She stopped in front of Michaela.

‘Ready to go?’ she asked.

Michaela nodded. Then changed her mind. ‘Wait a minute,’ she said. ‘I just want to do this first.’ She buried her fingers in Trisha’s dark tangles and bent down until their lips touched. She lingered there, just a press of lips against each other, closing her eyes, feeling the strong swirl of emotions fill her. Trisha’s arms snaked around her neck and Michaela lifted her slightly, pulling her against herself and kissing her properly now, feeling all the frustration and sadness of the last few months pushing tenderness aside. She stopped and pulled back. Trisha opened her eyes and stared at her.

‘Wow,’ Trisha said, some color in her face now. ‘What was that for?’

Michaela shrugged. ‘Let’s go get something to eat, okay?’

Trisha stared at her. ‘Okay.’