Dessi's Romance by Goldie Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

It’s an integral part of Chaos Theory. I mean, take the
events of one day, and that pattern will emerge in one year. Your whole life is
the shape of that one day...’
    ‘Terrific.’ I can’t avoid
the envious tone. ‘All I’ve managed this morning is a shower and shampoo.’
    ‘Oh!’ His voice trails off.
‘Mandelbrot, the guy who invented Fractal Theory, would say today’s not
typical.’
    ‘I suppose it’s one way of
looking at things.’
    ‘It’s the only way.’ His
tone is emphatic. ‘Look, how about a drive? Do you good to get out.’
    My heart hiccups. ‘I get
nervous in cars.’
    ‘No more than ten K’s an
hour. Promise…’
    His tone is so wheedling I
can’t help giggling. ‘Make it twenty and I’ll come.’
    What will Emma say? But
didn’t she ask Abdul to visit. Isn’t she having a good time? Surely I deserve
a little fun, too.
    ‘Done,’ he says. ‘Pick you
up midday.’

10. EMMA, Surfers
     
    Midday, I’m wakened by the
sound of Jodie chucking up in the bathroom. I make myself a coffee and take it
out onto the balcony where Kaz, in a string bikini, is sipping orange juice. No
sign of Bodie-dreadlocks.
    ‘I’ve been
shopping,’ Kaz tells me. ‘Milk, cornflakes, bread, margarine, Vegemite and a
six pack. You owe me twenty-one dollars, okay?
    ‘Okay.’ The retching
now interspersed with audible groans. ‘Is Jodie all right?’
    ‘She will be
when she’s finished regurgitating. Want a beer?’
    ‘Yes please,
after I down this coffee.’ Though I’d promised myself to be careful about how
much I drink… what the hell! I’m on vacation, aren’t I?
    ‘Great start to
our week. Not!’ Kaz says sourly. ‘God knows what she got hold of last night.
Anyway,’ reaching for her glass, ‘I want to go to Shooters tonight. Free entry if
you’re there before ten. And they have great prizes too. Loads of freebies.’
    ‘Won’t we have
trouble getting Jodie in?’
    ‘Oh god!’ She
staggers out onto the balcony clutching a sodden bath towel. ‘I’m dying.’
    ‘Have an orange
juice,’ Kaz suggests. ‘Without vodka this time, eh?’
    ‘Aaargh!’ Jodie
reels back into the unit.  
    I stare after
her impatiently. How can Jodie be so immature? ‘What are you doing today?’ I
ask Kaz, not ready to discuss my plan to contact my father, though Kaz, having
divorced parents herself, would probably understand.
    Kaz shrugs. ‘Can
I shower in your bathroom seeing ours is polluted?’
    ‘Sure,’ I say.
‘I’m just going to check out the shops. I really want to look over Circle on
Cavill.’ Last night I’d noticed some bargains and I want to get back to them.
‘Catch you later, Kaz.’
    ‘Don’t forget
Sash is coming over,’ she calls after me.
    Rather than use
up my SIM-card, first thing I do is find a public phone. Having Dessi up here
to support me would make things so much easier. Even though I know Dad’s number
by heart, I look him up on my cell phone ‘contact’ list. My stomach clenches
and I almost don’t phone. What if his ‘bimbo bitch slut of a home-breaker’ answers?
What will she say? I feed coins into the slot and hit the numbers. My heart
hammers. My mouth is dry.
    ‘Hi. You have called Robert
and Laura Simpson. Please leave your name and number and we’ll get back to you
asap.’ The voice is light, pleasant, clear.
    I don’t know
what to say. Then my brain kicks in. ‘Hi. This is me, Emma. I’m here…on the
Coast. Uh… staying at Broadbeach Towers and…‘
    Click . Whirr . Buzz .
    I’m out of time.
Somehow this is comforting, as I can now leave it up to fate. I’ve made
contact. Now it’s up to them, isn’t it?
    Time for some
serious shopping.
               
    Three hours later and four
hundred dollars lighter, I’m back at our unit. I find Kaz and Sacha sprawled on
the balcony, both gleaming with suntan oil. But the sun is almost down. Sacha
is in a black g-string, and Kaz has changed into a red bikini. Though they form
a