Mothers and Daughters by Kylie Ladd Read Free Book Online

yourself. That’s why you came here, isn’t it, to save the darkie? Are you giving up that easily, or have you gone off them now you actually have to live with them?’
    Amira picked up a menu and opened it, speaking without looking at Fiona. ‘It’s far more complicated than you could ever imagine. I’ve learned to pick my battles. Let’s eat.’
    Later, when they’d finished their dinner and were heading back to The Mangrove, they passed the spot on the road where the man had punched the woman. Janey examined it as carefully as she could in the dim light, looking for blood, a clump of hair or maybe even a tooth, but there was nothing, no evidence of what had transpired.
    ‘Does that sort of thing happen a lot?’ she asked Amira.
    It had been a few hours, but Amira knew immediately what she was referring to. She sighed.
    ‘A bit. I wish you hadn’t had to see it.’ She turned and smiled at Bronte. ‘Your mum is going to be dining out on it all week.’
    Bronte just stared at her feet. ‘Hopefully she’ll get so pissed tonight she forgets all about it.’
    Amira laughed. ‘There’s a fair chance of that, I’d say.’
    After they’d finished eating, Fiona had pushed back her chair and insisted that the adults kick on.
    ‘Cocktails, dancing . . . Is there a nightclub here, Amira?’
    Amira had nodded. ‘The Bungalow, on Dampier Terrace. It’s a bit dodgy, though.’
    Morag wasn’t keen, Janey noticed, but Fiona was adamant. ‘It’s the first night of our holiday! And,’ she added, sneaking a sly glance at Amira, ‘our last in civilisation. Don’t be pathetic.’
    ‘What about the girls?’ Janey’s mother had asked, but Fiona had an answer to that too.
    ‘Amira can walk them back while we have another drink. They’ll be fine, as long as they keep the door locked and stay away from the porn channel. It’ll come up on the bill, you know,’ she said, wagging a finger at Bronte, who had flushed to the roots of her hair.
    ‘There you go,’ said Amira now, pushing open the door to the room Janey and Bronte were sharing. She handed the key to Bronte. ‘You heard your mother. Keep it locked.’ She stepped back to let them go in, impulsively touching Janey on the arm as she passed. ‘It’s lovely to see you again. Tess has been so looking forward to this week.’
    ‘Me too,’ mumbled Janey, because she knew it was expected of her, and ducked inside before Amira could get any ideas about kissing her goodnight.
    ‘You’ll be fine then?’ Amira asked, turning to go. ‘You’ve got our mobile numbers. We won’t be late. I hope. Sleep well.’ She disappeared back into the night, her footsteps fading after her.
    Bronte carefully turned the key in the lock, then drew the chain across for good measure.
    ‘You scared?’ asked Janey.
    ‘A little,’ admitted Bronte. ‘Mum was saying that a girl got raped up here a month or so ago. A tourist, like us.’
    ‘Tourists get raped in Melbourne, too,’ Janey said. ‘Lots of people do.’
    Bronte grabbed some stuff from her bag and went into the bathroom without replying. When she came out again she was wearing a t-shirt and pyjama pants with a motif of two pink teddy bears tucked up in bed, a line of Zs above their heads.
    Janey smirked.
    ‘Nice,’ she said. ‘Did your mum pick those out for you?’
    ‘My grandmother,’ Bronte muttered, reaching for her hairbrush. ‘I like them. They’re comfortable.’
    ‘They’re too hot for up here,’ Janey said, pulling off her own clothes and kicking them under the bed. ‘I’m going to sleep nude.’ She moved so she could see herself in the mirror attached to the wardrobe door. Bronte went red and turned away, furiously dragging the bristles through her long dark hair. Janey smiled to herself. Little prude.
    She looked into the mirror, admiring her reflection. She liked her body. Long blonde hair, flat stomach, tight arse. She ticked off her attributes one by one. Good legs, firm and shapely from