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CHAPTER THREE

MOST city singles loved Friday afternoons Theirweek dreards an end, anticipation building for that wonderfully carefree s and into their favourite bars and drinking holes for the traditional Friday-night drinks-after-work bash Even the non-drinkers liked Fridays, because there was still the weekend to look forward to, thole days without having to sit at their desks and their co exactly as they pleased, even if that was nothing

Rachel was one of the exceptions to the rule Since co back to work she hated the week to end because she hated the prospect of thole days of doing just that Nothing

As she an thinking sheby herself this weekend after all, just for so to do Last weekend had been OK, because of Isabel and Rafe’s wedding But this weekend was going to be dreadful, with Isabel away and that strangely soulless town house all to herself

She could hardly fill the whole weekend with housework She already kept the place spotless on a daily basis She could read, of course, or watch television But, so out and about

It was a pity that the town house didn’t have a garden Unfortunately, the courtyard was all paved and the few plants dotted around were in pots Rachel liked working with her hands That hy she’d first taken up sewing as a teenager

But seas on the no-no list for Rachel nowadays She never wanted to see her sewing ain It was packed away at the back of a cupboard, never to see the light of day again After the funeral, whenever she looked at it she thought of Lettie’s illness, and all that had happened because of it No nice associations at all

Sometimes, she wished Justin would ask her to work overtime on the weekend She kneent into the office on a Saturday, so surely there was so she could do Extra data entry, perhaps Justin often had to farency

But he never asked, and she wouldn’t dreaht see her offer as evidence of a desire for more of his company, rather than the result of chronic loneliness

Rachel glanced up at the sky before she entered her building The clouds were heavier than the day before, the southerly change predicted earlier in the week having finally arrived yesterday, bringing intermittent showers

The thought of more rain over the weekend da by herself Maybe she would wait till Isabel returned There was no real hurry, now that Sydney’s weather had changed back to cooler Her black suits would do a while longer

Yes, she decided as she swung through the revolving glass doors Her shopping expedition could wait

Justin was already in when she arrived Surprisingly, he’d put on the coffee ful when she walked into the tea roorey nuainst his dark hair and blue eyes, especially when teamed with a white shirt and blue tie

‘Morning,’ he said, throwing her a warm smile over his shoulder ‘Want me to pour you one as well?’