A Child in Need by Marion Lennox Page A

very close. ‘Hey, it’s okay. Maybe you and John can sort it out.’
    â€˜No, we can’t,’ Shanni said darkly, hugging back. ‘He wants a den.’
    â€˜What’s wrong with a man wanting a den?’ Nick asked, startled, and got a glower for his pains.
    â€˜We did house plans last night,’ she explained—as if hewas a simpleton. ‘John has it all worked out. Three bedrooms, living room, kitchen for me and a den for him. Isn’t that cosy?’
    â€˜A man needs a den,’ Nick said, and found he now had two women glaring at him. Oh, help…
    â€˜I have a den,’ said Wendy.
    â€˜Why can’t I have a den?’ demanded Shanni. ‘Chauvinist twit. But when I said that, John just laughed—like I was being cute because what would the little woman want a den for? And then he told me to go and choose bathroom tiles. And then today…’
    â€˜I know what happened today,’ Wendy said, and both of them stared at her.
    â€˜Well, if you will have your domestics in full view of the pier… Half the retired folk of the town listened in.’
    â€˜Oh, great.’ Nick groaned.
    â€˜I don’t know why you’re complaining,’ Shanni said crossly. ‘You get to play magistrate for two years and then leave this place. I’m stuck here for ever.’ She helped herself from the coffee pot Wendy produced, sat down and stuck a thumb in the direction of Nick. ‘What’s he doing here?’
    â€˜Refusing to play big brother.’
    â€˜Hey, I’m signing an affidavit like Shanni wanted me to,’ Nick said, stung. ‘What else do you want?’
    â€˜You to go in and hug Harry goodnight—and promise you’ll do the same tomorrow,’ Wendy said promptly.
    Silence.
    â€˜See,’ Shanni said morosely into her coffee. ‘They’re all useless.’
    â€˜There’s reasons he’s like this,’ Wendy said kindly. ‘He’s got a past.’
    â€˜Yeah, but if he had real courage…’
    â€˜Are we talking about me, here,’ Nick said carefully. ‘If we are, then would you mind including me?’
    â€˜You don’t include anyone else,’ Shanni retorted. ‘Yougo on being solitary and we’ll go on not communicating. That’s the way you like it.’
    â€˜Shanni…’
    â€˜If I communicate with him he accuses me of setting my cap at him,’ she told Wendy, ignoring him nicely. ‘As if I would. The heroine in my movie had the right idea—but to give in at the end and marry one of the species… No!’
    â€˜I reckon you ought to try, though,’ Wendy said thoughtfully. ‘Communicating, I mean. Now he’s abandoned his smooth look he seems sort of cute.’
    This was way out of hand. He was getting out of here—fast.
    â€˜He is cute,’ Shanni admitted. ‘But ego…lawyer and judge and good looks combined. Phew!’
    â€˜And aloof,’ Wendy said sadly. ‘Puts himself above everyone in this place. Bet he thinks he’s the greatest intellectual in town.’
    â€˜Hey…’
    â€˜Bet he never ever stays for weekends,’ Wendy said. ‘What’s the bet he’s getting in his cute little car tomorrow and heading back to Melbourne for the weekend just as fast as he can drive? Because this place threatens him.’
    â€˜Mmm.’ Shanni nodded. ‘I can’t say I blame him.’
    â€˜Shanni!’ Wendy stared. ‘Hey, keep your end of the conversation going here, girl. I can’t keep lawyer-bashing on my own.’
    â€˜But it does get a bit claustrophobic.’ Shanni was no longer looking at Nick. She was staring into the dregs of her coffee, her mind on her own problems. ‘We’re having a family beach picnic on Sunday,’ she explained morosely. ‘Grandpa’s seventieth birthday. They’ll be so sympathetic—or secretly