at Circular Quay. Lynn dressed coolly, as it was another hot summer day. February in Australia.
The Ferry trip was quite enjoyable. Lynn was pleased to see Duane by his car when she disembarked. He had a beautiful blonde woman with him. She looked about Lynn's age, and height.
“Lynn,” Duane said hugging her hello. “Welcome to Sydney!”
“Thank you very much,” she replied. “It is lovely.”
“That is what you are required to reply,” he laughed. “And now I want you to meet my daughter, Katherine Coleman. Katherine, Lynn Eastman.”
“Dad has told me all about you,” smiled Katherine. She was genuinely pleased to meet her. “I must admit I am flattered that you reminded him of me.”
“I was just about to make the same comment, in reverse!” laughed Lynn. “I'd kill to have hair like that.”
“You have just won a friend for life,” Katherine giggled.
And so she had.
Lunch was wonderful. Lynn and Katherine became instant friends. Duane looked almost as pleased as the night Lynn met Paul. Lynn decided to stay in town and sight see and was promptly invited to dinner at the Coleman home in Double Bay. She agreed to meet Katherine at her office at 5:30 PM, and they would ride out together.
Her afternoon went quickly and she arrived a Katherine’s office later than planned. Katherine was relieved, as she was just finishing her work when Lynn arrived. The office was deserted and as Lynn learned that most Australian's rarely, if ever, work late.
On the way to Double Bay, Lynn and Katherine compared notes about their work environments. Lynn's compassion for Katherine grew. Katherine shared that many business women in Australia were still treated much as the outsider. She was currently the only woman in her office that was a lawyer. They laughed together about being assigned the role of coffee maker, when neither ever drank it. Both had been unassigned after making the most undrinkable concoction imaginable. Their friendship grew with the miles.
The Coleman house in Double Bay was grand. The area was considered the 'Beverly Hills' of Australia, and the near by shopping center touted many familiar Rodeo Drive names.
Barbara Coleman, was delighted to meet Lynn and was the first to mention Paul.
“So, I understand that you and Paul Dillard have really hit it off,” she said bluntly.
“Yes, Duane played quite the match maker in Auckland,” Lynn replied quickly. The tension in the mere seconds before her answer was enormous. Duane and Katherine laughed knowingly at Lynn's statement. This time the tension could be felt emitting from Barbara.
“The first time Dad met Paul he knew that we were perfect for each other,” Katherine confessed. “He was quite disappointed when Paul and I never became more than friends.”
“He's been searching for a suitable substitute for Paul ever since,” said Barbara Coleman. “Consider it quite a complement that you are the first Duane has found. And from what the grapevine is saying, you'll be the last.”
The conversation centered on Paul for the next hour. Lynn listened with intrigue as she learned about his many antics and total lack of love affairs. At least those that anyone would take seriously.
“I guess he's always been too in love with his job,” sighed Barbara. “That is until now.”
“Old habits are hard to break,” said Lynn. “Especially when the habit is loving your work.”
“You seem to speak from experience,” said Duane. “Do you have the same affliction?”
“I am afraid so,” sighed Lynn. The next hour was filled with Lynn and Katherine exchanging antidotes and experiences of the working woman, as Lynn tried to keep the confidentiality that Jeff insisted upon. Duane occasionally threw in a business war story of his own, and found that his perspective was not as endearing to them as it was to many of his male counterparts.
It was a perfect family evening. Lynn invited the Coleman's up to the Manly for dinner on Thursday.
The Ferry trip was quite enjoyable. Lynn was pleased to see Duane by his car when she disembarked. He had a beautiful blonde woman with him. She looked about Lynn's age, and height.
“Lynn,” Duane said hugging her hello. “Welcome to Sydney!”
“Thank you very much,” she replied. “It is lovely.”
“That is what you are required to reply,” he laughed. “And now I want you to meet my daughter, Katherine Coleman. Katherine, Lynn Eastman.”
“Dad has told me all about you,” smiled Katherine. She was genuinely pleased to meet her. “I must admit I am flattered that you reminded him of me.”
“I was just about to make the same comment, in reverse!” laughed Lynn. “I'd kill to have hair like that.”
“You have just won a friend for life,” Katherine giggled.
And so she had.
Lunch was wonderful. Lynn and Katherine became instant friends. Duane looked almost as pleased as the night Lynn met Paul. Lynn decided to stay in town and sight see and was promptly invited to dinner at the Coleman home in Double Bay. She agreed to meet Katherine at her office at 5:30 PM, and they would ride out together.
Her afternoon went quickly and she arrived a Katherine’s office later than planned. Katherine was relieved, as she was just finishing her work when Lynn arrived. The office was deserted and as Lynn learned that most Australian's rarely, if ever, work late.
On the way to Double Bay, Lynn and Katherine compared notes about their work environments. Lynn's compassion for Katherine grew. Katherine shared that many business women in Australia were still treated much as the outsider. She was currently the only woman in her office that was a lawyer. They laughed together about being assigned the role of coffee maker, when neither ever drank it. Both had been unassigned after making the most undrinkable concoction imaginable. Their friendship grew with the miles.
The Coleman house in Double Bay was grand. The area was considered the 'Beverly Hills' of Australia, and the near by shopping center touted many familiar Rodeo Drive names.
Barbara Coleman, was delighted to meet Lynn and was the first to mention Paul.
“So, I understand that you and Paul Dillard have really hit it off,” she said bluntly.
“Yes, Duane played quite the match maker in Auckland,” Lynn replied quickly. The tension in the mere seconds before her answer was enormous. Duane and Katherine laughed knowingly at Lynn's statement. This time the tension could be felt emitting from Barbara.
“The first time Dad met Paul he knew that we were perfect for each other,” Katherine confessed. “He was quite disappointed when Paul and I never became more than friends.”
“He's been searching for a suitable substitute for Paul ever since,” said Barbara Coleman. “Consider it quite a complement that you are the first Duane has found. And from what the grapevine is saying, you'll be the last.”
The conversation centered on Paul for the next hour. Lynn listened with intrigue as she learned about his many antics and total lack of love affairs. At least those that anyone would take seriously.
“I guess he's always been too in love with his job,” sighed Barbara. “That is until now.”
“Old habits are hard to break,” said Lynn. “Especially when the habit is loving your work.”
“You seem to speak from experience,” said Duane. “Do you have the same affliction?”
“I am afraid so,” sighed Lynn. The next hour was filled with Lynn and Katherine exchanging antidotes and experiences of the working woman, as Lynn tried to keep the confidentiality that Jeff insisted upon. Duane occasionally threw in a business war story of his own, and found that his perspective was not as endearing to them as it was to many of his male counterparts.
It was a perfect family evening. Lynn invited the Coleman's up to the Manly for dinner on Thursday.
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