We might have some news in a few days.’ Sue smiled at Philip. ‘Shall we tell her?’
‘Nothing’s confirmed, but sure, she’s your sister.’
‘Tell me what?’ asked Veronica now very curious. Philip was looking rather self-satisfied.
‘Philip’s boss is giving him a promotion and sending him to Melbourne.’
‘Really? What about your job?’
Sue shrugged. ‘I can transfer to a Melbourne firm which has connections with my law firm.’
‘And you feel good about being in Melbourne? It’s a lovely city, but different from Sydney. Do you know people there?’
‘Not really, but Melbourne people socialise at home, at dinner parties and so you network and meet people in your own milieu,’ said Sue. ‘And of course the promotion means a lot more money.’
‘What will you do with this house?’
Philip got up to pour himself another brandy.
Sue waited till he was out of earshot and said quietly, ‘We had to take out a second mortgage as things have been a bit tough lately, so if we can rent this house it will help cover the mortgage. Philip wants to sell it, but I can’t bear the idea of not having a home here in Sydney.’
‘Oh, I see. Well, the promotion sounds good,’ said Veronica, suddenly thinking about Sue’s closet of unworn clothes and wondering how she paid for them. ‘When will you move?’
‘About a month. I have to go down and find a place to rent and suss out my job prospects.’
‘Okay. I’m going back to bed. I have an early call in the morning so if it’s okay I’ll just mosey out the door at six-thirty,’ said Veronica giving her sister a quick kiss. It was a bit of a white lie but she couldn’t face the breakfast chaos of Sue and Philip getting themselves and the girls ready for the day.
‘That is early. Thanks again, Vee. Did you see Gordon and his pal?’
‘Yes, we had a lovely chat – once the girls were in bed.’
‘You’ll be off the hook when we move to Melbourne. No more babysitting,’ said Philip, downing his drink.
‘I’ll miss you. And the girls,’ said Veronica.
‘Oh, we’ll be backwards and forwards and of course you’ll come down. And I’m sure Mum and Dad will come and visit a lot. Anyway, it’s exciting to think about it. New horizons.’
‘I hope things work out the way you want. Maybe it’s time you kicked back and relaxed and enjoyed the girls.’
‘Oh, I definitely want to work. I’d go nuts being a housewife. Besides if I take a break from my career, I’ll have no money and we need the extra income.’
Veronica was surprised at the enthusiasm her parents showed at Sue’s news when she went to see them on the weekend.
‘We’ll miss the girls, of course. They grow up so quickly. But Sue can send videos and we’ll talk on Skype,’ said Joan.
‘Easier to hop on a plane,’ said Roger. ‘I might be able to work in a business trip or two down there. This promotion will be great for Philip’s career.’
‘You’ll have to line up some stories in Melbourne, Vee,’ said her mother.
‘We don’t create the stories or where they’re set, Mum. They come to us and we follow along and see where the characters lead us. Like writing a book, but it’s all true.’
‘I never believe half of what I see on TV,’ said her mother. ‘Especially those tabloid shows.’
‘Then you shouldn’t watch them, Mum,’ said Veronica.
Roger raised his glass. ‘Let’s make a toast to this new venture. This is a special bottle from my cellar.’ He poured the wine and sniffed it appreciatively. ‘2004 merlot. Excellent little red. Perfect for this occasion.’
On Monday, Veronica mentioned Philip’s pending promotion to Andy over their first cup of coffee of the day.
‘I know that you’ll miss them all, Veronica. But if a break in Melbourne is what you’d like, to catch up with them, that can be arranged.’
‘Thanks, but it’s not just that. I have to say that when I see how Sue and Philip’s careers dominate their lives,
‘Nothing’s confirmed, but sure, she’s your sister.’
‘Tell me what?’ asked Veronica now very curious. Philip was looking rather self-satisfied.
‘Philip’s boss is giving him a promotion and sending him to Melbourne.’
‘Really? What about your job?’
Sue shrugged. ‘I can transfer to a Melbourne firm which has connections with my law firm.’
‘And you feel good about being in Melbourne? It’s a lovely city, but different from Sydney. Do you know people there?’
‘Not really, but Melbourne people socialise at home, at dinner parties and so you network and meet people in your own milieu,’ said Sue. ‘And of course the promotion means a lot more money.’
‘What will you do with this house?’
Philip got up to pour himself another brandy.
Sue waited till he was out of earshot and said quietly, ‘We had to take out a second mortgage as things have been a bit tough lately, so if we can rent this house it will help cover the mortgage. Philip wants to sell it, but I can’t bear the idea of not having a home here in Sydney.’
‘Oh, I see. Well, the promotion sounds good,’ said Veronica, suddenly thinking about Sue’s closet of unworn clothes and wondering how she paid for them. ‘When will you move?’
‘About a month. I have to go down and find a place to rent and suss out my job prospects.’
‘Okay. I’m going back to bed. I have an early call in the morning so if it’s okay I’ll just mosey out the door at six-thirty,’ said Veronica giving her sister a quick kiss. It was a bit of a white lie but she couldn’t face the breakfast chaos of Sue and Philip getting themselves and the girls ready for the day.
‘That is early. Thanks again, Vee. Did you see Gordon and his pal?’
‘Yes, we had a lovely chat – once the girls were in bed.’
‘You’ll be off the hook when we move to Melbourne. No more babysitting,’ said Philip, downing his drink.
‘I’ll miss you. And the girls,’ said Veronica.
‘Oh, we’ll be backwards and forwards and of course you’ll come down. And I’m sure Mum and Dad will come and visit a lot. Anyway, it’s exciting to think about it. New horizons.’
‘I hope things work out the way you want. Maybe it’s time you kicked back and relaxed and enjoyed the girls.’
‘Oh, I definitely want to work. I’d go nuts being a housewife. Besides if I take a break from my career, I’ll have no money and we need the extra income.’
Veronica was surprised at the enthusiasm her parents showed at Sue’s news when she went to see them on the weekend.
‘We’ll miss the girls, of course. They grow up so quickly. But Sue can send videos and we’ll talk on Skype,’ said Joan.
‘Easier to hop on a plane,’ said Roger. ‘I might be able to work in a business trip or two down there. This promotion will be great for Philip’s career.’
‘You’ll have to line up some stories in Melbourne, Vee,’ said her mother.
‘We don’t create the stories or where they’re set, Mum. They come to us and we follow along and see where the characters lead us. Like writing a book, but it’s all true.’
‘I never believe half of what I see on TV,’ said her mother. ‘Especially those tabloid shows.’
‘Then you shouldn’t watch them, Mum,’ said Veronica.
Roger raised his glass. ‘Let’s make a toast to this new venture. This is a special bottle from my cellar.’ He poured the wine and sniffed it appreciatively. ‘2004 merlot. Excellent little red. Perfect for this occasion.’
On Monday, Veronica mentioned Philip’s pending promotion to Andy over their first cup of coffee of the day.
‘I know that you’ll miss them all, Veronica. But if a break in Melbourne is what you’d like, to catch up with them, that can be arranged.’
‘Thanks, but it’s not just that. I have to say that when I see how Sue and Philip’s careers dominate their lives,
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