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  “It makes sense. Alex is going to have a field day with this.”

  Kathryn took a deep breath. “Alex knows.”

  “Ah, give me a break, Kathryn. Am I the only idiot in the house that didn’t know?”

  “She said she was going to tell you. She knows you better than you know yourself, so I’m sure she was only waiting for the right moment.” Kathryn looked her in the eye. “But I’m glad I got the chance to tell you myself.”

  “I imagine it’s been tough for you. Would you have talked to me about it if the other woman wasn’t Claire?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about it a million times, but I wasn’t sure I deserved your understanding.”

  Jess punched her shoulder. “You’re the worst fake homophobe I’ve ever met.”

  “But you still love me, right?”

  “Maybe.”

  Kathryn took her in her arms and squeezed. “And you’re okay about me and Claire.”

  “No, I’m not bloody okay, and I swear to God if you hurt her you’ll have me to deal with.”

  Kathryn smiled. “And what if she hurts me?”

  “I’ll fucking kill her.”

  *

  Claire thought it was a joke, but as the arm around her neck began to tighten and her breathing became restricted, she realised it was no laughing matter.

  The look on Alex’s face suggested it was very serious indeed.

  “Everyone get the fuck down or I’ll stick her.”

  Claire couldn’t be sure, but she thought she’d heard the term “stick her” about a million years ago in a Hollywood movie.

  Her ridiculous thoughts didn’t detract from the fact that the man holding her had a knife. The man holding her could end her life. Claire couldn’t breathe. Whether it was panic or the actual constriction of her throat, she couldn’t be sure.

  She fought to release the arm around her.

  The man holding her stood on her foot. “I’ve got this.” A manky old fishing knife entered her vision. He spoke so only she could hear. “Please, just stay still. I won’t hurt you.”

  She stopped struggling as clarity overtook her panic. The man holding her sounded young, and the voice he addressed the shop owner in was nothing like his voice when talking to her. The hand holding the knife had been shaking. He was scared. Stupid and scared.

  “Empty the fuckin’ till in a bag or she gets it.”

  She felt pressure on her side. The hand holding the knife was resting near her ribs. Something told Claire that this man was telling the truth when he said he wouldn’t hurt her. She considered talking to him, but it had gone too far already. He had a knife and he was holding up a liquor store. His fate was sealed whether she talked him down or not.

  “I’m not fucking joking.”

  Claire briefly wondered how this would end if he didn’t get out of the shop soon. The thought of a skilled police officer with a high powered rifle lining him up from a reasonable distance wasn’t appealing.

  The man made a sudden movement toward the counter, and Claire hadn’t been ready. She stumbled and their feet became entangled, causing them both to fall forward.

  Claire registered heat and pain in her side and she wanted to double over, but the man was holding her upright. The look on Alex’s face told the story.

  The knife had pierced her skin. She couldn’t bring herself to think that she’d been stabbed, she didn’t want to be a victim of a stabbing, but she could feel warm blood oozing down her side. The pain was excruciating.

  “No! Claire.” Alex stepped forward just as the shop assistant threw a bag onto the floor.

  The tight grip on Claire disappeared, leaving her unbalanced and unsteady on her feet. Before she understood what was happening, the man rushed from the shop, scooping up the bag of cash on the way.

  From that moment on, everything seemed to happen simultaneously.

  Alex ran to Claire and helped lower her to the ground. “You’re going to be fine.” She pulled a promotional beach towel from a shop display and pressed it to Claire’s side after briefly looking at the wound. “I think it’s more of a fleshy slice than a deep stab.”

  “Is that a technical term, Doctor?” Claire began to shiver. Fleshy slice or not, it hurt like hell. She wished someone would turn the lights off. Umpteen bright strips beamed on her from above causing her to squint, intensifying her distress. She was the centre of everyone’s attention. If she had her way, she’d get up, walk out, and drive to the hospital. As it was, she could barely move without flinching in pain.

  Alex took the fluorescent jacket the shop assistant offered and placed it over Claire. He came back a moment later with another beer beach towel. “It’s all I have to keep her warm, sorry.”

  “Have you called the police?” asked Alex.

  “I tripped the distress button the moment I saw the knife. They should be here soon. I called an ambulance, too. Don’t worry.”

  “Are you okay?” Alex asked him.

  He began to tear up when another shopper, who’d cleverly remained at the rear of the shop, took him by the shoulders with comforting words.

  It felt like Claire had been on the floor forever when the cavalry arrived. In reality, it had only been five minutes.

  One of the paramedics, Michael, put an oxygen mask over Claire’s face and after a quick inspection, placed a massive wad of gauze over her injury.

  “She’ll be fine. The oxygen’s just to help her while she’s in shock. Few stitches at the hospital and she’ll be right as rain.”

  Alex smiled. “She’s a nurse. I’m sure she’ll let you know if she needs anything else.”

  “Like painkillers?” said Claire.

  “Coming right up, madam,” said Michael.

  The moment they were in the ambulance, Alex called Jess. Claire just hoped the news wouldn’t induce labour.

  *

  Kathryn knew it would take Jess a long time to come to terms with the fact that she and Claire had slept together. She wasn’t expecting miracles, but at least their conversation had been a step in the right direction. They were discussing the issue further when Jess’s phone rang.

  “It’s Alex. I bet she’s forgotten what we ordered.”

  Kathryn looked at her watch. Claire and Alex had been gone nearly an hour. The shops were only fifteen minutes away. “Surely they’re on their way home.”

  Jess answered and Kathryn listened.

  “Alex, slow down. Bloody hell. Where are you now?” Jess stood and colour drained from her face.

  Fear rose in Kathryn. Her immediate thought was a car accident. “What’s happened?”

  Jess waved at her to be quiet. “She’s in good hands, Alex,” she said into the phone.

  “Jess, is it Claire?” Kathryn was becoming agitated.

  “Okay.” Jess was nodding now. “But no vital organs or anything?”

  Vital organs?

  “Well, I doubt it tickles.” Jess ran her fingers through her hair. “We’ll be there as soon as possible.” She put the phone down.

  “What is it, Jess? Is it Claire?”

  “Claire was involved in a hold-up at the store.”

  “Fucking hell, is she okay?” Kathryn broke into a sweat.

  “She’s fine, but she was stabbed.”

  “Stabbed? Someone stabbed her?” Her head pounded with fear.

  “They’re taking her to hospital for stitches, but she’s going to be fine.” Jess gulped water. “God.” She steadied herself with the back of the chair. “I can’t believe it.”

  Kathryn couldn’t believe it either. “But she’s all right?” Her brain struggled to move past the fact that someone had stabbed Claire.

  Jess squeezed her shoulder. “Alex assured me it’s just a flesh wound.”

  It was becoming clear what Kathryn needed to do. Fear was a powerful motivator. Fear gave her clarity. It was now clear that she loved Claire O’Malley and she needed to tell her. “We’ll meet them there then?”

  Jess nodded.


  “Is Alex okay?”

  “Shaken and upset, but not hurt. She saw it all happen. She saw the bloke grab her. She said there was nothing she could do.”

  Kathryn switched to autopilot. She locked the back door, collected Jess’s phone and wallet, grabbed her bag, locked up the house, and helped Jess into the car.

  It wasn’t exactly a mercy dash to the hospital, but she had things to say and she needed to say them sooner rather than later.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  “Ah, Paddy, you’ve had your fair share of bad luck lately.” Murray was there when they arrived at the ED. “They say it comes in threes, you know?” She smiled a greeting at Alex. “First, Maree Black, now this. What’s the third thing, I wonder?” She peered around the side of the nurse who removed the gauze pad from Claire’s side. “Nasty, but not too bad. A good clean and some stitches will sort you out. A dickhead with a knife; it could’ve been a whole lot worse.”

  The comment hit Claire like a truck.

  She vomited the entire length of the bed. Her life had hung in the balance while some imbecile wannabe gangster used her to steal someone else’s hard-earned money. Nurses hurried to clean up the vomit. Some were only in the vicinity after calling on Claire to wish her well, but all remained untroubled by the volume of rancid smelling vomit.

  Murray returned and waited for the commotion to die down.

  “There’s a police officer waiting to see you. Shall I show him in? Get it over with?”

  In fact, the police officer had some good news. They apprehended the man, who turned out to be a seventeen-year-old boy, shortly after the hold-up. He didn’t make it past McDonald’s in the adjacent street. Staff saw blood on his arm and they called the police because they thought he’d cut his wrists. The police officer said he’d seen enough assholes—he apologised for his language—and hold-ups in his time to know the kid was genuinely remorseful. He had asked after Claire and insisted he hadn’t meant to use the knife at all.

  Alex held her hand. “That’s some good news at least.”

  “He didn’t intend to hurt me.” Claire spoke the words aloud to help them sink in.

  “He’s about to learn the hard way that you can’t go wielding a knife at innocent people,” the officer said.

  Claire supposed not. “He told me he wouldn’t hurt me if I stayed still.”

  “It was probably the truth, love. Unfortunately, when you break the law and you’re a dumb arse, you get into all sorts of bother.”

  “I know he didn’t mean to hurt you, honey, but he did. There are consequences for those actions,” said Alex.

  Murray showed the officer out, leaving Claire and Alex alone.

  “Are you okay?” asked Claire. She might have been the one high on morphine, but Alex had been there, too. It was a harrowing experience for everyone concerned. She was wishing they’d ordered pizza.

  “What? God, I’m fine.” Alex waved a dismissive arm. “I’m not the one with fifteen stitches in my side.”

  “No, I know. But you were there. You saw it happen.”

  Alex lost colour.

  Claire handed her the bucket and turned away while she dry retched.

  “It’s a weird realisation, isn’t it?”

  “It was awful,” Alex admitted. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get the image out of my head. Seeing you like that was—”

  “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

  Alex pulled herself together. “I know. It all happened so fast.”

  Murray barged in holding two pill bottles—antibiotics and painkillers. “Merry Christmas, Paddy.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Kathryn knew there was no need to run, and Jess struggled to keep up, but rushing to see Claire was instinctive. Even Jess lumbering behind didn’t slow her down.

  Jess’s phone beeped. She pulled up breathless and checked the message. “She’s being stitched up. We’ll wait until that’s over. Poor thing. She’ll be sore for a few days.”

  Kathryn finally stopped.

  Jess caught up and leaned on her. “Can we please go slowly now?”

  Partitioned to optimise space and accommodate vending machines, the waiting area was busy. Kathryn sat at a chair closest to the triage desk. She felt like the kid in the front row at school, but she didn’t care. She needed to be as close to the door as possible.

  They heard Murray’s voice before they saw anyone coming. Jess recognised it immediately, and she and Jess rose to greet Alex and Claire.

  “I deliver to you one stitched up Paddy.” Murray greeted Jess with a kiss on the cheek, and Kathryn shook her hand.

  Claire looked pale as if she’d seen a ghost, and when she began to sway, everyone except Jess lunged to keep her upright and steady.

  Everyone including Victoria.

  “Where did you come from?” Jess was obviously not intending to use her manners.

  Victoria reached up to touch Claire’s cheek. “Poor baby, are you okay?”

  Kathryn flinched as if someone had jabbed her violently in the ribs. It was heartbreaking, watching Victoria so naturally touch Claire, as if she belonged with no one else. She scolded herself, wondering what she had expected. She didn’t trust Victoria; she would let Claire down again. No one could change that much. But then she’d also let Claire down? Hadn’t she gone some way to breaking her heart and using her, just like Victoria?

  Claire backed off. “I told you I didn’t want to see you.”

  Kathryn took a double take.

  She locked eyes with Claire. She couldn’t read her expression, but in such a brief moment, she wanted to convey so much. Her intense stare couldn’t possibly let Claire know she had finally come to her senses. Her eyes had no way of telling Claire that she wanted her.

  Victoria took a step back. “I thought I’d surprise you.”

  Murray interrupted. “Let’s not do this out here.”

  “Victoria’s leaving, Murray. We’re fine out here.” Claire raised her chin and addressed Victoria. “I’m not surprised you’re here. I doubt anything you do could surprise me again. You’re predictable, Victoria. You never listened to what I wanted and you’re still not listening.”

  Kathryn’s stomach turned somersaults with pride. She stepped forward. “It’s time for you to leave.”

  “And who are you?”

  Kathryn looked to Claire, then Jess, then Alex. “I’m the person that can give her everything you can’t.”

  For a split second, Kathryn was sure the entire ED went silent.

  The words came as a surprise to her as much as everyone else.

  Jess beamed with pride and Alex looked stunned.

  Claire responded by vomiting all over the floor.

  Kathryn had to admit, she didn’t see that coming.

  Murray pushed a wheelchair behind Claire, forcing her to sit down. “Show’s over, folks.” She wheeled Claire back through the triage doors.

  Victoria looked down to her leather boots now sprayed with Claire’s lunch.

  Kathryn stood her ground. She could have sworn she’d grown six inches and developed an Olympic swimmer’s shoulders.

  Jess and Alex followed Claire. “Don’t be too long,” said Jess.

  She was nearly done. “Claire’s moved on and she’s made it clear she doesn’t want to see you. I know you’ve flown a long way and it’s probably cost you a small fortune, but please, for her sake and mine, respect her decision for once.”

  Victoria gave nothing away. “I’m home to upgrade my visa for Germany. You can’t know her very well if she didn’t even tell you I’ve been in Australia for over a week now.”

  “And you don’t know Claire at all if you think your lies are acceptable to her.” Kathryn couldn’t believe she’d been worried sick all day about nothing.

  “My mother told me I was wasting my time.”

  “From what I’ve heard, you’d do well to listen to your mother less and learn to stand on your own two feet.” Kathryn wondered if Victoria ever
did any of own her dirty work.

  Victoria turned and left.

  When Kathryn woke that morning, she wasn’t expecting such an eventful day. She inhaled deeply. Now that she’d induced vomiting in the woman she loved, a first in her book, her life was complete. With trepidation and excitement, she hurried to discover the aftermath of her revelation.

  *

  The triage nurse said she thought Victoria had arrived at the hospital by chance, thinking that Claire might be working a night shift. The nurse apologised because she let slip that Claire was there as a patient, not on shift. Claire guessed Victoria probably went to their old apartment first and the hospital was naturally the next place she’d look.

  Regardless, she had more important things to worry about; Kathryn had just outed herself to everyone, including Jess. She briefly wondered if more morphine would improve the impending conversation. Fuck it. Surely, the most recently stabbed person in the room deserved some slack.

  After speaking to the triage nurse, Murray whisked them to her office. She was pushing Claire in the wheelchair and it was the worst ride of her life.

  “Jesus, slow down. I won’t be stitched up for much longer if you keep taking corners so fast.”

  As Murray’s door shut behind them, Claire looked to Jess. “I can explain.” She wanted to save Kathryn the torture of having to walk into the office alone and face a barrage of questions.

  “There’s no need. Kathryn and I spoke earlier tonight.”

  “She told you?”

  Jess nodded.

  “And?” Claire was both relieved and terrified. Jess’s expression gave nothing away.

  “And if you do anything to hurt my sister you’ll need more than bloody stitches when I’m finished with you.” She smiled.

  Just at that moment, Kathryn came crashing through the door. She obviously caught the last half of Jess’s little speech. “Oh, I see she’s giving you the same pep talk. Thank goodness it’s not just me.”