That Was Then
Late Winter
Early Spring
- 1 - Lilac
- 2 - Departure
- 3 - Escape
- 4 - Consequences
- 5 - Girl Power
- 6 - Pivot Points
- 7 - Sewing Bees
- 8 - If At First ...
- 9 - Moving On
Late Spring
- 10 - Green Ham
- 11 - Shopping
- 12 - Arguements!
- 13 - More Shopping
- 14 - Routines
- 15 - Yet More Shopping
- 16 - Too Close For Comfort
- 17 - Blood Trail
- 18 - First-Aid
- 19 - Semblance Of Normality
Summer
24 - Beach Hopping & Shopping
They drifted along the coast from sandy bay to rocky cove to beach-front market to boardwalk amusements. Travelling and parking when and where the mood took them. Passing many other gaily painted ex-service vehicles, not worrying about standing out in their yellow school bus.
No longer looking over his shoulder at every turn, Deano noticeably relaxed and Sophia-Grace calmed. The decrease in tension passed to Lottie and Ona, becoming much more confident, spending hours on their own, out of sight, playing, exploring and just generally getting up to mischief.
From his vantage point on the opposite side of the road, Deano watched as EssGee, Lottie and Ona jostled into the bustling beach-front market, imagining the conversations.
"Darlin', your shoelace is undone."
Lottie, wearing flip-flops, looked at her foot, then dropped to one knee next to a large bag, swiftly pocketing something from its depths.
EssGee placing her own fawn straw bag on the ground, handed Ona a tissue, "Wipe!"
Ona dropped her bucket and spade, and bumped a woman's leg.
"Say 'sorry' darlin'."
"It's alright - what lovely children."
"Such a handful at this age."
"Lovely weather isn't it."
"It is - got everything luvs?"
"Nice meeting you."
"Chow!" Air-kiss, air-kiss.
EssGee bent and picked up her straw bag along with a blue linen bag.
"Oi, that's ours!"
"My mistake, they all look the same.", handing over the blue bag and picking up a red plastic one.
"Hurry up!", Ona called to Lottie, bucket and spade in one hand, fishing-net in the other.
Lottie, bum-bag in one hand, kite in the other, chased after Ona.
"Catch you later."
"Bye"
"Bye", more air-kisses.
How did they get away with it? If he'd tried that they'd all be in handcuffs by now!
With their growing collection of bags, to Sophia-Grace's delight, they could now buy their shopping; the trail of convenience store break-ins went cold. By the time the detective connected the spate of petty thefts along the coast, they had moved on again.
23 - Bikini B