Free Stone Castles by Trish Morey

family.’
    â€˜Oh no! It’s dead easy. All you have to do is stand there, really, and say that you’ve agreed to be her godmother. No, it’s just that Craig’s asked someone to be Chloe’s godfather.’
    â€˜O-kay.’ Why did she have a bad feeling about this? She didn’t know a lot about modern day christenings, but surely it was normal that there be both a godfather and a godmother? Why was Tracey making out like it was such a big deal? Unless . . . The hackles on the back of her neck stood to attention. ‘Does this someone have a name?’
    â€˜Well, it’s Luke, actually.’
    â€˜Luke.’ She knew it. ‘As in Luke Trenorden, you mean.’
    Tracey’s lips pulled tight over her teeth, her eyes more than a little worried. ‘That won’t be a problem, will it? I mean, it’s been ages, after all.’
    Pip shook her head, not to say no, but because if she shook it long enough, something might shake loose that could make sense of all this. Because nothing was making sense so far. ‘You seriously want me and Luke to be Chloe’s godparents. Me and Luke. The two of us. Together.’
    â€˜Well, yeah. Luke’s Craig’s choice, and you’re mine.’
    â€˜What about Fi? Why not ask her?’
    â€˜She’s already godmother to both Ben and Callan. I could hardly ask her again. And besides, you’re here and it would be so nice.’
    Nice.
    Pip had an idea about what comprised nice and Luke Trenorden didn’t feature anywhere in it. ‘I was really hoping not to bump into Luke while I was here.’ And already she had. Already she had to cope with the discovery that he wasn’t looking middle-aged and porky. The thought of having to rub shoulders with him again . . .
    â€˜Maybe it’s time you two buried the hatchet. You used to be so close.’
    â€˜ Used to be being the operative words there, Trace.’
    â€˜Yeah, but all that was a long time ago.’
    â€˜And I’m still angry with him! Besides which, I don’t think Sharon will be too impressed if I do it. I still remember her glaring at me at Fi’s wedding, like she was worried the ghost of girlfriends past was going to snatch away her prize catch from under her nose.’
    Tracey looked up. ‘Oh. You didn’t hear?’
    â€˜Hear what?’
    â€˜Sharon’s gone. Left Luke a good three or four years back.’
    â€˜What? Why?’
    Her friend shrugged. ‘Who knows? Apparently she started seeing this guy while they were still married and now she’s shacked up with him in Adelaide somewhere.’
    â€˜The bitch!’
    â€˜Yeah, well, Luke seems to be blessed with women who cut and run.’
    Oh, no. She wasn’t about to let herself be shoved in the same box as a woman who had been unfaithful to him. ‘Come on, Trace, that’s a bit harsh.’
    â€˜Is it? You left him high and dry too. You walked away and left him.’
    â€˜It’s hardly the same thing. I wasn’t being unfaithful. I didn’t just walk out on him for no reason. He let me down too.’
    â€˜Pip, it was hardly his fault.’
    â€˜He knew, dammit. He knew and he never said.’
    â€˜I know. But would you really have wanted to hear, even if he had told you?’
    She shook her head and this time it was to deny Tracey the reply she knew her friend was looking for. Because she would have wanted to know. Anyone in the same position would have wanted to know.
    Tracey didn’t wait for her to answer, just gathered up Chloe in her arms and said, ‘God, I’m sorry, Pip, I shouldn’t have said anything and now I’ve gone and upset you on your first day back. And that’s the last thing I wanted to do. I’m really just so glad you’re here. Truly. You decide what you want to do and let me know.’
    She gave her shoulder a squeeze and Pip listened numbly while she told her