Free The Crunch Campaign by Kate Hunter Page B

on a cane toad. The weather was getting warmer and the toads were out again. Lorraine could hear their guttural croaking on the silky October air. October already! Katie’s birthday was only a couple of weeks away. She would give her a raincoat.
    She trod carefully under the Moreton Bay fig tree that guarded Crisp’s front yard. She loved this house almost as much as Katie did. It was home to her. Coming down the front steps was Katie’s mum, and close behind her was Liam Parfitt.
    â€˜Hi, Lorraine,’ said Vanessa.
    â€˜Hi,’ she said. ‘You look nice. I love your top.’ It was soft with a green paisley pattern.
    â€˜Thanks. I got it at Reheated.’
    â€˜Good call.’ Reheated was Lorraine’s favourite shop. She loved it when people followed her lead. ‘Going somewhere nice?’
    â€˜That new South American place at Indooroopilly. We won’t be late, but Katie’ll be glad you’re here.’
    â€˜We’ve got some work to do.’
    â€˜It’s Saturday night, Lorraine,’ said Liam. ‘You can have the night off from Parfizz.’
    â€˜Oh, we’re not doing Parfizz tonight,’ she said. ‘We’re working on my new line of raincoats and boots, LorRAINWEAR. Didn’t Katie tell you about it?’
    Vanessa shook her head. ‘No, but maybe she thought it was a secret.’
    Lorraine was a little hurt. She never had secrets. How could Katie not have mentioned it? She was always talking with her own mum about what Katie was up to.
    â€˜We’d better go.’ Liam put an arm around Vanessa’s waist. ‘We’re booked for 6.30 and they’ll give our table away. It’s pretty popular.’
    â€˜Sure. See you later,’ said Lorraine. ‘Have a nice time.’
    â€˜You too,’ said Vanessa. ‘There’s a packet of Tim Tams and some strawberries in the fridge.’
    â€˜Thanks.’ Lorraine climbed the stairs, feeling less upbeat than she had five minutes ago.
    â€˜What’s happening?’ Katie was sprawled on the sofa, watching television. There was an empty punnet on the floor.
    â€˜Did you eat the lot already?’ Lorraine shook her head. ‘Remember when we scoffed a kilo of strawbs last year and we both got diarrhoea?’
    â€˜Yeah, well, my digestive system’s matured since then,’ said Katie. ‘And besides, they were starting to go squashy and I didn’t want to waste them.’
    â€˜They wouldn’t have got any squashier if you’d waited five minutes for me. Shove over.’ Katie drew her legs up and Lorraine plonked herself down on the sofa too. ‘So your mum and Liam looked very cosy. Do you think they’ll get married? I could design the dress.’
    â€˜Don’t be dumb.’ Katie kept her eyes fixed on ‘Australia’s Funniest Home Videos’.
    â€˜You’re right. She’ll probably want to get married in a normal dress – being a more mature bride and everything. My designs can be a bit out there. And now that I’m specialising in rainwear, I don’t want to confuse the market by doing bridal as well.’
    Katie sat up straight and looked at her. ‘Lorraine, they’re not getting married. Mum and Liam are like brother and sister.’
    â€˜Katie, brothers do not put their arms around sisters’ waists and take them to dinner on Saturday night. Get real! I think it’s lovely; so romantic. Mum’s sure they’ll get married within a year. I wonder if you and I will be bridesmaids.’
    â€˜Lorraine, shut up.’ Katie tried to focus on a montage of toddlers bouncing off trampolines.
    â€˜You’re right. We won’t be the bridesmaids. Of course she’ll choose Nancy. It’s more appropriate to choose your sister than your daughter.’
    Katie tried to picture Nancy in a flouncy bridesmaid’s dress with flowers in her hair and a cigarette