It was possible that if it had been sixty seconds earlier, Mel wouldn’t have heard the familiar cackle/laugh of Vanessa through the open window. She had been somewhat distracted! She let the curtain fall closed and wondered. She hadn’t actually seen Vanessa but she had seen her daughter, Michaela dragging Paul up along the path next door. It also hadn’t slipped her attention that her daughter had borrowed one of her dress...

"I'm going to bake her a banana cake, that's what I'm going to do! You have to open your door when a neighbor brings a cake!" Greg put down his coffee cup and looked wearily at his wife, the adorable and sexy love of his life. Madelyn had seen the couple next door the day they moved in, but since then she'd only seen the husband leave and return. She hadn't seen the man's wife a single time in two weeks, not even to go ou...

Keys click. Deserted welcome.  Scalding tears and suds purge her dutiful whereabouts. Beloved mom. Finite, fading.  Just like his understanding? Last week's soiree haunts the steam-curled solitude: carefree flirtations, a predator's perfume...amuse-bouches for a life-starved husband. Her eyes burn with soap and premonitions of rented release. Sylphlike fingers surround stiffened neglect, guide its escape from guilt. Engul...

Melanie first noticed the two men as she pushed her trolley down the dairy aisle of Morrison’s. She smiled at them, encouragingly. They were clearly out of their depth in what they regarded as an alien environment. With smooth efficiency, Melanie scooped up her butter, natural yoghurt and some basic cooking cheddar. She met them again in household. They appeared to be debating laundry liquid. “It’s no good Ben, we’ll just...

The story until now. Lyn and I had just returned from the US. During our trip, we had gained a new friend and lover Julie who was also a barefoot water skier. Julie had returned to Australia with us on the pretext that I would coach her in her sport. I was looking forward to it. On our return journey, Lyn had announced to me that she had met a friend, Ron. She had asked for my blessing to enter into a relationship with hi...