"So you're gonna stay in this area though, aren't you?" asked Hannah, trying not to show her concern that Sacha might say "no".

"Yeah, I guess so" replied Sacha. "Seeing as how everyone I know in this town lives around here."

"Yeah, and who wants to live south of the river anyway? Know what I mean?"

"Not really, no."

"Well, you know what St. Kilda's like."

"Can't say that I do. I've never been there."

Hannah looked at her as if she'd just said that she'd never eaten bread. "You're kidding!" She shrugged. "Oh well. No great loss. Remind me to take you out there some time, though."

"Maybe I will" said Sacha, but without enthusiasm. She didn't really need Hannah's help finding a place to live, she'd got the hang of it last time around. The only reason she'd ended up where she was was because it was what was available - but she knew when to get the newspapers for the ads, and which shop windows to look in for more ads.

So instead she said to Hannah: "I hear it was Rona's birthday the other day."

"Yeah" replied Hannah, scrutinising her. "That's right. Did she tell you?"

"No, I read it on some list at the Word." She took a sip of her wine. "How come she didn't say anything, though? How come no-one did?"

"Aww, honey it's nothing personal!" Hannah reached across the table to pat Sacha on the arm, but Sacha pulled away:

"No, no, I'm not upset. I'm just curious." It was a half-truth.

Hannah leaned back and shrugged with a sideways glance. "Rona . . ." she said, "Rona just doesn't like to make a big deal out of it. She was kind of raised that way, she's funny that way. And, well, all of us . . . We've known her long enough to know she'd get embarrassed if we said anything. So I guess that's why we kept quiet." She looked back at Sacha, genuine concern in her eyes. "But we weren't doing it to keep you out of the loop. I promise."

Sacha took her glasses off to clean the lenses, and she lowered her head to concentrate hazily on them - but also so that Hannah couldn't see her face. "Okay" she said. "I just wanted to know. It seemed odd, that's all. I would have thought someone would tell me. I mean she is my friend as well. But . . . Okay, whatever." She heard Hannah snicker. "What?" she asked, looking up without putting her glassed back on. "What's funny?"

"Nothing, gorgeous. It's nothing." Without her glasses on Sacha couldn't see how much Hannah was beaming. You're a funny one, the way you act so tough, thought Hannah. But all she said was: "Those glasses really suit you, you know" - and by the time Sacha had put them back on, Hannah's face was hidden behind her wineglass.