Chapter 10: Honey with the gorgeous legs

Honey lifted her bare feet from the Persian rug that picked up the blue, jade green and touches of oriental red from around the room, and put them on the dining table's daintier twin placed for convenience before them. The feet, and the legs attached, were their owner's fame and fortune, Honey being a stocking and pantihose model much in demand. The apartment complex had its own gym, sauna and 25 metre pool and Honey used them daily. She also walked. Excessively. Or so her partner in life, Allan Metcalfe, who had been suffering for the sake of love for the past twelve years said.

'He says it feels like they've played every town in New South Wales. But they've enjoyed it and got good reviews. And they've just about broken even. So he's happy.'

Elisabeth's feet joined Honey's, mug on her stomach cocooned in two hands. Together they eyed the four extremities. The slim size nines with immaculately polished red nails on the right gave some indication as to the height, shape and maintenance program of the rest of the body. The pale size sixes next to them, equally maintained but less obviously turned out, bore the marks of recent constriction.

'I've never noticed before,' Honey said. 'But you have really dainty feet, for your size.'

'Thanks.'

Honey tched. 'You know what I mean.'

'D'you think so?' Elisabeth sat up and put her feet on the carpet. 'Am I in the spare room? Do you mind if I have a shower?'

'Go ahead. Have you had dinner?'

'Not hungry.' Elisabeth shouldered her bags and made for the stairs.

'I'll open a bottle. We can have cheese and crackers.'

Elisabeth said over her shoulder, 'Not for me. I really don't feel like anything.' She put a foot on the first step.

'Boop ...'

Elisabeth stopped, holding the rail.

'You'd tell me if anything was wrong, wouldn't you?'

Elisabeth closed her eyes. 'Who else would I talk to.'

The small second bedroom that was the spare room was an obstacle course of theatrical junk and costumes. A single bed that doubled as a divan, dressing and work table, had been cleared and the desk jammed next to it was earning its description of sturdy with what had been removed to allow Elisabeth a comfortable night on the innerspring.

Under the shower she washed off her makeup and bent her neck to allow the water to wash over her. Eventually, sighing, she turned off the flow and towelled dry. Wrapped in a white silk kimono she went back downstairs to Honey. Who was waiting at the bottom.

Caught off guard Elisabeth merely stood and looked at her. Not knowing what to say Honey enveloped her in her arms and held her, swaying slightly, trying to convey whatever it was that Elisabeth needed. Bullshit there was nothing the matter. Elisabeth let her cheek rest against Honey's shoulder, listening to her heart beat, smelling the faint fragrance of Chanel No 5. Honey only ever applied it once in a day. She said a perfume should hint, not knock everyone to the floor.

'I'm tired, that's all.'

Honey held for a moment longer. 'Well then,' she said, her hand falling to the small of Elisabeth's back, 'Come tell me about Canberra. Have you found a place yet?' She had turned off the main lights and opened the curtains. In the dim coolness with the air conditioner's low vibrations an unnoticed hum, Elisabeth acquiesced to a glass of chilled white and kept her friend entertained until she felt she could excuse herself for bed. Not that she slept.

When she vacated the bathroom early the next morning Honey was emerging from her own bedroom.

'You don't have to get up.'

'I want to. You might not be back for ages.' She tumbled down the stairs, unbrushed and undressed. 'Cereal?'

'Please,' Elisabeth called after her. Because she was going to be out and about in Sydney's humidity she dressed in cool white cotton trousers and shirt with open toed Italian leather sandals. Shoes were her weakness. Ardently Buy Australian in almost everything else, she couldn't bring herself to abandon Italian style and comfort once discovered. When her bag was repacked she hoisted it and herself down to the living area.

Honey eyed her. 'Are you sure that's the right outfit? You don't think you look a bit casual? He won't take you seriously.'

Elisabeth gazed down at herself. 'I don't think he'll be under any misapprehension.' She poured herself a large glass of bottled water. 'Is this my cereal? Merci beaucoup,' she said when Honey affirmed, and took her breakfast to the tiny alcoved dining area. Honey followed with her own bowl and orange juice. They ate in silence as only two on very intimate terms can do. Afterwards Elisabeth washed her utensils and took her water to the balcony. A wave of heat and traffic noise rebuffed her and she reclosed the sliding door to content herself viewing the scene through glass while sipping. 'I've got some traffic noise of my own now. The place I'm renting's on the main road in to Canberra. I'll have to look for somewhere else once I've got this trial out of the way.'

'You're going to buy?'

Elisabeth frowned. 'I don't know. I'll see whether I want to stay first.'

There was nothing from Honey.

'I don't want to sell Leichhardt but I don't know if I can afford two.'

'But you own Leichhardt.'

Elisabeth's expression as she turned to her friend was wry. 'You don't get rich working for Legal Aid. I earn pocket money compared to you.'

Honey dismissed it. 'You could be earning much more if you didn't keep turning down the offers.'

'Money isn't everything.'

Honey snorted. 'Someone'll come along with an offer you can't refuse one day.'

Elisabeth turned back to the glass. 'Maybe. Nothing's for certain.'

Honey grimaced and thought, Shit. Try to stay clear of a subject and it's all you mention.

Elisabeth's departure began casually, as though they would be seeing each other within days. But as she turned from her final goodbye Honey called after her. 'Boop.'

Elisabeth looked back.

'Nothing's ever as bad as you think it is.'

Elisabeth shook her head. 'That imagination of yours. I'll give you a call. Bye.'

When she had gone Honey closed the door quietly and went to stand on the balcony. A minute later Elisabeth appeared on the street and climbed into the back seat of a waiting taxi. Honey raised her hand but Elisabeth did not look up.