Chapter one Caroline's story
Caroline Dawson, 47 years old, divorced mother of two boys sank back comfortably into her business class seat. Lulled by the constant hum of the plane engines her mind wandered back over the past year. For a woman who liked stability in her life, it had hardly been that. First there had been her divorce from John after twenty years of marriage. While it had been difficult she had come to realise that only her pride had been hurt, John's duplicity had not touched her soul and once reason kicked in she was thankful he had given her the push to finally end a marriage that had died long before. Her boys William and Laurence had coped with the outfall pretty well and their lives were moving forward. William was up at Oxford following her footsteps and Laurence was in sixth form.
Her mother had tossed the next stone into the surprisingly choppy waters of Caroline's life by marrying her childhood sweetheart Alan. Ahh Alan. Caroline smiled to herself. That dear sweet man. His calm gentle exterior had brought joy to her mother and that had rubbed off on her too. The same calm exterior could not be said of the newly acquired step sister Gillian. A walking disaster area summed Gillian up. Caroline could not make up her mind whether she loved Gillian to bits or thought she was a right plonker. A bit of both was probably most accurate.
The change that had surprised Caroline most was one she instigated herself. She had imagined seeing out her working life as Head of Sulgrave School where she had been for the last few years, managing the top performing private school in the North with aplomb. Work was one place where she saw her life as happy and fulfilled, but then out of the blue had come an opportunity she could not resist… taking up the role of Chair of Chemistry at the prestigious Newton University in York. An unusual appointment by the University given her career but one she relished. Her love of chemistry had never waned. Over the years she had kept her hand in where she could, undertaking research, writing the odd paper, going to conferences. The chance to immerse herself was one she could not pass up. Who would have thought it. Professor Caroline Dawson. Life as an academic really suited Caroline. It suited Laurence too now he wasn't copping flack at school because his mum was Headmistress.
So Caroline found herself on a plane for Sydney. For with the professorial title came other opportunities. This time it was as key note speaker at an international conference of some note. She was looking forward to her first ever visit to Australia but by heck it was long way. It was over fourteen hours since taking off and still more to go. Caroline reclined her seat flat and soon drifted off to sleep.
Several hours later Caroline stood on the balcony of her hotel room gazing on the scene below. Colleagues had warned her about the Australian sun and she had come prepared. As she had found out to her cost as a young adult, her fair English skin and the sun were not a good match. What she hadn't been prepared for was a 40 degree day and the energy sapping humidity. She didn't mind a bit of warmth especially coming from the wet cold British winter, but this might be overdoing it a bit.
The quality of light intrigued her. At home especially at this time of year everything felt subdued and subtle. Here the intensity brought things alive somehow. The golden sand of Coogee Beach stretching out before her took on a vibrancy she couldn't describe. Above the blue blue sky seemed to wrap everything up in a glorious shawl. She had never seen such a sky not even around the Mediterranean. The light danced off the sea like a million jewels enticing you to enter. Why not she thought. No one she knew was going to see her here and anyway hadn't she been a good swimmer even winning an Oxford Blue. Changing into her togs, slathering on the factor 50+ to protect her fair English skin and slipping on a light summer dress she grabbed her towel and headed off to the beckoning water.
Once at the water's edge Caroline looked up the beach. At the far end the beach was crowded while at her end there were few people about. Only surfers trying to catch a wave. The idea of fighting for a spot in the water didn't appeal so she decided to stay where she was. The waves didn't seem very high and the water lapping across her feet felt cool and inviting against the heat of the day. Ok here goes. Ducking under a wave she immersed herself in the water and then stood enjoying the feeling of the waves buffeting her about a bit. She could feel the rip and pull of a tide going out and dug her feet into the sand to steady herself. She found herself being hypnotised by the water around her.
Suddenly Caroline was pulled out of her reverie by a loud shout. "LOOK OUT." Before she knew it she was knocked off her feet. The water closed over her head as she hit the sandy bottom and found herself being tumbled about unable to gain her footing and unable to breathe. The pull of the waves which seemed so manageable was now much stronger dragging her along. Disorientated and fighting rising panic she tried to find the surface, her lungs beginning to burn from the effort. No luck. The tumbling was getting worse and she had no idea where she was. Oh god no. Not like this. Come on Caroline don't give up. Can't find the surface. Can't breathe. Can't hold. William Laurence sorry.
Then there was that beautiful blue sky once more. As she gulped in precious air her lungs heaving, the wonderful soft voice of a guardian angel said. "Its ok I have got you. Lie flat don't struggle. Don't fight the rip. Help will be here in a minute."
Focusing on her breathing Caroline did what she was told. Within minutes she was safe on the back of a jet ski heading for the beach. She couldn't believe how far out the water had taken her in a very short time. Once on the beach the Headmistress lurking within enabled her to regain her composure quickly and she suffered the attention of the lifesavers making sure she was ok and gave an account of what had occurred for the records. If truth be told she felt highly embarrassed. Caroline Dawson prided herself in her self control and that had disappeared in the panic.
As Caroline spoke her eyes roamed looking for who might be her guardian angel. With all the shock of what was happening out on the water her famed observation skills had deserted her much to her chagrin and she hadn't registered a face. She knew from the body that had held her close and the gentle voice that it was a woman but that was all. She needed to say her thanks however embarrassing the incident was. It was the right thing to do and Caroline believed strongly in doing the right thing. Before she left she asked who it had been.
The young man pointed out a woman standing some distance away with her back to them talking to another woman holding the hand of a young child. Giving her thanks, Caroline set off in that direction. As she drew close she heard the unmistakable tones of her guardian angel.
"Just another daft English tourist who doesn't have the sense to swim between the flags. When will they ever learn."
Caroline stopped. She didn't hear the reply but there was no mistaking the laughter that followed. With her cheeks burning and not from the sun, she turned and raced to the safety of her hotel room.
