The four women set off, striding up the hill at the back of the cabin, following the path that led through the clearing past the Ranger. The trail led through the wood and up the hill before looping back toward the track and down toward the lake.

"So How d'ya meet Dom?" Asked Cait.

"Do you know the Monkey Bar?"

"Yeah, over North Ridge way?" Cait answered the question with a question.

"Well, I own it. Dom walked in one day, and just kept comin' back." Puffed Elaine. "Hey can we slow the pace a little? My legs aren't so long as yours, and I've got twenty years and twenty pounds on you young 'uns."

Cait grinned. "Sorry. I'm still in Hawke Walk mode. I spend most of my time running to keep up. Last time I went to the Monkey Bar I was on a date. Wasn't it owned by a weird little guy?"

Elaine laughed. "Yeah, Gushie was unique. It was all machismo and testosterone back then.. When my kids were small, it was the perfect job. I worked evenings, singing. Then I could be at home all day while my husband worked."

"So how d'ya end up owning the bar?" Asked Alice, taking a hip flask from her coat pocket.

They passed the silver flask from Elaine to Cait and then Marella. Marella looked curiously at the flask. "Alice, did you take Michaels flask?"

Alice shrugged. "He wasn't using it, thought it might come in handy."

Marella grinned. "I'd never have the guts to do that. I'm not sure if it's brave or foolhardy."

Marella passed the flask back to Al, who took a swig and put the cap back on. The whisky burned like fire on her tongue and throat, its warmth slowly spreading throughout her body. "He left it on the bar, I'll put it back on the bar." She grinned "I doubt he'll notice its absence, just the lack of content."

"Back to the Monkey Bar then. How did you end up with it?" Asked Cait.

"Kids grew up, husband died, and Gushie wanted to retire. He offered it to me if I could raise the money. Hell, what's an aging blues singer gonna do? When you're young, thin and your bosoms in the right place, guys wanna hear you sing, or at least stare at ya'." Elaine looked down at her figure. "When you're old, and your skin don't fit the way it used to, well…" She shrugged. "… so I scraped together every dime, sold my saxes and bought the damn place."

Cait smiled. "So that's why Dom bought you a saxophone. To replace the ones you sold."

*****AW*****

They'd reached the top of the hill and paused to admire the view.

"Al? Any more of that bourbon?" Asked Marella.

"Yep. I think there's enough to go round again. Suppose we're heading back pissed as newts then."

Elaine snorted. "Wow, you Brits have some weird sayings. Does that mean hammered?"

The four increasingly giggly women began making their way back down the rough track a few minutes later.

Elaine stumbled on a small rock, and Marella caught her before she fell.

"Thanks honey, I'm a real klutz when I'm… what was it pissed as a toad?"

"Newt?" Chorused Cait and Al in unison, who looked at each other startled before giggling.

Marella groaned. "Am I the only one who's still sober?"

"Apparently so honey. Whoops who put that there?" Giggled Elaine as she tripped on another rock. Marella caught her arm again.

"I owe ya sweetie. Hey tell me about yourself. I can't have you carryin' me halfway down a hillside without knowing ya."

"There's honestly not much I can say. I used to work for Michael. But I start my residency at UCLA Medical Center next month."

"What? I didn't know that? Congratulations, so you finally got your Medical Doctorate?" Exclaimed Cait.

Marella blushed. "Yeah, I've added it to the list."

Al looked startled. "List? How many doctorates do you have?"

"I have six. Aeronautical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Psychology, Microbiology, French Literature and now Medical."

Al stood opened mouthed. "Bloody Hell. I thought I was doing nicely with an Avionics degree. Have you done nothing with your life except study and work?"

Marella looked embarrassed. "People tell me all the time that I come across as confident, which is a constant surprise to me because inside I am a colossal mess of insecurity and anxiety. Night school keeps me busy and stops me worrying about a social life."

Cait looked surprised. "You not confident? Look at what you've accomplished?"

"I've been lucky, that's all. Mixed race daughter of an alcoholic mother. I'd probably be on the streets if Michael hadn't found me. I'm constantly looking over my shoulder wondering who will realize I'm a fraud."

Cait hugged Marella. "You're no fraud, you're Michael's right-hand man, I mean woman, for a reason."

"I'll second that." Al draped her arm over Marella's shoulder.

Marella wriggled out of the hug. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, ladies."

"Sounds like this Michael's been good to you girls. What does he do?" Asked Elaine.

The reply came in unison. "He works for the government."

"A pen pusher then?"

"Something like that."

*****AW*****

Alice was singing tunelessly as they ambled back through the clearing.

"I love to go a-wandering,

Along the mountain track,

And as I go, I love to sing,

My knapsack on my…"

Cait poked her in the ribs. "Shhhhh. We don't wanna wake 'em if they're still snoozing."

Al frowned. "No. Not a good idea. Tippy, tippy toes we goes." She giggled. "Sort of rhymes.."

"Al. Can it."

"Got it. Lips sealed like…" Al grabbed her lips between her index finger and thumb.

They crept silently onto the deck and round to the front door.