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Nina and Romy sat on opposite sides of the wooden island bench slurping chicken soup. Nina was feeling much better and was visiting for a game of mahjong. They had a Masters competition coming up and Nina was determined to win. Romy wasn’t fussed about winning, but she was glad of Nina’s company. She gave her broth a vigorous stir and watched the parsley swirl in the whirlpool in her bowl.

The steady stream of guests who had flowed through the door since Wilhelm’s death all seemed to come with their own batch of chicken soup. Today they were eating her own version, the chicken fried in sesame oil, the broth infused with garlic and ginger and topped with greens from the herb garden outside the kitchen door. Nina reached over and added a few more drops of the rice wine.

‘That will create too much heat in your liver,’ observed Romy.

‘Why not?’ chuckled Nina. ‘Might as well get it from somewhere.’ She used her finger to slide some fresh noodles onto her soup spoon.

Romy reached for the soy sauce and added another splash to her soup.

‘You can take the girl out of Shanghai…’ Nina said. ‘Speaking of which, how’s our girl?’

‘Fine.’

Nina arched an eyebrow. ‘You two are so alike.’

‘Nonsense. Eat your soup—but no more rice wine.’ Romy snatched it and put it back in the cupboard. Before she sat down, she retrieved a creased padded envelope from the back of the cupboard.

‘I’ve been keeping this in the clinic.’ She returned to her place at the bench and opened the envelope. From inside she retrieved an old diary and the red envelope usually tucked in the back of her compendium.

She picked up the diary and ran her hand over the soft leather before opening the cover. A coffee-stained letter slipped onto the bench and Romy picked it up and handed it to Nina.

‘I kept it. We looked for you everywhere.’

Nina studied the letter for a moment, before handing it back to Romy.

‘I know.’ She bowed her head. ‘I was so ashamed…’

Romy put the diary aside on the bench and reached over to grasp her friend’s hand. They sat quietly for a moment, enjoying the soft autumnal sunshine streaming through the bay window, the sun warming Romy’s back.

Eventually, Romy said, ‘I’m going to send my diary to Alexandra. She’s been asking so many questions about our time in Shanghai…Remember what you said while I was giving you acupuncture last week? You were right—for once.’

Nina looked bemused.

‘We’re far too old to keep burying our secrets,’ said Romy. ‘I think it’s time she knew the truth, don’t you?’