Chapter one The Crew

They’d all grown up here, in the flat little town with one main road, one supermarket, two bars if you counted the RSA. Most of them had never left. The ones who did — the dreamers who talked about Auckland or overseas — usually came back broke or stayed gone for good.

Her crew were the stayers. Friends since school, bound together not so much by choice anymore as by history. There was Davo, still gruff and half-drunk, running the bar like it was a ship he couldn’t dock. Cassie, who laughed too loud, flirted too freely, but would show up at her door in a heartbeat if she needed help. Tony, steady as a fencepost, working jobs around the district and pretending not to notice how messy everyone else’s lives got.

And then there was her, dragging herself between shifts at the bar and home to Louie. Everything circled around him now — the creche runs, the nights he wouldn’t sleep, the mornings when his smile was enough to keep her going another day. She loved him so fiercely it scared her, but loving him didn’t pay rent. Work did. Tips did. And sometimes, saying yes to shifts she should have said no to.

On a good night, the bar was buzzing — rugby boys shouting over pool tables, old timers telling the same stories at the leaners, music thumping just loud enough to feel alive. On a bad night, it was a half-empty room that smelled of spilt beer and sweat, Davo sighing into his glass. She didn’t love it, but she knew her place behind that counter. She could read people quick: who’d tip, who’d fight, who’d cry into their bourbon.

It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t a dream. But it was theirs — a small world, a tight circle, a crew that kept turning up even when life gave them no better options

Chapter Two – Sick Day

Louie was burning hot when she woke him. His cheeks flushed, eyes glassy, a damp curl of hair plastered to his forehead. He tried to smile, but it sagged into a whimper.

Work was out of the question. She rang Davo and braced for the sigh.

“Can’t swing it today, Louie’s crook.”

A pause on the other end, then the scrape of his lighter. “Jesus. You pick your days.”

“I’ll make it up tomorrow.”

Another long exhale. She could picture him in the office, hunched over the cluttered desk with yesterday’s glass still half-full. “Fine. I’ll get Brian in. Don’t make a habit of it.”

Relief softened her shoulders. Davo wasn’t warm, but he had a way of showing care sideways, like a grumble instead of a hug.

She stayed in the house all morning, coaxing Louie to sip water, sponging his forehead. By afternoon, the worry pressed too heavy. Doctor’s visits meant cash she didn’t have, not till next week, but she couldn’t risk it. Peace of mind cost more than money.

The clinic smelled of disinfectant and wet coats. Louie clung to her neck, small arms sweaty. The doctor poked and prodded, murmured about fluids and rest. “Viral,” he said. “It’ll pass. Nothing serious.”

She paid at reception, wincing as the notes slipped away, then carried Louie back out into the bright afternoon.

On the drive home she passed the bar. Cecilia was outside fiddling with the umbrellas, hair up in a messy bun, waving as if she had all the time in the world. She waved back but didn’t stop. Not today.

Chapter Three – Cassie Steps Up

Louie was still pale the next morning, but the fever had eased. She kept him curled on the couch under a blanket, cartoons flickering, while she stared at the clock. Work called. Rent loomed.

Cassie turned up just after lunch, knocking once before letting herself in. She was all denim shorts and loose hair, eyes still smudged from the night before.

“Babe, you look wrecked,” she said, flopping onto the armchair. “Want me to stay with him? You could do the arvo shift. Easy money.”

She hesitated. Louie needed her. But Louie also needed food, and food meant hours at the bar. “You sure? He’s still not great.”

Cassie leaned over the couch, tickling Louie’s toes until he giggled weakly. “We’ll be fine. He likes me better than you anyway.”

That was true enough. Louie’s face lit up for Cassie, his laugh sudden and full. Watching them together warmed her chest and pricked at it all at once. She trusted Cassie, but she worried too. Brian’s name was always on Cassie’s lips these days, and Brian was bad news — shiftless, selfish, one of those boys who never outgrew the playground.

Still, she grabbed her jacket. “Just a few hours. Call me if he gets worse.”

The bar was slow at first, just a couple of regulars nursing pints. She wiped down the counter, stacked glasses, listened to Davo grumble about stock deliveries. By evening, though, the place filled — laughter rising, music louder, coins and notes piling up in the till.

When she came home later, Louie was asleep, soft breaths against Cassie’s shoulder. Cassie didn’t even look tired, just smiled that wide, reckless smile.

“You owe me one,” she said.

She did. More than one.

Chapter Four – Hamilton Trip

Her next day off she drove to Hamilton, just to get out of town. The highway was long and straight, the paddocks blurring past, radio fizzing in and out. She liked the space of the drive — no one asking, no one needing, just road.

The op-shops were hit and miss, mostly miss. Racks of faded kids’ clothes, shoes worn thin. She picked up a pair of shorts for herself, bright green, and a halter top that felt like summer. Nothing decent for Louie. It stung a little, walking out with only things for her, but she told herself it was fine. He’d never notice.

By three she was back, pulling into the drive. Cassie was waiting on the porch, legs tucked under her like a teenager. She grinned the second she saw her.

“Look at you,” Cassie said when she held up the bag. “Going glam, eh?”

“Op-shop glam,” she laughed, tossing it inside.

Cassie leaned back, dreamy-eyed. “Went out with Brian last night. He was all charm, bought me drinks, told me I’m the only one who gets him.” She rolled her eyes but the smile gave her away.

She wanted to believe Cassie could handle him, but worry pricked her ribs. Brian was the type to drag you down without even trying. Cassie deserved more, even if she couldn’t see it.

Louie padded out in his socks, eyes bright. “Cassie!” he squealed, running straight for her.

Cassie scooped him up, spinning him till he shrieked with laughter. She watched them, that warmth and worry knotting together again. Cassie was sunshine in Louie’s world. She just hoped she wouldn’t burn out too fast.