Chapter One

      There was no mistaking the tall, athletic-looking man coming towards Antonia and Cai in the airport terminal. He had the same dark, curly hair and laughing brown eyes as Cai.

      “Dad!” cried Cai. “Mum!” He threw himself at his parents, hugging them both.

      Antonia caught her breath, suddenly feeling shy and a little homesick. She wished her parents were here in Australia too. But that was unfair. It had been almost two months since Cai had seen his mum and dad, who were working in Australia while Cai stayed in England with his Great Aunty Claudia. This was a big moment for him.

      Angela Pacific, a slim lady with pretty blonde hair, broke away from the group. “Hello, you must be Antonia. We’ve heard so much about you. It’s great to meet you at last.”

      “Thanks,” mumbled Antonia shyly.

      “Antonia!” cried Lenny Pacific, encompassing her with his free arm and almost hugging the breath out of her. “You are going to love Australia.”

      “Right now I expect she’d love to get to the apartment,” said Mrs Pacific, smiling. “We’ve a car outside. It’s about sixty kilometres to the hotel complex we’ve booked for your stay, but it shouldn’t take long at this time of night.”

      Antonia was grateful to relax and let Cai’s parents organise things. It had been a long journey, two whole days since she’d left home to fly around the world for a ten-day holiday with Cai. The airline had put a very motherly lady in charge of them, but it wasn’t the same as travelling with your own family. It was much nicer having Cai’s parents to help with the bags and find the way to the car park.

      While Mr Pacific loaded the suitcases into the boot of the hire car, Cai and Antonia climbed into the back. Once they got on to the highway, Mr Pacific switched on the air conditioning and Antonia gratefully sank back in her seat. That felt better. It was as warm as a sunny day in England even though it must be gone midnight. Antonia didn’t bother to look at her watch, knowing it was still on English time.

      “The place we’re living in only has one bedroom, so we’ve rented a holiday apartment in the grounds of a brand-new hotel complex.” Mrs Pacific twisted round in her seat so she could talk to Antonia and Cai. “It’s right next to the beach. We know how much you love the water, Cai, and Claudia tells us that Antonia’s the same. She made me promise to book a seaside location to keep you both happy.”

      The friends exchanged a secret smile. There was a reason for Cai and