Take a break from the festivities with this extract from Tricia Stringer’s novel Back On Track

Tired out by the festive frenzy and need some light relief? Try this extract from bestseller Tricia Stringer’s new novel, about a very Australian journey – but it’s not a road trip.

In this edited extract from TRICIA STRINGER’s Back on Track, designer and dressmaker Ketty Clift prepares to tackle troubled relationships, ageism, and love old and new in this uplifting story of colleagues and unlikely travel companions thrown together on an astonishing (and revealing) train trip across Australia.

Ketty paused on the edge of the shade. People surged around her. She stepped to one side and slipped on her sunglasses. In front of her a single sign stood atop a pole on the platform. Darwin was printed on it in large letters and in small print above, The Ghan. Beyond the sign, the famous train itself stretched out like a giant serpent basking in the sun pounding down from a cloudless blue sky.

Finally they were there. Ketty sent a silent thank you to her travel agent. The woman was worth her weight in gold. Somehow out of all the chaos of the last month she had pulled off a holiday for Ketty and her five staff. She should be excited but a combination of lack of sleep, concerns about whether she’d done the right thing – Judith had questioned her sanity after she’d announced the trip – and the undercurrent that still simmered beneath the surface at work had kept her spirits in check.

Rail research … Tricia Stringer and husband Daryl went on a Ghan trip to research Back on Track. Here they are at Kanku-Breakaways near Coober Pedy.

Added to the mix would be the presence of her old friend Carlos. They’d first met many years earlier on a cruise, Ketty as a passenger and he a head waiter. He’d only landed in Darwin that morning after flying in from Spain. Ketty had received a text from him as she’d been going to breakfast at the hotel to say he had indeed arrived, albeit without his case which he was trying to track down and he’d meet her on board.

She looked again at the train that was to be their home for the next three days and nights; the red of its large locomotives a brilliant contrast to the sleek silver carriages that continued down the track, around a slight bend and beyond her sight. Although they weren’t in the same carriage, Carlos had been told their cabins were close and that they could dine together.

“Ketty!” Birgit’s call shrilled along the platform, making heads turn.

Ketty glanced around. Heremployees at Ketty Clift Couture were standing in a mismatched group near the front of the engine. They’d arrived in Darwin two nights earlier, and even though they had enjoyed their brief visit, there was still a subtle tension that hadn’t completely gone. Ketty had hoped being on holiday would act like some kind of magical fix-it elixir but so far that hadn’t happened and she had work to do.

Birgit was beckoning wildly at her and the others were all waving for her to join them.

Ketty had only taken a few steps in their direction when Tien hurried forward and reached for her case.

Read on … Back On Track by Tricia Stringer

“Let me take that for you, Miss Clift.”

“It’s small and on wheels.”

“But your arm …”

“Is well and truly healed now.” Ketty glanced at her wrist where there was still a faint difference in skin colour since the plaster had been removed a few weeks earlier. No matter her protest, Tien wrestled the handle from her grip and they joined the others.

“We’re having a group photo.” Birgit’s Irish brogue deepened. “I’ve lined up this fine Irishman to take it for us.”

Ketty glanced across at the young man holding up a phone, smiling brightly. Even though Birgit had been born in Australia and as yet never set foot in Ireland, she’d learned the accent from her family. Only in her early thirties, Birgit was a fine seamstress, completing garments with the high standard Ketty expected but recently there’d been a few mistakes. Birgit had accepted responsibility and made them right but extra expensive fabric had to be sourced in one case and had cost them a customer in another.

“Come on, everyone,” Birgit called. “Get organised. Let’s give Rory our best look.”

Tien, who was beside Ketty, tutted under her breath.

“Sunglasses off,” Birgit commanded.

There were several groans. Ketty squinted in Rory’s direction. He snapped a few shots, suggested they put their sunglasses back on, took some more then and passed the phone back to Birgit.

Much-loved by Aussie bookworms … Tricia Stringer.

“Oh, Tien,” she said. “You had your mask on. Please take it off for a photo.”

Tien complied and Birgit handed Rory her phone again. He snapped more photos and handed back the phone, the sun reflecting from the glass of the screen and the ring on the finger of his outstretched hand.

Ketty adjusted her sunglasses. Even with them on she felt as if she was squinting in the intense light.

“Oh, no!” Birgit waggled her phone in the air. “We forgot to do a funny one. Would you take some more for us, please, Rory?” She was being charmingly cheeky and Tien tutted again.

“Sure.”

Once Birgit was satisfied Ketty suggested they start walking. “Our carriage is towards the end of the train.”

She quickly took control of her bag or Tien would be trying to wheel it for her.

This is an edited extract from Back On Track by Tricia Stringer, published by HQ Fiction and on sale now.

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