Why I can listen to both sides of VK-G Long Path QSOs in the Dominican Republic

Bottom line:  I think when Australians talk to Brits via long path,  in the Dominican Republic I am between the two. Both have their beam antennas aimed (generally) un my directions.  With an omnidirectional antenna (my 1/4 wave vertical) I can hear them both.  While they are on the Long Path to each other, I am Short Path to both of them. 

Here is my log entry (From the Dominican Republic): 

August 20, 2025 

20S around 0830 UTC  VK5UK Rich and G2YT Peter.  Rich was in LP contact with Peter  My  VFO was moving as the air conditioner kicked in.  I think I was hearing both of them SP.  With VK5UK I was off the side of his beam.  Same with Peter G2YT.  

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Peter G2YT wrote:  

Yes, Rich and I were working Long Path… I was beaming at the top end of South America (about 240 degrees) and Rich was beaming approx 120 degrees.

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Rich, VK5UK wrote: 

Hi, thanks for the email... My beam heading was around 150 degrees from VK long path to Europe you would have been receiving me via the shortest path between us, and I suspect you were being received by Peter on the same path? 73 Rich

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Here is a good website that describes (using Australia to Europe) the Long Path and Short Path propagation paths:  

https://www.pa9x.com/long-path-or-short-path-propagation/

Here is a link to Google's new AI (on this subject)