Norma’s mouth formed a tight line. ‘Why would Carl double-cross Leonie when she’s done him this favour?’

‘I know my brother’s relationship with cash. Moth, meet flame.’

‘But what would I do with The Lodge?’

‘Anything! You are in total control. You can secure Ben’s future!’ And, Kelly thought, you can dissolve the deed of trust and screw Leonie royally, mother-in-law to mother-in-law, and let me out of there. ‘You can save The Lodge; you can save Bluebird,’ she added, wondering if she was laying it on a bit too thick.

‘Oh, what a mess!’

‘Sure is,’ Kelly said, almost marvelling at her chicanery. She exhaled. She’d had a rough plan in her mind, but it was only while spelling it out for Norma that she realised how many loose ends were in there, and now she was wondering if it all stood up to analysis. But that wasn’t the point. The point was that Norma was now contemplating the consequences, which was halfway to making it real.

‘Just awful!’

‘Not half as bad as if Leonie gets her way. Bad for Gordon, bad for me, but, most of all, absolutely awful for Ben.’

‘Well,’ Norma said stiffly, straightening out her attire as if to walk onto a stage. ‘I’ll think about it. But you know, you could help me a bit more.’

‘Me?’

‘I think you know what I mean.’

‘Oh?’ Kelly said into her collar, glancing up at the green. She took her club out of her bag and walked onto the tee to set up her shot.

‘Well, isn’t our number one priority Ben?’ Norma’s voice reminded Kelly of a domesticated animal peering through an open gate at the alluring, terrifying wilderness. No doubt about it, Norma didn’t like it to be seen, but she still, at seventy-seven, had a desire for freedom. ‘What is hurting Ben is—is, well, I think you know.’

Kelly’s practice swing stopped halfway through.

‘You want me and Gordon to …’

Norma squeezed out a nod. ‘I believe in helping those who help themselves.’

‘Oh, Norma.’

‘I would do anything—anything—to see you and Gordon try to make a go of it again. He’s been through so much in his life.’

Kelly studied her mother-in-law. In all the time she had known her, they had never until today broached the subject of what Gordon had been through ‘in his life’.

‘And you too,’ Kelly said. ‘With the accident.’

‘And us too,’ Norma agreed, gliding past Kelly’s emphasis. ‘Perhaps a little kindness wouldn’t go astray?’

‘You drive a hard bargain.’

‘Surely not that hard? You managed for so long.’

‘I’m not sure he even wants me back.’