‘We haven’t lost yet!’ Ben’s eyes glittered. Kelly caught the reflection of light from Daniel’s resurrection. ‘We haven’t lost yet!’ Ben repeated, and as they climbed the stairs to The Lodge, no matter how many times Kelly asked him to explain, this was all he would tell her.

THE FUNDRAISER

The fundraiser

Say what you like about kidney failure, Lou thought as she looked up from her work to see Gordon bearing his father down the stairs from Cliff Street, it lightens the load. Ron’s arms were laced around his son’s neck, his ever-optimistic overnight bag hanging from his shoulder. It might have made a noble portrait of filial love, except that Gordon looked so pink with suffering, he might have been taking a run-up to throw the old man the rest of the way.

‘Hurry up!’ Ron said. ‘It sounds like my kind of fun down there.’ The bass in The Lodge’s music system was making the wooden staircase dance. ‘The joint is hopping!’

As Gordon set his father down on the top landing and rubbed the kinks out of his back, Lou slid out from beneath the padded medical chair connected to the beginnings of a mechanical pulley system.

‘Hello there,’ she said. ‘You’re a bit early for me.’

‘Sounds to me like we’re late!’ Ron said.

‘I never saw you as the party type,’ Lou said drily.

‘Since when was there an age limit?’

‘Not functioning yet?’ Gordon nodded at the StairLift, a parting gift from Leonie to The Lodge before her share was transferred to Carl. The StairLift had been delivered a few days earlier and Lou, ever-practical, had decided to try to install it herself to save on costs.

‘It’s not as hard as I thought,’ Lou said. ‘I was really hoping to get it working before the fundraiser.’

‘Sounds like the mob didn’t need it to get themselves in,’ Gordon said.

‘No, but they might to get themselves out.’ Lou studied the instruction booklet. ‘How are you, Ron?’

‘I’m looking forward to when this chair is in—I’ll be able to get in and out whenever I please.’

‘Dad,’ Gordon said.

‘She’s a marvel, this girl.’ Ron glared at Lou as if daring her to take offence. She wouldn’t bite. He turned back to Gordon. ‘Look at everything she’s doing for you. This fundraiser is her idea, isn’t it? You certainly have everyone pulling out all stops for you, son. Ever feel inadequate?’

Gordon’s hands wrung themselves. He drew a breath for patience, his well-practised I am speaking to one of my parents breath.