‘Speaking of giving something back,’ said Nonna, ‘those dishes aren’t going to wash themselves. Work for food, Ashleigh. The oldest barter of all time. We’ll do them together later.’

It was past midnight before I could get to bed and I was exhausted. Xena had found me at one point, grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet, told me to dance with her. I told her I couldn’t dance and she said no one could but that didn’t stop them. So I tried. It was fun dancing around the fire but Micah’s words had cut and scared me. I kept glancing around but he was nowhere to be seen.

Later I helped with the clearing away and the washing up, something I’d never done in my life. And now I was tired, but it was a tiredness I knew I’d earned. When everyone had finally left, Nonna locked the padlock on the front gate and I was able to relax a little. Then she put down some blankets on the living room floor and Aiden and I lay next to each other. It was the hardest bed I’d ever slept on and, in other circumstances, I’d never get a wink of sleep. Tonight I’d probably not even stir. If I could forget about Micah. So I lay on my back and stared at the ceiling, Aiden’s hand in mine. Somewhere, way off in the distance, there was a rumble of thunder. And suddenly I felt a huge surge of déjà vu.

‘Remember Queensland, Aiden?’ I whispered. ‘Holding hands in bed while thunder rattled the windows and the storm had taken out the electricity?’

He chuckled.

‘Mamma told us such great stories,’ he said. ‘And I was all earnest about protecting you if anything should happen and you were such a snotty little kid who felt entitled to that protection.’

‘Oi,’ I said. ‘I might have been a snotty little kid but I was your sister. I still am your sister. Show respect.’

He laughed. When I told him about the confrontation with Micah and the threat he’d made, Aiden simply said he’d be here to protect me until I went home in the morning.

‘I’m thinking about the danger to you,’ I said.

He laughed again. ‘Well, to be honest, this Micah guy will have to get to the end of the queue as far as that’s concerned. Compared to Mum, I reckon he’ll be a pussy cat.’

We were silent for a few minutes. A floorboard creaked above our heads and somewhere someone coughed. Then the house fell silent once more. I could hear Aiden’s breathing.

‘What are you thinking about, Aiden?’

‘Everything,’ he said.

‘Now who’s being snotty?’