No, she thought, not bed pans. A million times no. Except suddenly the need for the loo was urgent.

‘Maybe . . . maybe you could carry me to the toilet?’

Strong hands. Strong arms. She was lifted, placed perfectly, the door closed. And she managed, even the toilet paper.

He knocked as he heard the toilet flush. ‘Ready?’

‘Yes,’ she said shakily.

Lifted again. Hands washed with a warm face washer. He sat on the bed beside her. ‘No bed baths?’

‘No.’ If he ran the bath, placed her in it, then she could take off her nightdress and wash herself, or at least let the water do most of the work.

‘Pity. I was looking forward to that. How about you drink some of Mum’s guaranteed strengthening mutton-bone soup, sleep again, then I’ll run a bath for you and carry you in to it?’

‘That . . . would be okay. But, William . . .’

‘You helped me. Maybe saved my life when I’d made such a mess of things I thought I wasn’t worth taking up space in the world.’

‘I don’t want gratitude.’

‘Okay. What if I said I’d love the excuse to get my hands all over you and seeing you stuck in that bed is the sexiest sight I’ve ever seen?’ He looked at her seriously. ‘If that troubles you, I really will go. Because that’s what I feel.’

‘It . . . it doesn’t trouble me.’

‘And if I said I’ll sleep in the spare room, but as soon as you feel up to it, I’m getting in that bed with you and will probably never let you go?’

‘Sounds okay.’

He shut his eyes for a second. She suddenly saw how much this meant to him. Exactly as much, perhaps, as it meant to her. But he just opened his eyes and said, ‘Good. I’ll get the soup.’

He leaned down, kissed her gently on the forehead. But he had only been gone a few seconds before he appeared in the doorway again. ‘About that bath. Do you think you might need a hand getting dry? Putting on your nightdress?’ He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.

‘Maybe tomorrow.’

She was still grinning as he left.

Chapter 6

Broccoli Bill’s Tomato Sauce

6kg ripe tomatoes, 1L white vinegar, 1kg chopped onions, sautéed till soft in a little oil, 150g sugar, 10 cloves chopped garlic, 2 whole chillies, 1tsp ground ginger, pepper and salt to taste.

Boil for two hours, strain through a sieve. Bottle. A little olive oil on top before sealing will help it to keep longer and keep the colour brighter.

GIBBER’S CREEK, 1979

JED

Sam had been placed in a slightly different position that afternoon to prevent bedsores, breathing in, breathing out. Jed kissed him, then spread out Mattie’s toys. Mattie had just reached for her wooden hammer when young Clancy appeared in the doorway.

‘Want me to take her again?’

Mattie looked up with a dribbling grin. ‘Gancy! Gancy!’ She hauled herself to her feet and toddled over, arms reaching up to him. ‘Play now!’