Elaine, Tilly knew, had served her husband faithfully and submissively for nearly thirty years, so surely she was due a break. A week or ten days in respite care shouldn’t be too much to ask of a man who, according to her mother’s rambling accounts of her daily life, couldn’t even recognise his wife half the time. She could travel by bus if the airfare proved too expensive, and either be met, or catch the mail plane out to Binboona; Tilly herself could help with that fare. It would be a well-deserved break for Elaine, while to have days of her mother’s company would be an unalloyed treat for Tilly. Except when he was at sea, the shadow of her stepfather had always come between mother and daughter; not exactly threatening, Tilly mused now, but crowding the edges of their intimacy until his presence subtly succeeded in separating them. This unacknowledged silent pressure had, she realised, been mainly responsible for her leaving home when she did.

Then there was Jane’s upcoming visit to factor in. There was only the one spare room, but Luke had said she would only stay a week, so her mother could come immediately after. She might even cook for them. Tilly smiled at the thought; her mother certainly wouldn’t care to eat anything that Luke, Matt or Sophie could produce. She found herself keenly anticipating Elaine’s arrival, momentarily forgetting that so far the idea lived only in her head and that both Sophie and Elaine would have to agree to make it happen.

Connor arrived in the early afternoon, pulling up at the shed and walking across to find Tilly busy in the vegie patch.

‘Just coming,’ she called, without looking round. She smeared a gloved hand across her hot brow and rose saying, ‘Welcome to Binboona. It’s only – Oh.’ Looking up, she saw him and gave a little laugh. ‘Connor. Sorry, thought you were another tourist. What can I do for you?’

‘Luke said you’d pulled kitchen duties,’ he answered, ‘for the duration of your guest’s visit, I gather. I just thought I’d drop by on my way through.’

‘You’re leaving us?’ Tilly was surprised at the intensity of her disappointment.

‘Overnight trip, that’s all. I need a word with my man at Spadgers Creek.’

‘I see.’ Tilly remembered then and enquired somewhat guiltily, ‘Have you seen Sophie today?’

‘Yep. She’s not best pleased with me,’ he said ruefully. ‘Words like deceit and weasel spring to mind.’

‘I’m sorry, but I had to tell her. Oh, you don’t know the latest, do you?’ She stripped off her gloves. ‘Come in, and I’ll put the kettle on and tell you all about it. You’ll see then why I had to give you away.’