He grinned back at her. ‘I’ll clear out Dad’s clutter tomorrow morning and make some space. I’m actually looking forward to sleeping in my old room again. Do you know, I even found a few of my toy cars hidden behind those cardboard boxes of medical books?’

She chuckled. ‘I suspect you’ll find a whole lot more treasure before the week is out. That room has been used as a glory hole since you went to medical school.’

He caught her hand as she prepared to go indoors. ‘Thanks for making Sandra so welcome today,’ he murmured. ‘I know she can be prickly, but she wasn’t always like that.’

Becky smiled back at him. ‘I like her,’ she said simply, ‘and I understand how very vulnerable she must be feeling right now. We might be the only family she’s got, but we’re strangers and she’s clearly out of her depth here.’

‘Yes,’ he sighed, ‘but I had to get her out of Sydney.’ He scrubbed his face with his hands. ‘She was starting to make a nuisance of herself at the surgery, coming in drunk, demanding to be taken out to lunch or driven somewhere. When she made a scene in the middle of a busy clinic, accusing me of having an affair with our practice nurse, I knew it was time to leave.’

Becky eyed her brother sharply. ‘Was there any truth in her accusations, Terry?’

He shook his head, his expression grim. ‘None whatsoever.’ His gaze met Becky’s. ‘I’m hurt you should think I’m that shallow,’ he said.

Becky took his hand. ‘I never thought you shallow,’ she replied, ‘just a man driven to the very edge of his patience. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had sought some sort of comfort elsewhere.’

‘Well, I didn’t,’ he muttered, ‘though God knows I was tempted at times. But I love Sandra – I always have – and all I want is for things to get back to how they were before Michael died.’

She heard the crack in his voice and squeezed his fingers in sympathy. ‘Mum and I’ll keep an eye on her, no worries. And when she feels ready, we’ll find her a uniform and put her back to work on the wards. She needs to be busy, and we need all the help we can get. It would be a shame to let those years of training go to waste.’

‘She was an excellent nurse,’ he agreed, ‘and as Dad will no doubt keep me on my toes, it would be good to see her back on the wards again. But don’t rush it, Becks,’ he warned softly. ‘She’s had her confidence knocked and it could be a while before she’s ready.’

He stood and embraced her. ‘Thanks, Becks,’ he murmured into her hair. ‘You’re a lifesaver.’