Charlie was whining loudly, his paws scraping the windscreen, when I arrived back at the car and he didn’t stop as I drove more slowly than usual to the shack. I wasn’t sure I’d ever driven in such strong winds. My car wasn’t tiny, but it felt like it could blow right off the road at any moment. The two gum trees out the front of Xiang’s place were swaying so much I thought they might rip themselves out of the ground.

I hoped my possum would survive the storm. No doubt it would take refuge in the roof, because the trees certainly didn’t look safe anymore.

Leaving Charlie in the car again, I gave him a treat chew stick and then hurried inside with only the electrical tape Jedda had given me. Following her instructions, I carried all the loose items off the front porch, then I did the same out the back. I was in the middle of untying the hammock when I glanced out to sea and gasped at the sight of Dan in the canoe, jerking back and forth, struggling against the swell in his efforts to get back to the shore.

What the hell was he doing? Maybe I should try to help?

I immediately scoffed at the idea; my swimming skills were no match for the wild ocean right now. A few minutes later, I let out a sigh of relief as he jumped out and tugged the boat ashore. It was only when he picked up a box that I twigged. He’d been out to rescue Bill’s cat.

Catching me looking, Dan started up the sand towards the shack. Towards me. I lifted a hand to wave, even though he couldn’t wave back, and although I called out ‘Hi’, my words were carried away on the wind. He opened his mouth, but I didn’t hear a word he said either until he got much closer.

Stopping just before the porch steps, he held the shuddering box against his chest. It sounded like he carried a pack of wild animals inside. ‘I think we’ll have to take another raincheck—no pun intended—on our island visit.’

I nodded. No way in hell I was getting in that tiny canoe in this crazy weather.

‘Did you just arrive back?’

‘Yep. And this—’ I shouted above the noise of the wind, ‘was a bit of a shock. Somebody led me to believe cyclones rarely made it to the Point.’

Dan smiled sheepishly. ‘I swear I spoke the truth at the time. This is either climate change or Mother Nature making me look bad.’

‘Trust a male to blame a female when things don’t go his way.’

He laughed as another ear-piercing yowl sounded from the box. ‘Anyway, do you need any help?’

I winced. ‘Sounds like you’ve got your hands full as it is.’