‘Hmm.’ He glanced down at the box as if it were a bomb about to explode. ‘Perhaps you’re right. I’m going to take Lion and get him settled at my place, but I’m happy to come back and help you.’

‘What about your own house?’ I suspected Dan had rescued the cat before thinking of anything else, and even though the island wasn’t huge, that could have taken some time.

‘It’s insured. And it was only built six years ago to cyclone-level specifications. Whereas Xiang’s shack …’ He glanced up at the patchy tin roof and grimaced. ‘Was sadly not.’

This I could not dispute but, thanks to the decluttering over the past few weeks, there also wasn’t much to move inside or tie down. ‘I think I’ll be fine. I’ve only got the windows left to tape and there’s not that many.’

‘Okay then, if you’re sure.’ He tightened his hold on the box. ‘I don’t really feel good about the idea of you staying here on your own in this weather though. I’ve got plenty of beds if you and Charlie want to ride out the storm with me?’

‘Thanks for the offer,’ I said, ‘but I’m heading to Jedda’s to stay with her as soon as I’m done here.’

‘Ah right. No worries. You’ll be safe there. I’d better be getting this beast inside then.’ He shifted the box in his arms. ‘I guess I’ll see you on the other side then. Stay safe.’

‘Thanks. You too.’ I waved as he walked off towards his big glass abode. Would he be all alone there during the long hours ahead? The idea didn’t sit right with me, but it wasn’t my place to invite him to come hang at Jedda’s and surely, as a local, Dan would have plenty of people to keep him company if he wanted.

Chapter 30

30

I went back inside and taped up the windows, turned off the water, electricity and gas, and did a final check that there were no loose items lingering outside before locking up.

By the time I got back to Jedda’s, rain had come out to play with the wind, so I parked as close to Brewed Awakening as I could and then Charlie and I made a mad dash to the back door, pausing only for him to cock his leg against a tree on the way. I delivered him to Jedda and then made a couple of trips back and forth to get the candles and other supplies.

I was drenched through by the time I’d finished and Jedda handed me a towel, followed quickly by a cup of tea, which we drank sitting at the kitchen table. Bindi, blissfully unaware of the trepidation in the air, played with Charlie on the floor.