‘I hope it’s not too cold,’ I said as she shut the door.

The rest of us headed into the other bedroom. Saxon dumped his laptop and bag on the bed, then told us he was tired and needed a lie-down.

‘Are you okay?’ I asked, reaching out to feel his forehead.

He shrugged me off. ‘Fine. Just want to rest.’

I tried not to feel hurt—we used to be so close—and told myself that he’d had a busy first term at school and was likely exhausted. Hopefully this week by the sea would be the break he clearly needed and also give us a chance to reconnect.

‘Okay. But do you want some lunch first? I’ve made pumpkin soup and some fresh home-baked rolls.’

‘Not hungry.’ Sax climbed into bed. ‘Maybe I’ll have something later.’

I wanted to object, to say he should eat with us—he might feel better after he’d had a good meal—but I didn’t want to risk another confrontation in front of Wei. ‘All right. Let me know if you need anything and maybe you can come for a walk with us later?’

He made a non-committal noise and rolled over, pulling the doona on top of him.

Hayley and I exchanged a look as we left his room. I closed the door, waited until we were in the kitchen and then said in a hushed voice, ‘Was he all right in the car? He seems a little off.’

‘He was fine,’ Hayley said, lifting the lid on the saucepan of soup and leaning close to sniff it. ‘Yum.’

‘He was on his phone most of the time,’ Wei added, ‘but I think that’s pretty normal for a teenager, isn’t it?’

You’d know, you’re not much older than one yourself.

Thankfully, I had enough restraint and sense not to voice my narky thought. Hayley and Wei had done me a favour driving the kids up, but already nothing else felt as if it was going as planned.

Hayley squeezed my shoulder. ‘Try not to stress. He’s a good kid.’

‘Did you hear the way he was talking to us? And that language?’

She actually smiled. ‘I’m sure I said much worse to my parents.’

I couldn’t believe that—she forgot I knew her parents and I reckon Glennis would have washed Hayley’s mouth out with soap if she’d dared to try anything like Saxon just did.

‘Saxon’s behaviour is totally normal,’ she added. ‘He loves you, but he’s got all these adolescent hormones wreaking havoc on his emotions and of course he’s going to take that out on those closest to him.’

I sighed. ‘I guess. That, on top of the fact we’ve just dumped news of the divorce on him. You’re right. Maybe I need to be more patient, more understanding.’

‘Good idea. But first food. I’m starving.’