I loved that even though Dan was going through some pretty heavy stuff himself, he could still joke. Maybe the bonfire would also help distract him from his own woes.

We made arrangements to meet on the beach tomorrow afternoon and then I headed into the cafe. It was empty except for a couple of older women sitting at one of the tables, nattering over scones and tea.

‘Who was that man?’ Payton asked me accusingly. She was sitting in the playpen in the corner with Bindi. ‘Is he your boyfriend?’

‘What? No!’ I felt my cheeks flare and turned my attention to Bindi, who giggled as she knocked over Payton’s block tower. ‘Hello, my sweet, fancy a paddle in the sea?’

Jedda groaned from where she was wiping down the counter and I abandoned the girls and went across to say hello. ‘Busy day?’

She shrugged. ‘Not too bad for a Tuesday. Are you still okay to work next Wednesday and Thursday?’

‘Of course,’ I said, knowing she was taking Bindi to Perth for an appointment.

Jedda smiled. ‘Great, thanks. Can I get you a coffee?’

‘Yes, please. I’m not sure I’ve ever needed one more.’

‘Tough day, hey?’ she said as she started working the coffee machine.

‘You have no idea.’ And I was quite prepared to tell her—Lord knew I needed to vent and perhaps get some unemotional advice about how to deal with Saxon going forward—but she lowered her voice and asked another question instead.

‘Who did Payton think your boyfriend was?’

‘Just Dan.’

Jedda’s eyebrows crept upwards.

‘What?’

‘Rumour has it you’ve been spending quite a bit of time with dear Daniel.’

‘I … I … what?’

‘Apparently you went to his place last Saturday night with a bottle of wine. No one saw you return to the shack.’

At the expression on my face, Jedda laughed—it was more like a cackle. ‘Oh girlfriend, haven’t you learnt that nothing goes unnoticed in a small town.’

‘Mrs Fine,’ I said with a sigh.

Jedda nodded. ‘Never mind about that old busybody, I’m more concerned about the fact you didn’t mention this date to me. I thought we were friends.’

‘We are. And it wasn’t a date. I returned, but Audrey was probably in bed by the time I did. There isn’t anything to tell. We got together to plan a fundraiser for the island, that’s all.’

Jedda passed me my coffee. ‘So, what did you decide?’

‘Um …’ I swallowed. ‘We didn’t actually get around to talking about that.’

She gave me a look. ‘What exactly did you get up to?’

‘We just talked. It was nice. He’s been through a divorce—he understands how I’m feeling. We’re just friends.’