Trying not to let her bother me—despite the fact I felt her eyes boring into my back as I walked up and down the rows—I found everything I needed and filled my trolley almost to the brim. My heart pitter-pattered as I approached the checkout to see another woman—early forties I’d say—with a toddler perched on her hip, talking to the shop assistant as she handed over an armful of papers.

‘I think there’ll be plenty there, but you know the drill. If you run out, just tell Bobby to give me a yell.’

As she turned to leave, she gave me a broad friendly smile. She had long, dark but slightly greying hair tied up in a ponytail, big round dark eyes and lovely dark skin to match. The child had slightly paler skin, the cutest button nose and a mop of chocolate brown curls.

‘Hello. Wow, looks like you’ve got some work ahead of you.’ She shifted the little girl on her hip as she glanced into my trolley. ‘I’m Jedda and this,’ she indicated the toddler, ‘is Bindi.’

I offered her my hand and a smile. ‘I’m Ashling. Your daughter is adorable.’

‘She’s a cheeky ratbag, that’s what she is, but I wouldn’t be without her.’ Jedda kissed Bindi on her forehead and the little girl giggled. ‘So, what brings you to our beautiful part of the world? Doesn’t look like you’re planning much of a holiday.’

I hesitated a moment—something about this woman almost had me blurting out the long story, but I swallowed my confession at the last moment. I’d come here to get away from pitying looks. ‘I’m staying at a friend of a friend’s place for the week.’

‘Oh, where?’ asked the frosty girl behind the counter as if now that Jedda had spoken to me she was willing to as well.

‘The old blue shack with the two big eucalypts out the front on the beach road.’

Her eyes pinged with recognition and she and Jedda exchanged looks. ‘Xiang’s place,’ they said in unison, and I wasn’t sure how to read their expressions.

So that was his name—Shung. I nodded.

‘Are you related to him?’ the girl asked. ‘We thought it was a myth he had any family and you don’t look Chinese.’

I shook my head—had she listened to anything I’d said so far? ‘No, my friend knows his grandson.’

‘Well, that explains all the cleaning equipment.’ Jedda nodded towards my trolley again. ‘I imagine the shack is in quite a state.’

‘I’m not sure state is the word I’d use. There was a possum in the kitchen when I arrived.’

‘Oh my God,’ shrieked the checkout operator. ‘I would’ve run out and never returned.’

‘Trust me, I was tempted.’

‘You must be a brave soul.’ Jedda chuckled as her daughter began to squirm.

‘Brave or crazy?’ I shrugged and she grinned.

‘Anyway, I’d better be getting this one home for her afternoon nap,’ she said. ‘Good luck with everything.’

Jedda plucked an A4 booklet off the pile she’d put on the checkout and handed it to me. I glanced down to read the words ‘RAGGED POINT REPORTER’ in big bold print across the top.