‘Thanks, but I’m not staying. I was just hoping to grab a takeaway coffee for my trip back to Perth.’

‘I thought you were here for a week?’

‘Change of plans.’

‘Say no more. Now, how do you like your coffee?’

‘Skinny flat white, no sugar.’ Of course, I really wanted full-cream milk and two sugars but … adjustments needed to be made. ‘And a muffin, please.’ I wanted to save my calories for that!

‘No worries, coming right up.’ After placing the final chair onto the floor, Jedda went behind the counter and began to work the coffee machine.

‘What’s that island just offshore?’ I asked as she grabbed a takeaway cup from a stack next to the machine.

‘You mean Bill’s Island?’ It was a rhetorical question. ‘At least that’s what locals call it these days. It was uninhabitable until he decided to live there and started clearing the land, building himself a place to live. He’s a bit of a local—’

Jedda’s words were cut off at the sound of a loud cry. I followed the noise to see a baby monitor on the counter behind her.

‘That’s my girl waking up. Do you mind waiting a minute for your coffee? I’ll be right back.’

‘No, of course not,’ I said, realising Jedda and her daughter must live behind the cafe. I noticed the playpen set up in the corner not far from the counter, filled with books and baby toys. I wondered how she managed a business, a baby and publishing the local paper. I’d flicked through the Reporter in bed last night and it was much more professional than I’d expected. Also, there appeared to be lots more happening in Ragged Point than I’d ever have predicted. They had sports teams that played against nearby towns, a number of other groups who’d written up their news in the ‘Clubs’ Column’ and a regular movie night at the town hall.

Less than two minutes later, Jedda returned with a sleepy Bindi. Her dark curls were flat on one side of her head, which she rested on her mum’s shoulder as she eyed me warily. She wore a cute spotted jumpsuit and sucked on a blue dummy in a way that reminded me of Maggie Simpson.

‘Say good morning to Ashling,’ Jedda said, shifting the toddler on her hip. Bindi buried her head into her mother’s chest.

I smiled. ‘It’s okay. My children were the same at that age when they’d just woken up.’

‘How many you got?’

‘Two. A boy and a girl. They’re with their dad this week.’ A lump swelled in my throat. It was the first time I’d volunteered information about our new situation to anyone and the moment the words were out, I wanted to take them back.

Jedda gave me a sympathetic smile. ‘Well, let’s see if this little one will go in the playpen long enough for me to make you a coffee.’

However, the moment she tried to lower Bindi to the floor, the tiny girl squealed and kicked her legs. ‘Sorry,’ Jedda said, scooping her back up. ‘I’ll get her a bottle and then hopefully she’ll let me go long enough to make your drink. Usually someone else is here with me at this time, but my morning shift called in sick and her replacement can’t get here for another half an hour. I’m a bit short-staffed at the moment.’