When the kids were little, Adrian and I had been on the same page about me staying at home. We’d agreed I’d get work when they got older, but the time had gone so quickly and there’d never been any urgent need until now. I’d always assumed Adrian and the podiatry clinic would support us and me being at home had been convenient because it meant I could help out there whenever needed, but now I could clearly see how naive I’d been.

It was time to stop relying on Adrian—even if I did manage to win him back—and think about looking for work.

Although the prospect was a little terrifying, I tried not to focus on the reason why I needed to get a job and instead started thinking about the kind of work I might get while mentally rewriting my resume. It would be severely lacking in paid work, but hopefully my involvement on school committees, my relief days at the clinic and the wisdom of age would have some credence.

By the time I got to Perth, I actually felt energised at the thought of entering the workforce again. I whipped around the supermarket in record time, buying enough for tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s school lunches, and pulled into Payton’s school just as the siren was going.

‘How was your holiday?’ she asked as I met her outside her classroom.

‘It wasn’t a holiday—just someplace to stay while Dad was with you guys,’ I told her, pulling her in for a quick hug. ‘But it was quite good. The shack I stayed in was horrific, but you’d have loved my furry intruder.’

‘What intruder?’

Heading for the car, I told her about the possum and relished the sound of her laughter when I got to the bits about it eating on the table and spilling the milk. It was so good to be with my girl again and this feeling made me more determined to make progress with the counsellor this week. The four of us being apart had to end. Soon.

‘Can you take me to Ragged Point?’ Payton asked.

‘Well, I don’t know when I’ll go back again but maybe we can visit Jedda next summer,’ I suggested.

‘Sounds good,’ she said as we pulled up at the house.

The moment I stepped inside, Charlie jumped up at me, making me drop two shopping bags on the floor, and didn’t even calm down after his usual minute of craziness.

‘Did anyone walk Charlie while I was away?’ I asked as Payton yanked open the pantry. The dog was still leaping up at me, almost managing to lick my face.

‘Nope. I told Dad we need to walk him, but he wouldn’t let me go by myself. He said Charlie’s too old to need daily walking anymore.’