Within six months, they’d rented an apartment together—a calm oasis—and for the first time in her life Karen not only knew she was safe, she was loved.

But over this past week, calm had deserted Pelican House. “That was thirty-seven years ago! I’m allowed to change my mind.”

Peter poured them each a glass of mineral water and added a slice of lemon. “Why are you angrier with Nick than with Jess?”

“I’m not.”

“I think you are.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

He lifted a brow. “You’ve always had a soft spot for Jess and it makes sense. In some ways, she reminds you of Lisa and you wanted to—”

“Nonsense.” Hating her husband’s astuteness, Karen furiously whisked balsamic vinegar into olive oil. Brown flecks appeared on the countertop. “I never got the chance to know teenage Lisa.”

“Exactly. Anyway, it’s not a crime to like Jess.”

“You’re only saying that because you’re defending Nick. Jess’s crime is she broke a friendship. Nick’s broken Libby’s trust, her heart and his marriage. Not to mention the security and wellbeing of our granddaughters.”

“Jess broke Libby’s heart too.”

“It’s not the same!” Karen shoved silver servers into the salad bowl.

“From Libby’s perspective, I think it might be worse. If Nick’s to be believed, Jess orchestrated the whole thing.”

“Given their antics, I doubt either of them are a reliable source of the truth.”

“There is that.” Peter picked up the steaks for the barbecue. “But if Nick’s right, it begs the question, is Jess’s calculated betrayal worse than Nick’s stupid mistake?”

Alice pulled her knitted cap down as low as it could go without interfering with her vision and then shoved her gloved hands into the pockets of her puffer jacket. Although she’d prepared for the 3:00 a.m. chill, the cloudless autumn night had a crisp bite to it and not even brisk walking was keeping the nip away. It was the Relay for Life fundraising weekend. Kurnai Bay had managed to field six teams, including the medical practice, the parents and friends of the school and the bushwalking club. Bright white light flooded the sports ground, mimicking mid-afternoon sunshine and Alice always got a surprise when she glanced up to see a pitch black sky.

Dan van den Berg, Kurnai Bay’s outdoor education teacher, summer surfing instructor and unabashed player, passed her before swinging around to face her. His shirt declared him to be part of the bushwalkers’ team and he grinned at her, walking backwards with ease. Like Libby, Dan only ever did things with a confidence Alice envied. She’d grown up with him and although they’d never hung out in the same group at school, their parents’ friendship meant they knew bits and pieces of each other’s adult lives.