“Exactly! And thank God for that. Libby chose a man who loves and adores her. Alice chose a man who loves and adores himself. But it isn’t just men. You know Alice doesn’t always think things through, how she can act rashly. Remember—”

“You can’t accuse her of making any rash decisions today, otherwise she’d have accepted our invitation.” Peter patted Karen’s thigh. “How about you use this afternoon to take a break from worrying?”

Karen tried to shift the aching dread she permanently carried for her youngest daughter back into its well-worn box and concentrate on her husband’s thoughtfulness. Like Libby, Karen had chosen a kind and loving man to share her life, although she knew her decision had been far more deliberate than her daughter’s. “I’ll try.”

Peter shot her a smile. “Great. Sit back, enjoy the drive—and my surprise.”

Karen noticed that houses had given way to manna gums, which lined the sides of the road. As the car climbed, large tree ferns came into view, nestled between the tall straight trees. A jolt of anxiety lodged in her chest. “Where are we?”

But she didn’t need to ask. Despite the new signage and the fact that the police station was no longer the small clapboard building of her childhood, Karen recognized the intersection. She wondered if the people inside did a better job welcoming scared children today than they had fifty-five years ago.

“Two more miles and we’ll be there.” Peter slowed before turning right.

Karen’s mouth dried. “You’re taking me to Mt. Dandenong?”

Her snappish tone turned Peter’s smile into a perplexed frown. “You said you wanted a drive to a surprise destination and I know you’ve never been there. I’ve booked us a decadent high tea so we can indulge ourselves while we enjoy the view. I thought we could visit Rickett’s Sanctuary on the way down and you can tick it off your list.”

“It was never on my list.” Her jaw was so tight it hurt to speak. “I can’t believe you thought coming here was a good idea.”

He sighed and threw her a beseeching look. “A few weeks ago, I saw you looking at some old photos. I thought perhaps enough time had passed … Thought it might be an opportunity to remember the good times and create a new one.”

Karen laced her fingers tightly in her lap. “There were never any good times, Pete. I thought you understood that.”

He flinched at the accusation in her voice. “So that’s a no to high tea?”

“Turn around and take me to the Windsor.”

Chapter Four

February