Nick visibly relaxed. “What did you have in mind?”

“A three-day cruiser hire.”

“Why not a yacht?”

“People feel safer on a motor boat.”

The sailor looked baffled by the statement. “Let’s give them the choice. Just make it clear the hire has to be taken between March and November but excludes Easter.”

“Great!” She beamed at him. “Thanks, Nick.”

“Too easy.” He poured them both a second cup of tea and cut himself another slice of cake. “When the girls were younger, I used to take them to the toy library on Saturday mornings when Libs was at work. They loved all the big toys, like that huge molded plastic garden and the red car.”

“Leo loves that garden! He’s fascinated by the flowers and the butterfly.”

“I bet he loves the mail box.”

“So much. I gave him all my loyalty cards from the stores I can no longer afford to shop at. He uses them as letters and it’s so cute! I took a video.”

Jess pushed her phone toward Nick. Her heart turned over at her son’s squeals of delight when he’d opened the mail box and found all the cards waiting for him.

Nick laughed. “And rinse and repeat, again and again. The girls do that. Guess it’s how kids learn.”

“I’m not complaining. It kept him occupied and happy for half an hour. No one tells you how your life changes once they start walking.”

Nick grimaced. “Libby mentioned it. I know I did.”

She let his comment go, not wanting to revisit the time she’d told Libby she was going ahead with assisted reproduction to create a child and raise it on her own. It was the only time in their long years of friendship that they’d endured a period of strained coolness. She’d hated it.

“Mom-mom!” Leo’s cries broke the silence.

Jess sighed. “How can he sleep through the noise of the storm and wake up when it stops?” She pushed back her chair and walked into her son’s room. “Nigh-nighs time,” she whispered, laying him down and stroking his hair.

But Leo was having none of it. He struggled out from under the covers and stood, stretching his arms to be picked up. “Waa-waa,” he demanded.

“Okay. A quick drink and then back to sleep.”

As she carried him into the kitchen, Leo snuggled into her shoulder but the moment he saw Nick, his head shot up. “Ick!”

“G’day, mate. You should be asleep.” Nick looked at Jess. “The causeway’s open again so I’ll get going.”

“Ick!” Tears filled Leo’s eyes as Nick walked away. “Deer!”

“Deer?” Jess had no idea what Leo was talking about.

“Reindeer.” Nick fished his key fob out of his pocket. “It’s a bouncing game I play with the kids when you and Libby are having a wine and a whine. You should do it with him. He loves it.”

“Why don’t you come over tomorrow and show me?”