Cat totters over slab paving, then throws herself into Michael’s arms. ‘Hey Micky Ray. It’s good to see you. Another year, another anniversary. And both of us still alive. The helicopter was great. Loved it. Felt like royalty. I’m still the only guest you do that for, right?’

‘You’re the only one,’ says Michael. ‘I know you too well, Cat. You can’t arrive without making an entrance. Can I get you something to drink?’

Cat extracts herself from the hug. ‘Got any green tea?’

‘Green tea?’ Michael laughs. ‘How times change.’

‘Buddha happened. Namaste.’ She puts her hands together and bows.

‘Diane, do we have any green tea?’ Michael asks.

‘I’ll take a look,’ says Diane stiffly.

‘HEY!’ Cat grabs Diane’s wrist and pulls her into an awkward hug. ‘Hello, hello, hello. DIANE. Sorry. Forgot you again, didn’t I? How are you doing?’

Diane manages a soft smile. ‘It’s okay. People always forget me when Michael’s around.’

Cat releases Diane, then notices me then. ‘Who’s this?’ She stares. ‘Jesus, you look … just like Michael.’

‘She’s a long-lost relative,’ says Michael, beaming. ‘A niece.’ He puts an arm around my shoulder. ‘This is young Liberty. It was a surprise, her turning up out of the blue. But I’m glad she’s here today.’

Cat’s big blue eyes widen even further. ‘A niece? I thought none of your brothers had kids.’

‘Like I say. Liberty here was a surprise.’

Cat blinks. ‘Okay. I get it. None of my business. Right?’

Michael claps her on the back. ‘Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.’

Cat looks me over, her eyes loose and worried. ‘How old are you?’

‘Sixteen.’

‘Come on, Cat Cannon,’ says Michael. ‘Let’s go mingle. The party’s about to get started.’

‘Of course the party’s starting, Michael,’ says Cat. ‘I just got here.’ She turns to look back at me. ‘Sixteen, huh? That’s a hell of an age.’

Michael laughs. ‘It certainly is.’

Lorna

The international dialling tone rings like a distress signal.

‘Boooooop. Boooop. Heeeeelp. Heeeeeelp.’

Come on Dee. Pick up. Pick up …

I know she will. She always picks up for me.

There’s a click as the line connects. ‘Lorna?’

Hearing Dee’s voice floods me with relief. My warm, loving big sister. The only constant, my whole life. The one I can always rely on.

‘What’s up?’ Dee asks. ‘I’m on my way to work.’

I start crying like an idiot. ‘Liberty,’ I jabber. ‘She’s found out who her father is. She’s gone, Dee.’

A pause.

‘Okay. I’ll be on the next flight out.’

Liberty

I know this party isn’t a real music festival. But I’m pretending like it is.