‘But I’ll get with the program. Won’t leave the thongs lying around. I’ve read The Female Eunuch.’

‘You have?’ I say.

‘I’m going to.’

‘Charlie,’ Mark says, smiling. ‘Piss off, mate.’

I slip out of bed before sunrise, careful not to wake Mark, go to my jewellery box and remove my mother’s ring. I fold my hand over it, feeling the metal warm instantly. I tiptoe to the kitchen and open the sliding door as quietly as I can, slowly, releasing my held breath once I’m outside.

The possums quit their carry-on and scuttle up the trees when they register my presence. I see their eyes glinting, watching me. A tawny frogmouth issues a gentle ‘hoom’. A full moon shines on glossy monstera leaves. The grass is cool and tickly underfoot. Woof plods outside to greet me, wagging slowly, glad of company so early in the morning.

I hold the ring up to the moon, so the light can shine through the ruby. The gem is the colour of claret, deep and rich, but when the light strikes it the colour lifts and brightens. It’s beautiful. I understand why Mum treasured it so much.

Woof rests against me as he sits. I bend down to stroke his back, letting my other hand cradle the ring. As the night-time animals prepare to sleep, and the sky begins to lighten, Mark’s question repeats in my ears: What is it that I want? What is it that I need to do?

CHAPTER THIRTY

Tuesday 4 March 1975

Abby

‘I have to go to the farm,’ Charlie says.

‘Why would he let you in if he won’t even talk on the phone?’ I ask.

‘I don’t know. Gives him the chance to thump me again.’ Charlie sits on the couch, smoking, while I fold laundry on the coffee table. A breeze comes in through the open veranda doors.

‘Your kookaburra is here,’ I say, nodding my head at the bird sitting on the railing, waiting patiently for its daily meat scraps.

‘Not mine,’ Charlie says, then follows me into the kitchen and continues speaking while I tear strips of cold ham onto a paper towel to give to the bird. ‘I’ll yell at Dad through the windows until he listens. As soon as he knows Beau is here I guarantee he’ll talk to me.’

I walk back to the veranda and place the ham a respectful distance from the bird, who once again hops backwards on the railing in anticipation of trouble. Dad did want Beau out of the commune and in my home, but I’m not sure he still regards this as a safe haven, now that he’s decided his children are murderous and deceitful. He’s always respected Mark but he’s hanging up on him, too. ‘It’s a risk, Charlie. You could drive all the way there, get shouted at, and then have to drive all the way back.’

‘Wouldn’t be the worst day of my life if that’s how it panned out. And one way or another, at least he’ll know Beau is here.’