‘Those clouds are closing in. We’d better get moving so we don’t get caught.’

None of the farmers around Merrigang had mentioned the word ‘drought’ yet, but if rain didn’t fall soon, it would be a tough season ahead. He’d heard the gunshots during the night—a cull on the thousands of kangaroos that were damaging farms and grasslands, as well as the city’s nature reserves. One of his teenage patients had asked him to sign a petition against the killing of the joeys. Apparently, the babies were taken from the pouch of the dead mothers and bludgeoned to death. It was considered the most ‘humane’ way.

‘It’s funny,’ Lexie said as Tara disappeared into the distance while they forked off onto a smaller, rougher track. ‘Tara can manage not to swear in front of you for ten minutes but she still does it around the kids.’

‘That’s because she was trying to get a free consult.’ Marty didn’t add his other thought: And trying to impress me.

Bella danced along in front of them, singing a theme song he didn’t recognise. Was she watching too much TV? He should pop home for lunch again some days and check that Bella wasn’t plonked in front of the television with Lexie half unconscious on the couch next to her.

When Lexie spoke again, he assumed it would be about Tara. But it wasn’t.

‘I was thinking—’ her words were soft, tentative ‘—that we could go up for Archie’s birthday’.

Blood rushed to Marty’s head. He opened his mouth. Nothing came out. Was that why she had hugged him in front of Tara? Because she was setting him up for this?

‘We haven’t visited him for two years,’ she continued.

In England, his birthday had come and gone without much discussion. Marty should have been prepared for it this year, now they were home. But he couldn’t face returning. Not when he was so hopeful about their new life in Merrigang.

‘It’s not a good idea, sweetheart. It’ll set you right back.’

Marty touched her shoulder and Lexie jerked away from him, folding her arms across her body like a shield. Christ, he would not be made to feel guilty here. It was for the best. She needed protecting—from herself.

‘I probably can’t go anyway,’ he said. ‘I’ll be on call. Why don’t you go up by yourself? You could see your dad too. Bella can stay here with me.’

Marty knew his wife wouldn’t go anywhere without their daughter. Lexie gave no sign that she’d heard him; instead, she rushed to Bella and enveloped her in a tight cuddle.

‘Time to go home, Bella,’ Lexie said.

‘No, not yet,’ Marty fired back. ‘We’re going up the hill. Bella wants to do some exploring.’

‘It’s too steep for her.’