‘Dad.’ I hug him again, gently this time. ‘Your beard is gone.’ I point to his face, now completely clean shaven. So different.

‘I know. I can’t walk around with half a beard, now can I?’ he says, scratching his bare chin, seemingly mourning the loss. ‘Come take a seat; there’s something I want to talk to you about.’

I sit on the couch, and he pulls up a kitchen chair and faces me, his back to the fire.

‘Sky …’ His voice is tentative.

‘Yes?’

‘I want to tell you something. So …’

I wait as he fiddles with the corner of his bandage, under his jawbone.

‘I was suspended from my job.’ He puts his hand down to his side. ‘Three months without pay and then I could go back on probation. And, honestly, at first it was a real shock. Ralph had more sway than I knew …’

‘Oh no,’ I say, feeling a terrible rush of guilt. Suspended, I can’t believe it, I thought he said he was sure he wouldn’t get in trouble. Now, I’ve ruined his life. Is he angry at me? ‘I’m really sorry, honestly, I didn’t mean to—’

‘No apology needed,’ he interrupts. ‘I found out the day before yesterday, before the accident. And lying in a hospital bed gave me plenty of time to think. About you. And about my future.’ He rubs his neck. ‘You want to get to know each other better, right?’

‘Of course,’ I say. Our time together has felt rushed, and the end of this trip premature. But school’s starting next week and I can’t miss the start of the year.

‘I’m glad to hear that. Hold on.’ He stands. ‘Let me get my parents for this. Mom?’ He takes a few steps towards the kitchen before walking to the bottom of the stairs. ‘Dad?’ he shouts. ‘Can you come down for a moment? I have some news.’

This is freaking me out. What’s this leading up to? My heart’s pounding.

My grandparents join me on the couch so we’re in a line, sitting quietly like schoolkids outside the principal’s office.

‘I just told Sky I was suspended,’ my dad says.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ Mike says.

‘I’m really sorry,’ I say again, looking between my grandfather and grandmother.

‘You could move back to Chicago?’ Miriam says, sounding hopeful. ‘I’ve been waiting for you to come back.’

‘Mom. Dad,’ my father says. ‘Thanks for your input, but I know what I’m doing.’

I try to resist biting my fingernails.

‘And that is?’ my grandfather asks.

‘Going to Australia.’

My eyes open wide and my mouth is gaping.

‘Tomorrow,’ he continues. ‘On the same flight as Sky and Melody.’ His eyes are sparkling like sunlight on ice. ‘How would you feel about that, Sky?’