Zara had wanted to turn her car around when she’d driven past Dave on the side of the road with the station wagon she’d seen near Rowberry Glen yesterday. But she couldn’t. She needed to get back out to Will as quickly as she could.

She had smiled, thinking how quickly Jack had got to work.

Her smile had faded as she’d noticed the blonde girl standing alongside two men. She’d recognised her immediately. Sophie Grawd.

The journalist in her had badly wanted to turn around to find out what was going on, but the sister in her had needed to go home.

She’d made a promise to Will and she intended to keep it.

Bumping down the driveway, she registered that James’s car was out the front of the house. She frowned, hoping that didn’t mean bad news already. She wanted—no, needed—more time with her brother!

She parked the car and sat looking at her phone. How could she find Sophie’s contact details? She hit the LinkedIn app on her phone and put in Sophie’s name.

She was the first Sophie Grawd on the list.

She was listed as a student from Victoria, with a keen interest in raising awareness about unethical treatment of animals.

Zara couldn’t believe her luck when she saw contact details listed. ‘You little ripper,’ she said, taking a screen shot and then tucking the phone in her bag.

Inside the house she found James and Lynda sitting at the kitchen table, holding hands. Her mum was crying.

‘Oh no,’ she said. ‘No.’

James stood up. ‘It’s okay, Zara, he’s still with us. But I do want to talk to you about Will’s care from now on in.’ His expression was sad and regretful, and Zara began to have an inkling of what he might say.

‘I don’t think Will’ll regain consciousness. The medication he needs to suppress the pain will stop him from waking up, and the fever hasn’t broken. The meds are keeping him comfortable and that’s our priority now. Look, I know you’ve made a promise to him that he’s able to die at home, but I think you should reconsider taking him into the hospital so we can care for him there. The nurses are skilled at palliative care and he’ll be well looked after.’

‘No,’ Lynda said emphatically. ‘We’ve talked about this, haven’t we, Zara?’ She looked towards her daughter for support. ‘Both of us promised Will two things. One, that he would be able to die at home; and two, we wouldn’t leave him alone. That’s what’s best for him and for us.’

‘Yeah,’ Zara chimed in. ‘We’ve got to keep him here, James. Surely you understand?’