Will shook his head. ‘My mother is a card when she wants to be.’

‘You know, Will,’ Dave said, ‘I believe your life has lots of meaning. And the meaning comes through the relationships you have. With your mum, with Zara. The boys at the footy club. All of those people are going to remember you because you impacted on their life. I think you’re being very hard on yourself thinking your life doesn’t have meaning. It has, more than you know.’

Kim sat down at the kitchen table and opened a new recipe book. A smell came wafting up from underneath the table. ‘Oh yuck, Bob. I wish you’d stop doing that.’

‘He can’t help it, you know.’ Dave’s voice came from behind her.

‘You’re home early,’ Kim said, surprised. She stood up to give him a kiss.

‘I’ve got to apologise,’ he said. ‘I should have done it long before now.’

‘You did apologise. That same night we had the argument.’

‘I know, but I’m not sure I really meant it. I do now.’

Kim gave a soft laugh. ‘I don’t know if you should’ve admitted that.’ She pulled on his arm and drew him over to the couch. ‘What’s made you change your mind?’

Dave sighed. ‘I’ve been out to Rowberry Glen.’

‘Oh. Such a lot of tragedy out there,’ Kim answered, patting his thigh.

‘Absolutely. Makes me sick to the stomach. That poor family.’ He took another deep breath. ‘Will said today he felt as if his life didn’t have any meaning because he didn’t have kids or a girlfriend. And I read between the lines that he felt as if he hadn’t achieved anything. Bloody hell, he hasn’t had a lot of time either.’

‘He hasn’t.’ Kim pushed her hair back from her face. ‘What did you say to him?’

‘Well, now, here’s the funny part. I said that his life had meaning because of his relationships with other people, with his family. His relationships were his achievements.’ He didn’t say any more, just let the words hang in the air.

‘And do you think your family would say the same thing about you, Dave, if you were in the same situation?’

‘No,’ he answered honestly.

‘Do you want to fix that?’

Dave could hear the tentativeness in her voice and wondered how he could’ve let things deteriorate this much. ‘Of course I do, but I’m going to need some help.’

‘You know I’ll do anything for you, my love. All you’ve got to do is ask.’

Chapter 12

It was the end of the week when Zara finished off her opinion piece for the Farming Telegraph with Ian Wood’s comments:

‘Why the lack of investigation? Surely the drone’s appearance in the last few weeks is worthy of concern and, as farmers, we are worried that people could be using such equipment to monitor our farms. Whether it’s to check we’re using good farming methods or it’s with the intent to steal from us, or even if it’s neither of these things, they shouldn’t be allowed to fly across our land. I call on the Barker police to take notice of what is going on in their backyard and do something about it.’