One of his long arms trailed from the side of the wicker lounge onto the floorboards, and one foot was raised at the other end. Both her boys were almost as tall as their father, but Alan had been shooting up even more these past few months.

His face was buried in the pillow, and his back heaved up and down with the deep breaths of heavy sleep. A trail of sheets and clothing ran from Tony’s room through to the verandah, so Beck started picking things up.

Straightening bed linen by herself at the far end of a farmhouse in the early golden light reminded her of the quiet times over at The Mulgas. If she didn’t disturb the sound of innocent breakfast coming from the kitchen, then nothing could be wrong.

Daniel inhaled the welcome scent of the coffees Doris put down in front of him and Bill at the kitchen table.

‘Why the Gold Coast?’ she asked.

‘Well, that’s where Tony and Leanne have gone,’ Daniel said, slurping at his cup.

Doris reached for the kettle to make herself another pot of tea. ‘But you don’t know for sure it’s him.’

‘Nine times out of ten, these things are right. Tony’s gone over to the coast, and Jamie would’ve known about that,’ Daniel said.

‘Yeah, I suppose,’ Bill said vacantly.

Doris was fussing around at the fridge as per usual, like she didn’t want to turn around and reveal a hint of anything in her face.

‘What do you reckon, Doris?’ Daniel asked.

She took her time, shrugged as she crossed back to the table, and retreated to the bloody fridge again.

‘We all spoke about it, of course,’ she said. ‘Everyone goes to the Gold Coast for their honeymoon, or Norfolk Island.’

‘Know where they’re staying?’ Daniel asked.

She slammed the fridge.

‘Where’s that flyer love?’ Bill offered.

‘What flyer?’

‘We had a flyer around, of the hotel where they’re staying,’ Bill said.

‘I’d hate to bother them with any of this,’ Doris said, fast and high. ‘We weren’t planning on dropping in on the newlyweds, or writing them a letter, you know?’

‘I reckon the best thing is to get over there,’ Daniel said. ‘We don’t want to scare him off, if it is him. Kids can sometimes...’ he looked at his niece reading on the terrace and dropped his voice. ‘Well, they can keep going, if you don’t bother going to get them.’

‘Don’t be surprised if Rebecca’s not how you might expect,’ Doris said.

Daniel noted the hint of unkindness. Something had happened overnight, but it could wait. ‘Would you look after Alan, if I get her to come with me today?’

‘Of course,’ Doris said.