No Scott. He wasn’t heading for the rear veranda.

I stood there, trembling, until another cheer from the parade ground reminded me I had cakes to slice. Strawberries to wash.

I was peeling the cling wrap off a bowl of whipped cream when the opening chords of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ signalled that the parade was at an end. The boys were marching back into the dormitory, where they would collect their bags before rushing to greet the people who’d come for them. Then everyone would descend on the food, and I would be kept very busy clearing things away.

I could probably avoid the Rooneys if I tried hard.

Retreating into the kitchen, I stacked the dishwasher and tried to work out what was going on. Somehow Joyce and Scott must have found Aaron. Had Krystal gone to jail? It was possible. Had Scott won sole custody? He must have. But why were Aaron’s ‘mother and brother’ listed as his only guests? And who had sent Aaron to Finch Island in the first place? Shaun’s notes had nominated Sue King, Aaron’s mother. Was that Krystal? Had she been worried about her son’s drug use?

And if so, why wasn’t she here now?

Maybe they’ve all patched things up, I thought. It seemed unlikely, but it was the only explanation. Maybe Aaron’s little brother was sick. Maybe Krystal—alias Sue King—had asked Joyce to fill in for her.

‘Robyn.’ Shaun’s voice made me jump. He was standing in the kitchen doorway. Behind him, the dining hall was filling up fast.

‘Oh. Hi.’ I straightened.

‘Someone wants to say hello.’ Shaun jerked his head at Clive, who beamed at me over a plate of scones, jam, cream and sandwiches.

‘Wonderful spread. You’re a marvel,’ Clive declared. ‘I was just telling Shaun—I only come here every month because of your delicious scones.’

He’d said the same thing the month before and the month before that. I smiled and thanked him, as usual.

‘Been in the wars, I hear,’ he went on, eyeing me shrewdly. ‘Bit of a tough crew this time, eh?’

I glanced at Shaun. How was I supposed to answer? But Shaun’s attention was elsewhere; Zac’s parents had approached him. All the veterans were in high demand. Looking past Shaun, I could see Warren talking to Connor’s picture-perfect family and Joe talking to the woman in the Ugg boots, who was obviously Nathan’s aunt because Nathan was with her.

‘The medical evacuation must have been bad enough. And I believe the lad who didn’t graduate made you a target,’ Clive said. I didn’t know what he needed from me and was grateful when Flynn’s father (or uncle or cousin) suddenly grabbed his arm and cried, ‘Hey, colonel! You’re a great man to come all this way for our boys!’