A wave of melancholy drifted over Nicole as she listened to the gentle chatter. Finally she felt these people were becoming genuine friends, but with each renovation task completed, Nicole inched closer to the cottage being finished. Closer to her lease ending. And then what?

After they finished dessert, Trevor helped Jack put away the gardening gear, and Mandy packed the dishes she’d brought with her in their car.

Danny pulled a small parcel out from under his coat as he slipped it on. ‘I thought you might like this.’ He handed her the gift.

‘What’s this for?’

Danny shrugged. ‘Just because. A little something to help you fill those shelves now the fireplace is finished. But you can’t open it yet.’

‘Why not?’ Nicole frowned.

‘It needs to be opened at just the right time.’

‘Oh?’ Nicole raised an eyebrow. ‘And when will that be?’

Danny winked. ‘You’ll know.’

Nicole stood on the verandah watching her guests leave. Trevor and Mandy hand in hand, Danny with his arm round a squirming Jack’s shoulder. They were a picture-perfect family. Nicole sighed.

November, Last Year

Sunday passed in a blur of breakfast in bed, pyjamas, hot chocolates in bed, black and white movies, and laying in each other’s arms. Monday morning saw Mark head to the office early, and then every night that week he was late home. It should have been an opportunity for Nicky to write, but no words came, loneliness consuming her a little more each night.

On Friday morning she cooked Mark bacon and eggs for breakfast. He came out of the bedroom and smiled. ‘Smells delicious. But I’ll have to take a raincheck. Got an early meeting.’

He left the apartment without saying goodbye.

Nicky refused to be stuck home alone so took herself around the boutiques a couple of blocks away. Not that she would buy anything. Not that she could.

She stopped in front of a new pop-up shop with baby clothes hanging from a miniature aqua clothesline in the window. Sorrow swelled within her.

She’d tried to push her desire for children from her heart. She really had. But the pain was still inside her, eating away at her.

She put her hand up to the window, imagining how soft the lemon and grey onesie would be to touch. A wave of sorrow hit her, swelling though every inch of her. She struggled for breath.

A woman in the shop turned to look at a cot and Nicole recognised her profile. There was Jane, heavily pregnant, picking out nursery furniture.

Nicky spun around and ran off down the street as rain started to fall.

Back in the safety of the apartment, she crawled under the covers of her doona. Complete and utter sadness consumed her. Anger, regret, confusion swirled inside her and she clasped the side of her head with both hands, silently screaming in her mind.

A deep breath.

Another.