Family. The definition had changed quite dramatically for Nicole over the years. Growing up, the concept had been simple. Family was blood. Family was everything. When her parents died, family was Jane. Then came Mark. Her new family. A duo to protect and hold tightly to, and family became all about love and hope for the future. And then it turned to dust and Nicole stopped believing in the notion altogether. Could this be her new family?

She only hoped she had the strength to hold onto them.

There was one person missing still, though: Charlie. She would have liked him there. Maybe one day he’d feel comfortable enough to join them, just like he must have done when Ivy was around. Maybe once Nicole learned more about his history with Ivy, she’d be able to crack his defences properly. Maybe.

Laughter and chatter filled her garden, smiles filled the air. Yes, with this crew around her she would be okay. She would finish Ivy’s story. She would break down Charlie’s walls. She would figure out what her next move was. She would find a way to tell Danny the truth.

Under the table he ran his fingers along her leg, sending a shiver up her spine. She should have stopped him, but she couldn’t. She enjoyed his touch. And once she told him her secret, he may never want to touch her again. Today she would take whatever came her way.

And tomorrow she’d tell him everything.

When lunch was over, everyone made a team effort to cover up all the food and carry the containers back into the kitchen and divvy them up among the cooler bags Mandy had brought them in. Cheryl and Jim started putting the first coat on the second bedroom. Mandy had sent Jack home to finish a TAFE assignment due the next day that he hadn’t even started, and Lord help him if she got home and found he hadn’t knocked it over. Nicole was putting the second coat on the living room with Trevor and Danny and Mandy.

‘Can you hand me that cloth please, Nicole?’ asked Danny.

Nicole reached down and threw the rag to him.

‘Coming up a treat, isn’t it?’ He smiled, as he wiped some Rain Cloud from his hand. ‘We’ll be finished in no time.’

‘If you can get more paint on the walls than yourself.’ Nicole laughed.

‘Picking on the slave labour,’ he said, threatening her with his paint-soaked roller.

‘Don’t you even think about it.’ She backed up.

‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’ He winked.

Thank goodness they weren’t alone, distance a little easier to maintain.