‘Hey, bro.’ Poddy slapped Zac on the shoulder and Ava winced at the solid blow. Lucky it was his good side, though the idea of knocking some memory into Zac was beginning to appeal. She sighed inwardly – she really did need a timeout.

‘We gonna tie a bit on and sink a few beers?’ Poddy’s jovial greeting made Ava smile and almost wish she was going with them now. She probably needed that sort of recreation more than Zac.

‘Sounds good.’ Zac stood. ‘I’ll keep in mind the recent head injury.’ He said this with a smile at Ava and one last glance towards her. ‘Sure you don’t want to come?’

‘Can’t.’ She kept it short.

Poddy cast her a searching look. Ava knew Hana had told him her problem with Zac. ‘I’ll teach him what I’ve learned with the didgeridoo. Should be a laugh.’ Poddy was notoriously bad at the didgeridoo.

‘Sorry I’ll miss it.’ Ava could smile at that.

‘Liar.’ Poddy grinned at her and she thought again how lucky they all were to have him in their lives. ‘Come on then, Doc.’

When she’d waved them off, she went back inside where her mother and Lorenzo stood quite close to each other as they looked out the window towards the river. Cups and saucers were set out on the low table. Formal supper in the sitting room?

Stella directed Lorenzo to the large chair, and she sat and patted the couch beside her for Ava.

‘You look less pale but more worn out,’ her mother said with a hint of worry in her voice, and Ava straightened her shoulders. She was fine. Her mother looked so much better now than she had when Ava had first come home. At least someone’s love life was being sorted out.

There was no doubt Lorenzo appeared happy too. He said, ‘I am sorry your Zac still has no memory.’

And now everyone was feeling sorry for her. Better and better. Not. ‘Thank you.’

When his gaze moved to her mother, Lorenzo’s admiration for Stella shone for a moment and then was hidden. Ava wondered when he’d first realised her mum was for him. She couldn’t help a trickle of self-pity when she thought of what it would mean to have Zac look at her in such a way again.

Granny Mim returned with a pot of tea and Lorenzo jumped up to take it and set it down for her. Mim took a seat and Stella leaned forward to pour the tea when the four of them were settled. Small sections of a slice were arranged on a plate, so ordinary and pleasant, yet her world had been shaken and stirred like a bloody mary cocktail.

To add to the surreal environment of normality, her mother said, ‘Lorenzo and I went for a walk. He’s very impressed with your cottages, Mother.’