She pulled up at the preschool just as the staff began releasing the little ones onto the playground, braids flying. Nicole ran to her waving a painting in garish reds and blues, daubed so thickly the paint was still wet and lumpy. Val swept her up and hugged her tight, feeling her daughter’s ribs through the cotton T-shirt, smelling the sweet scent of her hair, not caring that she got paint on her blouse. The primal love she felt for this little person was so overwhelming that it made her want to cry out with joy.

Chapter 10

Sydney, November 1973

I’M AFRAID I’M CALLING WITH BAD NEWS,” A WOMAN’S voice said down the line, and Val’s heart gave a lurch. Was it Nicole? Had there been an accident at preschool? Please, not her.

“Your father died in the early hours of the morning,” the woman continued. “He had a cold that went to his chest, and he simply stopped breathing during the night. He won’t have felt a thing. I’m sorry we couldn’t alert you so you could be with him at the end.”

“No worries,” Val said quickly. “I’m glad it was peaceful.” These were just words, the kind of thing you were supposed to say. In truth, she felt only relief that the phone call wasn’t about Nicole.

“Will you come and collect his belongings? There are various formalities, and the funeral to arrange. We can advise you.”

“Of course,” Val agreed. “Thank you.” As soon as she hung up, she rang Tony at the office. He would know what to do.

“Does he still have that big house in Bondi?” Tony asked. “He must do. And you’re the sole heir, right?”

“I suppose so. I don’t know what he’s been doing since I left home, but I’m pretty sure he won’t have remarried. Who would have him?”

“Give me the address and I’ll drop in at the nursing home after work to pick up any paperwork,” he volunteered. “You don’t want to be bothered at a time like this.”

From anyone else she might have thought it a kind gesture, but she knew Tony’s motive was greed, pure and simple. He would probably be on the phone to an estate agent to find out what the house was worth as soon as she got off the line.

Suddenly she panicked that the nursing home would let slip she had visited her dad a few weeks earlier. That was the kind of thing that would make Tony fly off the handle. She picked up the phone to call and beg them not to mention it.

* * *