“She wanted to move out.” Milt’s tone was gruff. “I spoke to her this morning. She had a meeting this afternoon and she was planning an early night.”

“Perhaps I should go in and see her tomorrow,” Laura said. “Mum usually calls in regularly and she’s not here.”

“It’s a pity she’s not.” Milt glanced around and lifted his glass. “Cheers,” he said. Everyone joined in, taking a sip of their chosen drink. Milt nodded. “Nat loves lots of people at her dinner table.”

“Although not someone taking over her kitchen.” Bree eyed the mess Laura had left.

“Laura’s done a great job.”

“She needs to work on keeping to one spoon and one bowl,” Kate said.

“A top chef can’t do everything, little red hen.” Laura waggled her head at her sister. Her rainbow-coloured hair was swept up in a bun tonight, and she wore a peasant-style shirt that showed off her pale, elegant neck and shoulders. She could be a model for outrageous hair but Bree didn’t say anything. Her dad seemed to have got used to the colour and she didn’t want to remind him by drawing attention to it.

Laura waved a spoon in the air and juice flicked.

“Careful,” Kate said.

“I’ll mop it up,” Laura said.

That was something Bree very much doubted.

“It’s ready now,” Laura said. “Who’s helping me dish?”

Kate stood. “I will.”

Bree was happy to leave them to it. The stitches in her leg had been removed and the doctor had declared it was healing well but tonight, after a lot more activity today than she’d done for a while, it was feeling stiff and a bit tender.

“That lamb ragu smells pretty good,” Owen said.

Bree gave him a nudge. “I love anything I don’t have to cook.”

“Are you hinting that I’ll be on cooking duties?” Owen looked like he was going to say more.

Bree cut him off. “Has anyone heard from Mum today?”

“I sent her a text a while ago.” Laura lifted the lid from the pot responsible for the delicious aroma. “She didn’t answer.”

“I’ll ring her after dinner,” Milt said. “Your nanna’s home from hospital and Aunty Bronwyn’s back so your mum will probably come home tomorrow. And you said your parents will be too, Jack?”

“Yep. Mum wanted to come home for a couple of days before she…before her treatment.”

“Yes, well, that’s good.” Milt shifted in his chair. “Good idea. Give her some space to get herself together.”

Bree decided to change the subject. “So you had a big weekend at the beach, Sean.”

Her brother-in-law grinned back at her across the table. “Just a quiet one with the boys.” He sat back as Kate slipped a plate of steaming hot ragu in front of him.