“We saw pictures,” Laura said as she brought more plates to the table. “It looked like there were a few others there besides the boys.”

A puzzled look crossed Sean’s face.

“Laura’s referring to the baby and the blonde. There were photos on Facebook,” Bree said.

“Oh, right. That would have been the people in the shack next door. They joined us for a barbecue one night.”

Bree saw the looks that passed between Sean and Kate as she took her place at the table. His was sheepish, hers worried.

“Be prepared, Owen.” Milt took a sip of wine. “There’s nothing private in this family.”

“It was on Facebook for everyone to see.” Laura sat on Bree’s other side.

“Bloody Facebook,” Milt growled. “As if there aren’t enough problems in the world.”

“You need to get off the ark, Dad,” Laura said. “Everyone’s on Facebook.” She looked at Bree. “Except Bree of course.”

“And me.”

They all turned to Jack.

“It’s too toxic,” he said.

Milt gave Bree then Jack an appreciative look. “Thank goodness some people have some common sense.”

Bree was happy to take his praise for a change, even if she did have to share it with Jack.

It was dark and Natalie was feeling weary by the time the tyres of her car rumbled over the familiar stock grid and she pointed the nose of the vehicle to the garage. The headlights highlighted several vehicles lined up at her back gate and further away she’d glimpsed a stock truck with the distinctive blue and red logo of her son-in-law’s family transport company.

At least Olive’s car wasn’t among them. Milt had said he’d sort the situation with Connie but Natalie didn’t like the sound of it. Connie was percolating something and it filled Natalie with unease. Not that she would expect to see her mother-in-law on a weeknight these days but she wondered who else she’d find inside.

She took care to keep hold of the door so it didn’t swing and bang as she went in. Male voices carried along the passage; a rumbling chuckle, perhaps Sean, Laura’s higher-pitched voice complaining.

“The local grapevine works fine here.” Milt’s voice rose above the others. “Your neighbours look like they’re putting a plan together to help out while your mum’s…away. If there’s anything more that we can do to help let us know, Jack.”

“People are being great.”

Natalie paused. Her heart gave an extra thud. Jack! At the sound of his voice her determination to continue on as if he didn’t exist was swept away. It was easy to ignore him when he wasn’t sitting at her kitchen table. Once again she wondered how often he’d come their way on visits she’d been unaware of.

“Dad wants to stay with her…while she’s having the treatment.”