She skipped down a few lines and stopped at another sentence. It is the model wife’s responsibility to provide her husband a happy home… the single spot of rest which a man has upon this earth for the cultivation of his noblest sensibilities. Hell, she’d done that and what had it all been for? Where was her happy home now? She slapped the stupid book shut. Why was she torturing herself with it again?

There was a tap on her door. She jumped, shoved the little book between the others she’d bought at the second-hand stall and opened the door.

Bazz stood on her balcony, highlighted by the glow of the fading sun behind him. His smile was wide. “Hello, lovely lady. Have you finished what you hurried off to do?”

“Yes…well…no…” A shiver prickled down her back. “How did you know I was here?”

“You came here after you left the pool.” He stepped closer and glanced over her shoulder. “All alone? I thought perhaps you’d like to join me for a pre-dinner drink.”

“I…” She stood taller and put the edge of the door between them. “I’m getting ready for dinner, meeting friends.”

“Perhaps after dinner then? A nightcap?”

Natalie found it hard to drag her gaze from the moustache that looked like it had been pasted on above his lip. It was what her girls would deem ‘porn star’. Another shiver rippled down her spine.

“No, thank you.” She began to push the door.

“Tomorrow perhaps?” he asked.

“I’m leaving,” she said and shut the door firmly, her heart making a loud thud in her chest.

She pressed her fingers to her lips and listened as his footsteps retreated across the wooden deck of the verandah. The persistence of the man was incredible, she’d give him that much, but never in a million years would she have a drink or anything else with him. She turned to her case and began to pack with renewed fervour. She’d had a wonderful interlude here at Cable Beach but with Faye and Dot gone and strange men making advances, the shine had gone from her stay.

Laura heard her dad come into the kitchen behind her. When she turned he was staring at the table, a puzzled expression on his face.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“Who’s the extra for?”

He waved a hand over the table she’d just set with five placemats.

“Granny.”

He frowned.

“It’s Saturday night and I’m cooking pork roast.”

“I didn’t think she was coming?”

“Who?” Bree asked as she joined them.

“Granny.” Laura and Milt spoke at once. His tone was a little sharp.

“Why wouldn’t she be coming?” Bree said as she took a beer from the fridge and passed it to her dad before getting one for herself. “It’s Granny Pork Roast night, isn’t it?”

Kate walked through the door yawning.