Chapters (48)
- Cover
- Praise
- About the Author
- Also by Tricia Stringer
- Title Page
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgements
- Excerpt
- One
Her parents had loved Tony. She hadn’t realised they still did until her recent trip to Victor. He’d been the son they’d never had and they’d been devastated when she’d come home for a visit and broken it off with him. She’d felt terrible, of course. Tony hadn’t taken it well either but she’d known she and Milt were meant for each other and less than a year later they were married. She rolled on her side, curled into a ball. Life together had been wonderful until the babies. Not that she blamed her girls. She loved them more than life itself, but when they were born it had been different. She’d been depressed, she knew that now, and a part of her had blamed herself when Milt had strayed.
She put one hand to her head and gripped it tightly. Coming here had not helped. There were other tourists here but she still wasn’t sure she was welcome. Gabe hadn’t said how long he was staying. She wondered how quickly she could get a ride back to Broome. She could book those tours she’d liked the look of, be with other people and keep herself so busy for a few more days she would be too tired to think about home.
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Two
Natalie awoke in a dark room. She squinted at her surroundings until her brain cleared and then remembered where she was. She found her phone and looked at the time. It was six-thirty already and Gabe had said he’d call by at seven. She flicked on the light and dressed while she waited for the kettle to boil. Once more, nervous energy coursed through her. At some point before sleep had claimed her she’d determined to go on the kayak trip but now she worried how she’d manage. She had little experience on the water other than swimming and going for the occasional boat ride with friends when they stayed at the beach over summer. Sitting low in the water in a kayak was a totally different thing.
By the time she heard a vehicle coming down the track she’d drunk her coffee and eaten a banana, smothered herself in sunscreen and put shorts and t-shirt on over bathers. Gabe was in a different vehicle. This one had a roof rack and two kayaks strapped to the top. A young man sat beside him; there was a sullen slump to his shoulders and he didn’t look Natalie’s way but in contrast a woman smiled and waved at her from the back passenger seat.
“Ready to go?” Gabe called. “Charlie and Aunty Rosie are coming with us.”
Natalie climbed into the back seat and the smiling woman extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Natalie. I’m Rosie.”
She squeezed Natalie’s hand. Her touch was gentle and warm like her smile and Natalie relaxed.