“And this bundle of laughs is Charlie.” Rosie gave the lad in front of her a gentle poke. He half turned to Natalie, nodded, but didn’t make eye contact.

“Did you sleep all right in that room?” Rosie asked. “Sometimes it can get a bit hot.”

“The bed was very comfortable and the fan was enough to keep me cool.” When Natalie had finally fallen asleep it had been deep and restful.

“I hope you don’t mind us tagging along,” Rosie said as they bumped forward along the track. “I haven’t been out in the kayak for ages and Charlie wants to give it a go.”

Charlie said nothing to confirm or deny this statement.

“I’ve never been.”

“You’ll love it.”

Leaving the red dirt behind, they ploughed up the first of the sandhills Natalie had struggled to walk up the previous afternoon. At the top she got another tantalising glimpse of the water in the distance.

“I started walking to the beach yesterday,” she said.

“It’s a bit of a hike,” Gabe said.

“One kilometre it says on the brochure.”

“Hmm.” He scratched at the stubble on his chin, not so neatly clipped today. “That might be right.”

Rosie chuckled. It was a warm friendly sound. “But it’s through sandhills. Hard enough in a vehicle. We can go that way when we come back, can’t we, Gabe? Show Natalie the beach.”

“Sure.”

Natalie settled back with a feeling of anticipation rather than the unease that had plagued her the night before. The idea of having another woman along instead of being out alone with Gabe was reassuring. When she realised she was to share a double kayak with Rosie she was even happier. It would have felt quite intimate sharing the small space with Gabe and she was glad he and Charlie took the other.

Once they got the kayaks in the water there was very little paddling to do. As Gabe had said, they arrived on an outgoing tide, which carried them to an exposed reef. Rosie walked her across it pointing out all kinds of rock pool and reef life while Gabe and Charlie snorkelled. Gabe had a spear gun that he was showing Charlie how to use. They speared a fish each. Obviously it was something Gabe had done before but the whoops of delight from Charlie when he brought his wriggling fish to the surface brought smiles to all their faces.

“I’ve got lunch, Aunty Rosie.” Charlie held the fish aloft, his face beaming with pride.

“He grew up in Perth.” Rosie’s eyes shone as they watched the lad’s excited romp through the water to put his fish in the bag Gabe had brought. “He’s never done anything like this before.”