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
Back inside her cabin she unpacked, everything this time, made herself a coffee and curled up on the couch with her book. Once again she was overwhelmed by the indulgence of sitting and reading on a…she had to struggle to remember what day it was. Monday! She’d been kayaking, swimming, eaten the most delicious fish cooked for her straight from the ocean and now she had nothing to do but relax and enjoy the pleasure of reading a book.
She glanced at her phone. There was plenty of signal here. She should send a message, say she was staying longer, but her last text, when she’d been leaving Broome, had said she wasn’t sure how often she’d be able to make contact. They were managing without her. Natalie opened her book. She’d send another message once she knew what her next move would be.
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Three
Bree slid out of her boots and sat them beside her dad’s. He’d knocked off early. She wondered if he had a meeting to go to. She hadn’t noticed anything against Wednesday when she’d checked the calendar that morning. Bubbles was curled in his usual spot on the chair by the back door. She scratched him under the chin and let herself inside where she was greeted by the sound of an ABC newsreader blaring from the den.
“Bree,” a voice hissed.
She turned. Laura was beckoning her from the kitchen.
Bree frowned. “What’s up?” No sooner had Bree stepped into the kitchen than Laura closed the door carefully behind her.
“When are you leaving?” Laura said.
Bree bristled. “I don’t know.” Her dad had asked her only this morning when she intended to head off and now Laura was nagging her. If the truth be told she was reluctant to leave now. After the conversation they’d overheard between Granny and Dad, she was worried about her mum and also the future of the property. She couldn’t bring herself to make plans to leave when things were so messy at home. “Has anyone heard from Mum today?”
“I haven’t and Kate and Dad haven’t mentioned it.”
“Where is Kate?”
“In her room.”
Bree shook her head. Kate might as well go back to her place for all the help she was being.
“And Dad’s watching TV. He came in about an hour ago, had a shower and went to the den. He never watches TV at this time of the day.” Laura gripped Bree’s arm. “What are we going to do?” she hissed.
“About what?”
“For goodness sake, Brianna.”
Bree raised her eyebrows. “Calm down.”
“Dad’s miserable.” Laura began to pace. “Kate’s miserable. You’re leaving any minute and Mum’s gone off to some remote place where we can’t contact her.”
“Have you tried?”
“I sent a text this morning but she didn’t reply. Do you think she’s all right?”