Natalie rose from the bed. She knew what she had to do. If she was to move forward, in whatever form that may take, she had to face up to the past and counteract it just like she had with the book. She wasn’t a hundred per cent sure what that would entail but she was certain of one thing – she had to go home.

Thirty

Thirty

The grey of the last few days had lifted and although the air was still cold, the streets sparkled in the weak winter sunshine as the King family drove into town for their mid-morning meeting with the lawyer. Well, four of the King family anyway. Bree still wasn’t sure if they shouldn’t wait until their mum came home before they had this meeting but Milt and Kate had both been convinced it should be sorted as soon as possible.

Milt turned off the main street and pulled up in front of a grand old house with a neat garden and ivy trailing along its wide verandahs. A simple sign on the fence announced Clarke Lawyers.

Bree glanced at her dad. “What are we doing here?”

“Couldn’t get an appointment till next week at Burrows and Burrows.”

“And it’s a good idea not to go to the same people Granny does,” Kate said from the back seat.

“You haven’t used Clarkes before.” Bree gave her dad a sceptical look.

Milt sat back in his seat and looked at her. “It’s time for change.” Bree had the feeling he meant more than just changing the law firm where they conducted their business. “If we’re making fresh plans for our future I thought it was time for a new lawyer as well.”

“Fair enough,” Bree said and as she followed the others into the building she felt a surge of anticipation. The only time she’d felt that way lately was with Owen. A smiling young receptionist greeted them and then Phoebe Clarke stepped into the waiting area with her hand extended. “Hello, Mr King.”

“Call me Milt, please.”

She smiled and shook his hand then Kate’s and Laura’s and finally Bree’s. Her grip was warm and firm. “I haven’t seen you all for years. You’re living on Eyre Peninsula, aren’t you, Kate, and I think you were still at school last time I saw you, Laura. You’ve moved away too, haven’t you?”

Laura looked down at the floor. “I’ve come home for a while.”

“Which is just as well at the moment.” Milt gave her an encouraging smile.

“Would you like tea or coffee?” Phoebe turned to her receptionist. “I can recommend Kelsey’s skills as a barista.”

“The coffee kind of barrister, not the law kind.” Kelsey grinned. “I have trouble with those words.”

Phoebe chuckled too and Bree relaxed a little more at the thought of the discussions ahead.