They followed Phoebe through to a comfortably furnished office. Kelsey brought their drinks and finally they all settled around Phoebe’s desk with an air of expectancy. She had a manila folder in front of her and Bree could see King in bold letters on the front but Phoebe didn’t open it. Instead she clasped her hands on top and smiled at Milt.

“I must say, Mr King…Milt, your affairs are in far better shape than some I’ve seen. You’ve got a succession plan mapped out and although it needs a few details filled in it’s a sensible start.” She glanced at Bree. “It seems you’re the one keen to take over the property in the future but you’ve been given some time to make a decision. Is that why you’ve come today?”

“Not exactly,” Bree said.

“It’s more about protecting any assets we have from my sister,” Milt said, then he looked at each of his daughters. “But it might be an opportunity to talk about the future in more detail while all three of my girls are here.”

“And your wife doesn’t want to be included?”

“She’s away,” Laura and Kate said quickly in unison.

Milt clasped his hands and turned back to Phoebe. “I know my wife and I are on the same page when it comes to our succession plan but this is only a discussion. Nothing would be finalised until she has the opportunity to look it over.”

Bree wondered if her sisters detected the slip of confidence in his voice that she had.

He cleared his throat. “Natalie has given us the go-ahead to sort this issue about my sister.”

Phoebe didn’t miss a beat. “Certainly. From reading your father’s will it appears your sister has been provided for already. Can you elaborate?”

Milt began to talk and Bree felt relaxed enough now to take a sip of the coffee Kelsey had made. It was good. She continued to drink. Her sisters did the same, listening to their dad’s explanation of Connie’s deceit, as he called it, peppered with the odd question from Phoebe, who made notes as he spoke.

Phoebe was matter-of-fact and efficient. Less than an hour later they’d said their goodbyes and were out on the footpath again with a plan in place to make sure Connie got no more than she was entitled to and a better strategy for Bree to take on the property in the future.

Milt unlocked the vehicle.

“Have I got time to whip to the chemist before we go home?” Kate asked.

“There’s something I’d like to do too if we’ve got a few minutes,” Laura said.

“We’ve got to get back to the seeding.” Milt frowned then his face relaxed. “You’ve got ten minutes.”

Bree climbed into the front beside him.

“Haven’t you got something you need to do?” he asked.

“No.”