He nodded and picked up a council newsletter that had been between them in the console. He flicked through it but Bree could see he wasn’t really reading it.

“You think Phoebe’s suggestions for a succession plan are sound?” she asked.

He looked up, a frown on his face. “Yes, I thought you did too when we were discussing it inside.”

“I’m happy; I just wonder if Laura and Kate might change their minds and we end up with a situation like Connie’s creating.”

“That’s fixed now, and we’ll make things very transparent so there can’t be any surprises for you or your sisters.”

Bree pondered that. “People can change.”

“Don’t let your judgement be coloured by Connie. Laura and Kate are quite clear on what they’re entitled to if you take over the property. It can never be equal but I think they understand that.”

“Phoebe’s scenario helped.”

Milt chuckled and glanced back towards the office they’d just vacated. “She’s got a sound head on her shoulders.”

After they’d sorted the Connie thing, Phoebe had moved on to the succession plan. She’d listed off the remuneration the girls had already received and what Milt had put aside for Laura either as a start for a house or a business. Bree had raised her eyebrows at that but Kate had simply nodded. Laura had said she’d tell Bree about it later and Phoebe had moved on. If Milt and Natalie decided to leave the property and buy a house they would use a combination of Natalie’s super and farm collateral to purchase it. In the event of their deaths the house would go to Laura and Kate and any money or shares belonging to Natalie would also be theirs. Phoebe had paused then and looked at each of them sagely. “The farm would be worth much more of course but that could never be realised unless Bree sold it,” she’d said.

Laura’s eyes had widened at that point. “That would make her an instant millionaire,” she said. “Shouldn’t there be some proviso that gives Kate and me a share if she sells?”

Phoebe clasped her hands together and looked directly at Laura. “Should Bree sell at some future date, whatever she realises from that sale would be from her own work which, and I’m assuming here, you have no interest in and would not have contributed to.”

Laura pursed her lips. Bree imagined dollar signs flashing before her little sister’s eyes but there would only be money if Bree sold and, for the moment, anyway, she couldn’t picture that in her future.