Natalie picked up the scrap of paper lying beside the flowers and realised it was a piece of an old envelope and on it was a scribbled list. Landmark was written in Milt’s bold hand at the top. No doubt another job to add to her string of after-school duties tomorrow.

“Shall I cook lasagne?” she asked.

“Only if you want. I’ll see you Thursday. Bye, Mum.”

“Bye, darling.” Natalie stared at the screen a moment. Laura’s phone calls were usually half an hour long at least, full of the minutest details of her day. Perhaps she was tired. That might explain the off-note in her voice and her indifference to the offer of her favourite meal. Although now that she thought about it, Laura’s phone calls had been fewer and shorter for a while and…Natalie tapped her finger against her lips trying to remember the last time her youngest had been home to the farm for a visit…her granny’s birthday. That had been nearly two months ago.

Natalie flicked on the kettle and rolled up the blind. The late-afternoon sunlight streamed in from the side verandah, highlighting the golden honey glow of the solid pine cupboards as well as the crumbs and smudges on the worn laminex bench, left by whatever Milt and Bree had eaten for lunch. She turned away from the mess and back to the window, and looked out over her patch of brightly coloured gerberas and the hedge of rosemary, beyond the rusting wire fence and the barren outer yard towards the sheds. There’d been no dogs to greet her and Milt’s ute wasn’t anywhere to be seen as she’d driven in. He and Bree must still be off in a paddock somewhere.

Behind her the house phone rang. She strode across the kitchen to the desk in the corner and plucked the handset from the cradle.

“Hello, Natalie speaking.”

“Terry Porter here from Landmark Agricultural Services. Is Milt available?”

Natalie took a breath. She’d known Terry for ten years and what Landmark was at least twice as long but he was always so formal on the phone. “Hello, Terry. Milt’s not in yet. Can I help?”

“When will he be home?”

Natalie gritted her teeth and glanced at the clock. “Not for a few more hours, I expect.”

“I’ve left a message on his mobile.”

“He’ll get it when he’s back in range then. Do you want to leave a message with me?”

“Just get him to call me back. Thanks, Natalie.” The line went dead.