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
Laura pulled up near the back gate and knew from the empty garage that her mum wasn’t home. The dogs weren’t there to greet her either so Bree and their dad must be off somewhere as well. It was a good chance to unload all her stuff and put it in her bedroom. She’d be able to pick her own time to let her family know she’d be home for a while.
With her arms full of the first load she was met by Bubbles at the back door.
“Hello, pussycat,” she crooned. The cat gave her a sideways look then stalked inside, tail straight up in the air like a one-fingered salute. Laura propped the door open and followed.
She set down the box and bag in the bedroom she could now call her own. Bree had moved into the quarters and Kate rarely came home these days, and if she did it would be with Sean and they took the spare room with the queen bed.
On her way back to the door she wandered into the kitchen. The table was set already and only for two. She looked at the casserole dish defrosting on the sink with lasagne printed in black texta across the plastic cover. Obviously some of the family were going to be out tonight. Once again she felt relief. She hoped her mum was the one staying in. It would be easier to talk with her on her own.
Laura emptied her car and moved it out of the way to the old shed behind the house. She parked beside Bree’s ute. Wind ruffled the leaves at the top of the stand of gum trees that stretched along the yard boundary. The sliding door of the shed rattled and the canvas on a nearby trailer flapped. Laura hurried back to the house, the keenness of her isolation intensifying.
An image of Kyle’s scowling face popped into her head. She banished it. Thankfully their relationship hadn’t gone on long enough for her to bring him home for a visit. Now that she thought about it, he’d never asked much about her family, certainly not where they lived. He would have thought their property the end of the earth, he was such a city guy.
Bubbles miaowed at her as she approached the back door.
“Thank goodness for you, Bubbles.” She scooped the old cat into her arms and he reluctantly stayed as she carried him with her to her bedroom where she sat him on the bed and flipped open the large case that held most of her clothes. There was also a garbage bag stuffed with coats and jackets, another two full of shoes, and a box of scarves, belts, t-shirts and assorted caps.