The room was dark. The early-morning light hadn’t reached the edges of the closed blind in this room, which was sheltered by a wide verandah. The lump in the bed didn’t move. She went closer.

“Kate?”

The lump stirred and a groan came from under the covers. “Go away.”

Bree swallowed a flutter of irritation. “You haven’t got long if you want—” She ducked as a pillow flew through the air, fell short and lobbed at her feet.

“I’m not well.”

Bree thought about the stash of empty beer bottles in the kitchen. Kate and Laura must have partied on last night. “You know Dad’s rule: you play up, you front up.”

Kate let out a guttural groan and sat up. “I didn’t play up.” She blinked bleary eyes from a pale face and sported a bird’s nest of hair.

“Talk about the living dead.”

“Go away.” Kate moaned and lay her head back on the pillow. “I feel sick.”

“Bad luck. There’s work needs doing.” Bree picked up the pillow at her feet and slung it on the end of the bed.

“Get Laura to help. I’m staying in bed.” Kate curled into a ball and pulled the covers back over her head.

“Lazy sod,” Bree muttered. She strode on to the next bedroom, the one all three sisters had shared and the one Laura claimed as hers when she was home.

The door was open and Bree stopped, taking in the bombsite that was her sister’s bedroom. The middle bed was empty with the quilt and sheets rumpled and draped to the floor. Bubbles was curled up asleep on the end, a paw over one ear. The two beds either side were covered in bags and boxes, some open with clothes hanging out. The floor at the end of the bed was scattered with shoes spilling from a large garbage bag, every kind from strappy high heels to neat ankle boots. Bree shook her head. “Bloody Imelda Marcos has moved in.” Who needed that many pairs of shoes? Laura’s mess was everywhere but there was no sign of Laura.

Bree went back through the house. Perhaps she’d gone to the bathroom but there was no sign of her there either.

From outside she heard a vehicle rumble over the stock grid from the track that led to the road. “Damn!” That was probably Graeme and she wasn’t organised. Bree gave up on her useless sisters, grabbed her cap and strode outside. Halfway across the yard to let the dogs out she saw Laura coming back from the direction of the creek paddock.

Bree stopped, hands on hips, and waited for Laura to get closer. “Where have you been?”

“Out walking. I wanted to clear my head.”

“You’re looking a lot brighter than Kate. What did you two get up to last night?”