Wide-eyed, Tilly nodded.

The car ramp screeched its way down to meet the slipway. Last on the ferry, they were first to reverse off. From the driver’s seat, Kate could see Declan’s car was already waiting there for Tilly.

Kate cleared her throat. “You ready?” she asked.

Tilly nodded.

At Colin’s instruction, Kate started the engine.

A crowd was quickly gathering, grinning in amusement as Kate called her niece’s name for a third time to no avail. Reclined peacefully on the racing car bed of the display bedroom, Karlie’s eyes were closed, one arm bent above her head as she feigned sleep.

“Karlie, please.”

Karlie’s eyes fluttered lightly, barely. Kate knew the five-year-old well enough to recognise the ever-so-slight hollowing of her cheeks for a suppressed grin.

“This is the last time I’m going to ask, Karlie.”

An elderly woman chuckled.

Great, Kate thought, her cheeks heating with embarrassment. Just what I need—a performance in the heart of Ikea. She looked past the gathered group. Where the hell had her sister wandered off to?

“Better this than a full-blown tantrum,” the elderly woman murmured to Kate.

Kate turned to look at her. The frizzy mass of her auburn hair was held back by two alligator clips pinned above each ear. There was something about her that smelled so familiar, too light to be perfume, stronger than fabric softener… Realisation dawned. Sister Hattie’s powder. She swallowed. “To be honest,” she told the stranger as they both watched Karlie, “I’ve never seen her have a tantrum. She’s a pretty good kid.”

The woman laughed. “Then I take it she’s not yours?”

Smiling, Kate shook her head. “She’s my niece.”

“I was going to say, you don’t look alike.”

“She’s going to be a big sister next month,” Kate found herself saying. “We’re not too sure how that’s going to go.”

“Have faith,” the woman said playfully, “I think she’ll enjoy having an audience of her own.”

“You’re not far off.” In her “sleep,” Karlie tossed and turned, earning herself a laugh from her spectators. Kate rolled her eyes. “Excuse me.”

She crossed the room and scooped Karlie up.

Karlie groaned. “All right.”

“Do I need to carry you like a baby or can you walk yourself, Juliet?”

“Who’s Juliet?” Karlie asked as Kate planted her on her feet. She took Karlie’s tiny hand in her own and dragged her down the arrowed aisle.

They took a left, then a right, and found the nursery rooms. Leaning against a cot, Beccy looked up from an instruction manual. “What took you so long?” she huffed.

“Sleeping Beauty decided to take a nap.” Brows furrowing, Kate plucked the pamphlet from Beccy’s hands. She looked between the model on paper and the display item. “You’re not actually considering this one, are you?”

“No,” Beccy said sarcastically. “I just thought I’d catch up on some light reading while I had a moment to myself to think.”

“No,” Kate said decidedly. “You’re not getting this one. It’s not strong enough. Get that hard timber one over there.”