Dot was knocked back a step by the fierce hug that enveloped her, almost squeezing the breath from her.
“It’s so good to see you.Oliver said you rescued him.You have my eternal gratitude.”
Dot swallowed hard, willing the tears away.She cleared her throat.“Oliver’s exaggerating.”
Mrs Anderson let her go and stepped back.
“My turn.”Mr Anderson opened his arms wide.“I’ve missed my little pocket rocket.”
Dot sniffed and stepped forward almost without conscious thought.His hug was firm but gentle and reminded her of all the debates they used to have in the evenings over games.When he let her go, she dashed at her eyes.
“Look, you’ve made her cry.I always said that was an awful nickname,” Mrs Anderson said.
“Pish.She’s just happy to see us.”
The friendly banter burst through her walls and tears flooded from her eyes.“I have missed you,” she whispered.
Both parents enveloped her in a group hug.“We missed you too,” Mrs Anderson said.
“Hey, save some of that for me,” Oliver called.“I’m the injured one, remember?”
His words made her smile, and she wiped her eyes.She moved over to him and gently hugged him, mindful of his ribs.“There’s plenty for you.”She kissed him.
Mrs Anderson clapped.“Perhaps you can convince him not to discharge himself yet.”
Dot glanced at Oliver.“Actually, I’m here to spring him.There are a couple of things I need him for, if you can spare him for a couple of hours.”
The doctor walked in and Mrs Anderson turned to him.“Is Oliver really OK to be discharged?”
He nodded.“He’s healing well.All he needs is rest and to manage his pain.No diving though.”
Oliver’s scowl told her he’d argued about that already.
“Fine,” his mother answered.“I’ve been wanting to snorkel the reef, so perhaps we’ll go to the beach this afternoon.”
Dot smiled.“How about you both come to my place for dinner this evening?”
“We’d love to,” Mr Anderson said.
It didn’t take long to discharge Oliver and Mr Anderson helped him into Dot’s car before promising to see them later.Dot waved and started the car, heading out of town.
***
Oliver smiled.Things couldn’t get any better.He was no longer in hospital, Dot loved him and his parents had accepted her back into the family.
Not that he’d had any doubts about that.
Now he just had to finish the expedition, take his students home, and he’d be able to set the next stage of his life into motion.
They passed theThank you for visiting Retribution Baysign and he realised they weren’t heading back to the share house.“Where are we going?”Oliver asked.
“To Retribution Ridge.It’s the Stokes’ place.There’s something you need to see.”
Oliver’s heart jumped.“The treasure?”
“Wait and see.”Her secret smile made him grin, and he stayed silent.Her reunion with his parents had gone better than he could have hoped for, and he hadn’t even had to warn his parents to be on their best behaviour.
She seemed lighter, happier, and was smiling a lot more.
