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But there was nothing there to explain why he’d taken his own life.

Chapter 14

Tuesday

Makowa Lodge

The morning had been a bit quieter than yesterday, although Kane had started work early to prep one of the choppers for a sunrise flight. Ellie had taken two couples up on the Magela Valley tour to watch the sun come up over the majestic stone formations. At least they looked majestic in the brochure. The only parts of the park he’d seen – apart from the rescue flight the other day – had been from the ground.

But he’d spent a lot of time looking at the photos around the office after he finished servicing the choppers between flights. Maybe, just maybe, he’d ask her to take him up for a look around one day when it wasn’t so busy.

When they next had a conversation that was – she’d said barely anything to him at all this morning apart from ‘Right to take up?’ or a quiet, occasional ‘Thank you’. She wasn’t smiling much either, and Kane couldn’t help the suspicion that he was at least partially responsible. They shouldn’t have left things the way they had yesterday.

When he’d called Mum last night, she told him that Ellie had been to visit, but she had not said a word about it this morning. It had been very kind of her to go out there; but for Kane, seeing his mother over the past week had brought all sorts of regrets to the surface. He’d not been in touch with her as much as he should have after she’d remarried. He’d been punishing her for letting go of the memory of his father. Kane knew now that he had been unfair. He had no right to judge her, and no right to stop her from being happy.

Afghanistan had put things into perspective. Life was too short to judge others for their choices. Mum had suggested he come to the Territory for a while, but finding her so ill and thin had shocked him to the core.

But he was still determined to see Panos when he came home next weekend; the sooner he could talk them into moving Mum back to Darwin and away from that rundown old farmhouse, the better. If it meant he had to help them out financially, so be it.

After five days, Kane was also beginning to settle into the lodge. The rest of the staff were friendly, the job was relatively stress-free, and he was feeling more comfortable with where he was – especially since he’d helped out in the workshop yesterday. If he could make his peace with Ellie, he could see himself staying at Makowa Lodge at least for one season.

Maybe. Then he’d think about where he’d go after that. His time in the Army had been structured and this newfound flexibility about where he went and how long he stayed was going to take some getting used to.

Maybe it was time to find a home base for a while.

Maybe he could even start to think about flying again. One day.

But his first plan for now was to brighten Ellie’s day and see if he could coax a smile from her. Time to make amends for the way he’d treated her yesterday.

He judged the time perfectly and was walking out of the bistro just as the helicopter buzzed overhead and headed for the tarmac. By the time she’d shut the chopper down and the tourists had left, he’d put the pizza box and the coffee on her desk.

Kane pulled out the other chair and straddled it as she walked into the office. ‘I thought you might like to have an early lunch. I couldn’t resist the smell of the pizza coming from the bistro.’

The look she gave him was cautious.

‘You’ve worked your butt off these last two days.’ He spread his hands out in a placatory gesture. ‘This is a peace offering to make up for the cranky bastard I’ve been. And to thank you for dropping in on Mum yesterday.’ One step at a time. He’d apologise for the other night when they’d eaten.

For a moment, he was unsure what her reaction was going to be. She turned to the pizza box and lifted the lid, and an angelic smile crossed her face as she closed her eyes and inhaled.

And damn if that wasn’t sexy. The surge of desire set off a warning in his brain. Don’t go there again.

‘How did you know?’ Her whole face lit up and her eyes were dancing with amusement.

Kane put his fingers to each side of his head. ‘Hmm. Let me read the lady’s mind. Double anchovies, no olives and a vanilla latte.’

Ellie’s laughter hit him square in the chest. ‘So you’ve been doing a bit of research over in the kitchen. Very thoughtful of you.’ Her voice was dry. ‘Apology accepted. I’m sorry. I’ve been a cranky bitch too.’

‘Nothing like pizza to clear the air.’ Kane glanced up at the clock. ‘And if I’ve read the schedule right, you’ve still got an hour to enjoy it.’

He opened the box and waited for Ellie to take the first piece. He smiled as she pulled up a piece of pizza and bit off the long pieces of dangling melted cheese that were hanging over each side.

‘Delicious,’ she mumbled with her mouth full. ‘I’m starving.’

‘Only way to eat pizza. With fingers and straight from the box.’

They munched their way through the pizza in companionable silence and Kane gradually let himself relax.

Ellie finished her coffee, and then stifled a burp with her fingers spread over her lips. ‘Sorry.’