Page 1

Chapter 1

McLaren Mango Farm – early May

Dru and Ellie

‘She’s a cheeky little thing, Ellie. And gorgeous.’ Dru smiled as Matilda, her sister’s third child, tugged at her blonde curls.

‘You mightn’t say that if you were up with her at three o’clock in the morning and all she wanted to do was giggle and play. Even before she has a feed! Matilda Susan McLaren, let go of Aunty Dru’s hair.’ Ellie took her daughter’s fingers and untangled Dru’s hair from the chubby fist.

‘Well, she looks like she’s getting plenty of food. We were lucky with Ruby. She’s always been a good sleeper. Slept through the night her second week home from hospital.’

‘James and Verity were a bit like this one when we first brought them home, but they started to sleep well around six months, so I’ve got a month left, hopefully.’

‘I’m the one who can’t sleep these days.’ Dru’s voice was tight, and she looked past Ellie out to the mango plantation. The sky was cloudless on a glorious autumn afternoon, and Dru had driven out for lunch while Ruby was at daycare.

Ellie frowned. Dru was the most together of the three sisters, and she’d handled being a mother with a natural calm that Ellie and Emma had had to learn.

‘The new baby?’ Ellie glanced down at Dru’s very pregnant tummy. ‘I’m sorry we’ll be overseas when you have him. Is he kicking a lot?’

Dru shook her head and bit her lip, and for a minute, Ellie thought she was fighting back tears.

‘Dru?’

‘I’m okay. Just pregnant.’ She straightened and seemed to pull herself together, but her voice still didn’t reassure Ellie. ‘Now tell me, how long are you going for again?’

‘We’ll be gone at least six weeks, possibly eight, but I want lots of FaceTime with you.’

‘Are you organised?’ This time Dru smiled. They all knew that Ellie, who’d once been super-organised, surprisingly struggled with running their home and looking after three children.

Ellie rolled her eyes. ‘Let’s say that Kane is helping me, thank goodness. But I am so excited about simply going overseas, and James and Verity are excited about going on a big plane.’

‘How will you go with Matilda?’

‘If Tilly sleeps, I’ll be fine, but I can’t complain. She’s such a happy little soul.’ Ellie tickled her baby under the chin and got a giggle. ‘You’re a cheeky girl, but Mummy loves you. I’ll sleep on the plane when she does. Kane can entertain the other two, and at least I won’t have to cook and wash for twenty hours.’

‘Sounds like you’re in the right frame of mind anyway.’

‘It will actually be a break. I find organising the day so much harder than flying.’ Ellie sat down and unbuttoned her blouse when Matilda started to grizzle. ‘How’s Ruby settling in at daycare?’ she asked.

‘She loves it.’

‘I honestly don’t know how you do it. Your apartment is always spotless, Ruby is clean and happy, and you work as well. Will you keep the part-time work going when the bub arrives?’

Dru shrugged. ‘Depends on how he behaves.’

‘You’re sure he’s a he?’

‘I hope so. I’d like Connor to have a son. I’m silly. I tell myself if I call him, he, he will be. Unlike you, I’m not going back a third time. If we have two girls, so be it.’

‘As long as the baby is healthy and happy,’ they both chanted with a grin.

‘Bless, Mum. She’s been a fabulous granny. And listen, how’s Connor? We haven’t seen him for ages.’ Ellie was taken aback when her strong sister lowered her head and stifled a sob. She widened her eyes, quickly taking her baby off her breast and laying her on her playmat. She stepped over to her sister, put her hands on her shoulders, and was surprised when Dru lifted her hands and covered her face.

‘Dru? What is it? Is Connor sick?’ Ellie asked.

‘I don’t know. He never talks to me anymore. He’s barely home.’

‘What do you mean?’