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‘Do you need a hand in the kitchen?’ Ellie asked.

‘All good. You keep an eye on Ruby for me, and I’ll call when I need a hand to carry dishes out. Kane, would you fire up the barbeque for me?’

‘Sure. Come on, Jeremy. We’ll be the barbeque kings.’

Half an hour later, they were all sitting around the large table on the deck overlooking Darwin Harbour. The table was covered with enough food for a dozen more guests with steak, sausages, and onions on a big tray, and several salads, as well as two trays of fresh baked bread. Dru had set two small tables for the children, and Ellie had Matilda on her lap.

‘You amaze me, Dru. Is that homemade bread?’ Emma asked.

‘Nothing amazing about that. It’s time management, Em. Connor left at about six and I stayed up after we had breakfast together. I insisted that he had the omelette I cooked because he’s got a bad habit of eating on the run. So, I was able to cook the bread and make the salads before Ruby woke up.’

Ellie wondered what sort of meeting would start in the suburbs at six in the morning, but didn’t comment. She glanced at Dru but the sun was behind her and it was hard to see her expression. The sunglasses had stayed on, even when Ellie had gone into the kitchen to help her carry out the salads.

‘I bumped into Connor in town a couple of days ago. I thought he’d lost a bit of weight,’ Graysen commented.

‘Yes, that’s why I’m feeding him up,’ Dru said. ‘He works too hard.’

‘Graysen, tell me about this African project you’ve picked up,’ Ellie asked, with another glance at Dru. She didn’t want her to break into tears in front of everyone.

‘I’m quite excited about it.’ Graysen leaned forward. ‘I’ve been contracted by National Geographic to do a series on lions. Have you heard of the tree-climbing lions?’

‘At Lake Manyara. They climb the trees apparently to get away from the wet ground,’ Sandra chimed in. ‘We’re going on a personal safari in Tanzania. Sorry, love.’ She touched Graysen’s hand. ‘I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I haven’t been this excited since I set off for the Larapinta trek.’

‘Are you camping out?’ Emma asked with a shiver. ‘All those wild animals!’

‘No, we stay in lodges and have all our meals—’ Sandra broke off as Dru’s phone rang. Dru picked it up off the table.

‘Oh, it’s Connor. Excuse me for a moment.’

Ellie watched as Dru hurried inside, phone pressed to her ear and talking quietly. ‘If you hadn’t done that trek, Mum, you wouldn’t have met Graysen. I had so much trouble imagining Mum in a tent in the bush, Graysen,’ Emma said.

‘Your mother’s learned a lot of new skills,’ Graysen said.

Emotion overwhelmed Ellie; she thought back to the years after their father had supposedly committed suicide when Mum had been a shell of her old self. Ellie and Emma had cared so much for Sandra and assisted her through some dreadful times. It was only when they discovered Dad had been murdered and justice was served that Sandra had begun to heal.

Ellie looked up and held Graysen’s eyes. She spoke quietly as conversations swirled around them. ‘Do you realise how much you’ve done for Mum? You’ve brought happiness back to her life. We watched her heal, but after she met you at Larapinta, she’s back to the woman she was before. She’s strong and involved in things now, but most of all, Graysen, you have absolutely brought her back to that happy and loving mother I had when I was growing up. And I’d like to thank you for that.’

‘It’s a two-way street, Ellie. I wasn’t in a good place when I met your mum either, but I think we’ve both done okay and being accepted and welcomed into your family has been wonderful for me. I feel like my life is complete now. I have a woman I love with all my heart, four wonderful stepchildren and their partners, not to mention seven grandchildren.’

‘And one on the way,’ Sandra said.

‘And one on the way,’ Ellie said as Emma smiled and nudged Jeremy. He gestured to Dru and shook his head a little.

Hmm. Maybe two on the way, Ellie wondered. She really hoped so. Emma had a hard time falling pregnant with Akasha. She turned back to Graysen. ‘Now we’ve done all the soppy stuff, tell us more about this safari you’re taking Mum on.’

As Graysen filled in the details of the African safari, Dru came back to the table and sat quietly, focusing on the salad on her plate. She jumped up again when the intercom buzzed.

The balcony was noisy with children and the conversation of the adults.

‘Mum, can you hold, Tilly please?’ Ellie said. ‘I’ll go and help Dru get the pavlova out.’

Sandra smiled and took her youngest grandchild onto her lap and Ellie followed Dru inside. Her sister was standing rigid by the intercom, one hand over her eyes. Ellie hurried across to her,

‘Dru? Is everything okay?’

‘Yes, it was just someone who wanted to visit, but I told him I had visitors.’

Ellie’s eyes narrowed.