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‘It’s lovely sweetheart,’ she lied, knowing it was what her daughter wanted to hear. She was rewarded by a huge grin and a warm hug.

On their way out to the car to pick up Hannah’s belongings, they were joined by Nate and another young man who was a younger version of Will Rankin.

‘Hi, Han’s mum. I’m Owen Rankin,’ he said needlessly. ‘Let Nate and me do this.’ He picked up one of the boxes as if it was weightless. Nate picked up another, and the two boys went back inside laughing and joking with each other.

It was exactly as Cleo had feared. Hannah was moving in with a couple of surfers, boys who’d distract her from her new job, boys who would perhaps introduce her to… drugs? She shivered.

‘What’s the matter, Mum?’ Hannah stared at her, and Cleo realised her expression must have given her away.

‘Nothing.’ She shook her head. ‘But are you sure about this, Hannah? You barely know those boys. I know you were at school with Owen, but that was three years ago. People change.’

Hannah laughed. ‘Listen to yourself, Mum. It’s not as if I’m running away to the circus. I’m moving into a house – this house – with a couple of perfectly respectable local boys. Why, you even know Nate’s mum. And everyone in Bellbird Bay knows Owen’s dad. He’s a surfing legend and a bit of a hero.’

Cleo felt herself shrivel inside.A surfing legend and a bit of a hero?That was all she needed. She wasn’t sure why that annoyed her, but it did.

Six

It was lonely in the house without Hannah. Even though Cleo had been on her own there for the past three years when Hannah was at uni, there had always been the prospect of her returning for the holidays. Now there would be no great reunions to celebrate, just day after day of being alone.

She’d only been gone three days, but already Cleo missed the noise of Hannah’s presence – the continual blare of music blasting from her room, her interminable phone calls, often made as she moved around the house from room to room while engaged in some other activity, her cheerful voice at breakfast each morning. She knew it would have been the same if Hannah had accepted a position in another town or another state, but it was the knowledge she was right here in Bellbird Bay that hurt.

There had been no further word from the woman called Kerri-Ann who had contacted Hannah, and Hannah appeared to have forgotten all about it. But Cleo had read the message and, although it provided no further information, she had been unable to forget it. And, now she was alone with more time to think, it continued to annoy her. Perhaps, as she’d said to Bev, it was a scam – there were plenty of them about – but something about it niggled. It was true Stan had been less than forthcoming about his life before moving to Australia. It hadn’t worried Cleo at the time. She’d been so caught up in the thrill and excitement of young love. But, looking back, she realised it was odd.

As soon as she got home from work, Cleo checked the time in California. It would be close to eleven in the evening there but, hoping Stan’s sister was a night owl, Cleo picked up the phone. She was relieved when it was answered within two rings.

‘Cleo, how lovely to hear from you.’ Pat sounded wide awake.

‘Hi, Pat. I hope this isn’t too late for you. I’m not disturbing you, am I?’

‘Not at all. We rarely get to bed before midnight. How is Hannah? It was lovely to have her with us. We did lots of fun things together. She’s a delightful young woman.’

Cleo’s heart burst with pride. ‘Thanks, Pat. She’s fine. She started her teaching job this week and has moved into a share house with a couple of young guys.’ Cleo was conscious her heart dropped as she spoke.

Pat chuckled. ‘That doesn’t surprise me. She struck us as being keen to gain her independence.’

She did? Why hadn’t Cleo seen that?

But she hadn’t called to talk about Hannah, much as she enjoyed speaking about her beloved daughter. ‘The reason I’m calling, Pat, is that Hannah received an odd message through Facebook. It may be nothing, just some sort of scam, but I wanted to check with you.’

‘A message?’

Had Pat’s voice become guarded or was Cleo imagining it?

She continued. ‘It was from someone called Kerri-Ann and she said she was Hannah’s sister.’

This time Cleo didn’t imagine the silence on the other end of the phone.

‘Are you still there, Pat?’

‘Yes,’ Pat replied after another long pause. She sounded distracted. ‘What did Hannah do? Did she reply to this person?’

‘She was too busy finding accommodation and preparing for her first teaching job and, I think, like me, she thought it was probably a scam. Is she a real person? Do you know her?’

There was another long pause, then Pat asked, ‘Stan never said anything?’

Cleo’s stomach lurched. ‘Stan? He rarely talked about his life in California. Do you mean this Kerri AnnisHannah’s sister? Did Stan father a child in California before he came to Australia? Did you know about her all this time?’ Cleo couldn’t help the stream of questions.

There was another long pause, then Pat said, ‘Look Cleo, it’s late and it’s a long story. Can I ring you back tomorrow? I promise to fill you in then. You’ve taken me by surprise. I need to think a few things through.’

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