Miracle in Bellaroo Creek. Barbara Hannay

no.’ A warm smile lit up her face. ‘They’re on a cruise. The Mediterranean this time. These days, they’re always on cruises and good luck to them. They’ve worked hard and they’ve earned their chance to have fun.’

      Her smile faded, replaced by a look of defiance. ‘I need to do this, Ed.’

      Deep down, he understood. Milla wanted to throw herself into hard, honest labour, as if it would somehow heal her past hurts.

      ‘What if you fail?’ He had to ask this. ‘What if you reject Harry’s money and try this—this hare-brained scheme and end up with nothing?’

      ‘That’s not going to happen.’

      ‘Milla, how can you be so sure?’

      She simply smiled. ‘Try all you like, Ed. You’re not going to change my mind.’

      CHAPTER FOUR

      TO MILLA’S RELIEF, Ed’s farewell was unsentimental. A handshake, a kiss on the cheek.

      Unsmiling, he wished her good luck.

      ‘Good luck to you, too,’ she said, and he looked at her strangely. ‘Good luck with explaining everything to Gerry.’

      His mouth tilted in a wry smile. ‘Thanks, I’m sure I’ll need it.’

      The smile disappeared as Ed got into his red hire car and the look in his eyes then made Milla’s throat ache.

      They both knew this was the last time they would see each other, but she hadn’t expected Ed to look quite so bleak. And she certainly hadn’t expected to feel bereft, pierced by a sadness that was quite different from how she’d felt when she’d lost Harry or her baby.

      As Ed zoomed off down the long straight road she stood on the footpath, watching his red car grow smaller and smaller. When it finally disappeared, she let out her breath with a deliberate whoosh and she waited for the expected sense of relief to wash over her.

      To her surprise it didn’t happen.

      Instead she felt strangely empty.

      It was such an annoying, irrational response. Now that Ed was gone, she was free. Free of the Cavanaughs, free to put her mistakes behind her and to make a success of the rest of her life.