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CHAPTER ONE

ALYSSA PARKER DROPPED her bags in the e and stared around ould be her next te quarters She could prettyweren’t going to take up her spare time, like it had at the last place She’d have to find so? Or hire a dog to walk every day?

Her phone rang Tugging it from her jacket pocket, she read the name on the screen and punched the ‘talk’ button ‘Hey, boss, I’ve arrived on Phillip Island’ The bus trip down fro off It had taken the ferry crossing and lots of fresh air to clear her head

‘How’s the head?’ Lucas Elliot, her senior midwife, asked

‘It’s good now Who have you been talking to?’ She and soone out for drinks, which had extended to a meal and more drinks

‘My lips are sealed,’ Lucas quipped ‘So, Phillip Island—another place for you to tick off on the map’

‘Yep’ Her life was all about new destinations and experiences Certainly not the regular nine to five in the same place, year in, year out, that most people preferred

‘How’s the flat?’

‘About the size of a dog kennel’ Stepping sideways, Ally peered into what looked like an overgrown cupboard ‘It’s an exaggeration to call this a kitchen But, hey, that’s part of the adventure’ Like she needed a kitchen when she favoured takeout food anyway

‘Ally, I forgot to tell you where the key to the flat would be, but it see on the side’

She was Ally to everyone except the taxman and her lawyer And the social welfare system ‘It was under the pot plant on the top step’ The first place she’d looked

‘Why do people do that? It’s so obvious’ Lucas sounded genuinely perplexed

Still looking around, shein here’ Kat, thetemporarily, certainly didn’t spend her pay packet on home comforts

‘Are you happy with the arrangements? I know you enjoy everywhere we send you, but this should be the best yet as far as location goes All those beaches to play on’

‘It’s winter, or haven’t you noticed?’ Ally shook her head ‘But so far the island’s looking beautiful’

His chuckle was infectious ‘I’ll leave you to unpack and find your way around You’re expected at the ht thirty toh a few details with you before you get started with the Mondayantenatal list’

‘Same as any locum job I do, then?’ She couldn’t help the jibe She’d been doing this relief work for two years now It suited her roving lifestyle perfectly and was the only reason she remained with the Melbourne Midwifery Unit They’d offered her fixed positions ti continuously at thetoo close to those people she’d ith every day

The days when she set herself up to get du over Had been from the monumental day she’d turned sixteen and taken control of her life She’d walked out of the social welfare building for the very last tie on how to survive She’d known a sense of wonder at being in charge of herself Since then no one had screwed up her expectations because she’d been in charge of her own destiny Because she hadn’t allowed herself to hope for faain

‘I’ pedantic’ Lucas was still on the other end of the line ‘I wanted to ’s okay’

Why wouldn’t it be? She didn’t need hi about her She didn’t like it It spoke of care and concern But Lucas did care about the people he worked with, which, despite trying not to let it, had alar to the unit Since she didn’t do belonging, it showed how good Lucas ith his st

aff

She told his and suss out where the medical centre is as soon as I’ve unpacked’ Tomorrow she’d collect the car provided for the job

‘Even your hed at his own joke ‘I’ll leave you to get settled Catch you in four weeks, unless there’s a problem’

Stuffing the phone back in her pocket, she headed into the bedroo on the bed At least it was a double Not that she had any man to share the other half with Not yet Who knows? There , no strings Her ht of all those etting on their boards There were such things as wetsuits

After dropping her second, s full of books and DVDs out of the way in the corner of the lounge, she slapped her hands on her hips and stared around Four o’clock in the afternoon and nothing to do Once she started on the job she’d be fine, but these first hours when she arrived in a new place and moved into someone else’s home always made her feel antsy It wasn’t her space, didn’t hold her favourite possessions

Except… Unzipping the bag, she placed two suys, welcoer traced the outlines of her pets If she ever got to own a pet it would be a springer spaniel like these Make that two spaniels One on its oould be lonely

She hadn’t forgiven the Bartlett faiven her these on the day they’d broken her heart, along with their promise they’d love her for ever She’d wrapped the statues in an empty chocolate box and tied it with a yellow ribbon, before burying theift had been a consolation prize for abandoning her, but one dark day when she’d felt unable to carry on, she’d res she’d abandoned and had sneaked back to retrieve theone everywhere with her ever since, a taliser self

Having the statues in place didn’t ain Ally stared around She could do a lap of the cupboards and shelves, learning where everything was kept By then it’d be five past four and she’d still not knohat to do with herself

This moment was the only time she ever allowed that her life wasn’t nor what other people did

Standing in the middle of a home she’d never been in before, didn’t know the owner of, always brought up the question of ould it be like to settle down for ever in her own place

As if she’d ever do that

What if it ith a ardless?

The answer never changed That person didn’t exist

She followed her established routine for first days in nens First, off cah black boots, then she pulled on her top-of-the-line walking shoes

Sliding on her sunglasses, she snatched up the house key and stuffed it and her wallet into her pocket and headed out There had to be a decent coffee shop soht as well check out the options for takeout dinners, too Then she’d head to the nearest beach to do so

The coffee turned out to be better than good Ally drained the paperof every last drop and tossed it into the next rubbish bin she came across The beach stretched ahead as she kicked up sand and watched the sea relentlessly rolling in Kids chased balls and each other, couples strolled hand in hand, one grown-up idiot raced into the freezing water and straight back out, shouting his head off in shock

Ally pulled out her phone and called thehappily when Darcie answered ‘Hey, how’s the head?’