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“He always was.”

Varesh stopped beside me, and his gaze dropped to the grave. His smile lingered as he bent and propped the flowers against the marker. “Happy birthday, my love.”

His words were soft, his eyes too. I turned my head and gave him some privacy.

“How’s our birthday girl?” I asked a moment later.

Varesh straightened with a sigh. “Currently refusing to let Sadie put her hair up.”

“Uh oh.” Another scream floated towards us, and I winced. “Better go. I’ll leave you two to chat alone.”

I took a detour on my way back to the house.

The vegetable gardens were almost double their original size now, fed by the maze of pipes and rainwater tanks Luke had spent weeks rigging up. Alongside them, he’d planted an orchard with trees he and Theo had scavenged from a nursery in town. Luke watched over them and reported on their growth like they were his children, and when the first crop of oranges appeared, I’d never seen him look prouder.

Farther out, a section had been cleared and fenced off for the sheep that Dave had rescued from a nearby farm. I’d lost count now of how many times he’d referred to them as those bloody sheep.

Washing flapped on the line, and smoke rose from the chimney.

I stopped at the chicken coop behind the old café, where Mia and Ruby were inside collecting eggs.

“I brought something for you,” I said.

“For me?” Mia’s eyes widened comically. “You shouldn’t have.”

“I was talking to the little cluckers, thank you.” I opened the wire door just enough to toss the dandelions inside. The chickens descended on them, pecking through the stems.

“Auntie Ava! Check this out.” Ruby rushed over to me with a brown egg cupped in her palms, the shell perfectly smooth and clean. “Is this the biggest one you’ve ever seen?”

I leaned in and peered through the wire. “Yep, it’s officially the biggest. Make sure you hide it somewhere so you can claim it for tomorrow’s omelette.”

She exchanged a smiling look with her mum. “Not in my pocket this time, though.”

“No.” I laughed.

Another screech came from the house, and Ruby lifted her shoulders as if trying to block the sound.

“She’s still going,” Mia said. “Being two isn’t easy.”

“For any of us.” I pulled the gate closed again. “I’m going to help Sadie. Good luck with the eggs.”

“Good luck with Brynn.”

By the time I came around the side of the café, the quiet I’d left behind at Tim’s grave disappeared completely.

A year ago, the farm had seemed massive, and now we were running out of room.

Five more caravans occupied the old customer parking spaces, awnings extended and washing lines hanging between them. Bikes lay on the ground, and boots were lined up outside each door. A couple of axes rested within easy reach, but inside the fences, we usually made do with the knives at our belts.

The café had become our communal meal space, and Sadie’s organisational skills had been put to good use planning shift rosters and meals.

I taught the kids how to fight and defend themselves on the patch of gravel out the front, running them through play-based drills to keep them interested. Sooner or later, they’d be old enough to venture past the fence line, and I wanted them ready.

Theo balanced on a ladder outside the café, hanging a homemade banner from the eaves.

Luke stood back, hands low on his hips. “It’s still crooked.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Theo leaned back as much as he could, trying to take it in from the ladder. “It adds personality.”