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‘Dear Lord, thank you for moving mountains to bring us all back together tonight, because family, and friendship, is everything. Also, thank you for the food we are about to eat, and the farmers who put it upon Granny’s table.’

‘Amen,’ Granny said.

Begrudgingly taking her hand from his, Samantha placed her hands together and said ‘amen’ too.

‘So, dear, how’s your business going in London?’

Savouring her mouthful of the creamiest mashed potato ever, Samantha nodded. ‘Really good.’

‘That’s good to hear.’ Granny took a sip from her wine glass filled with sparkling water. ‘How long is it before you head back?’

Beside her, Connor grabbed himself another spoonful of the rich beef stew, along with two dumplings. ‘Too soon,’ he replied before she got a chance to.

‘In a week,’ Samantha added.

Granny chewed her forkful of food slowly, thoughtfully. ‘Would you ever think about moving back here, especially now you’re a single woman again?’

‘Granny,’ Conner breathed. ‘Mum shouldn’t have told you that.’

‘Well, she is my daughter-in-law, and we tell each other everything.’ Granny huffed and rolled her eyes. ‘Besides, what’s wrong with me wanting my only granddaughter back here, where she belongs?’

‘Well, for one, she’s not your granddaughter,’ Conner said, a little tightly.

‘Maybe not in blood, but I will always see her as such, and I think that living all the way over the other side of the world is silly.’

Not wanting the pair to knock heads over her, Samantha jumped back into the conversation. ‘Thank you, Granny, for caring so much.’

Granny simply nodded.

Connor offered Samantha a look of apology. ‘So, Granny, how’s your mah-jong team going? Are you still at the top of the leaders’ board?’

‘Oh yes, we are.’

Samantha noted his quick change of subject, and she appreciated that she was no longer the topic. In between reminiscences, laughter and a very yummy dessert of creamed rice and stewed cinnamon apples, the rest of the evening went smoothly, and by the end of it she was sad to say goodbye to Granny. Given that she was almost eighty-five, Samantha was aware that she might not get another chance to spend such precious time with her.

They hugged tightly, and Granny gave her a kiss on the cheek. ‘Now don’t stay away so long this time around, Samantha.’

‘I promise I won’t.’ And she meant it.

Climbing into the LandCruiser, they waved goodbye. Waylon Jennings’ honky-tonk voice was their comfortable company as they headed out of town and back towards Shea and Jack’s place.

After pulling up out the front of the homestead, in the shadows of the towering paperbark tree, Connor turned to her. ‘I’m sorry about Granny asking you about moving back here, she means well, she just hasn’t got the gift of the gab.’

‘Don’t apologise.’ Unclipping her seatbelt, Samantha bent and gathered her things from the floor. ‘I understand where she’s coming from, and I adore her for it.’

‘You really are so lovely, Samantha Evans.’

Straightening, she smiled at his warm regard of her. ‘Why, thank you, Connor Gunn, you’re not too bad of a person yourself.’

‘Cheers.’ He smiled, and the moment stretched, and lingered, then stretched some more. ‘Well, night, then.’

‘Night, then,’ she repeated, finding herself ensnared by his pensive contemplation of her.

In the space between one heartbeat and the next, time seemed to stop. Then there was a strange sensation of gravity giving way, as she watched him edge towards her, and her to him. The compelling need to feel her lips pressed up against his was almost impossible to ignore.

Almost.

She abruptly pulled back, and mentally slapped herself. ‘Right, well, I’ll catch you tomorrow.’ She couldn’t get out of the LandCruiser quick enough. ‘Thanks for dinner,’ she said as she waved, then sped off down the pathway with her handbag clutched to her chest.