I never thought I’d be back here again.

My parents still being here is a draw, and I have two very important things left to do. I need to introduce them to Corey, and give them the news that they’re going to be grandparents.

Corey squeezes my hand as I turn the handle and open their front door.

“Hello,” I call.

“Hello, love.” Mum beams from her spot in the living room, and I walk over to her, bending and wrapping my arms around her shoulders.

“Mum, I’d like you to meet Corey. Corey, this is my mum.”

Corey nods. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs Shaw.”

“Please. Call me Jackie.”

He smiles, shaking the hand she holds out. “Then, it’s nice to meet you, Jackie.”

“Constance.” Dad appears in the doorway, and I run to him. He pulls me into a tight hug. “Oh, my sweetheart. It’s so good to see you.”

“Dad, this is Corey.”

Dad lets me go, and walks toward Corey, his hand extended. “Peter Shaw.”

“Corey Campbell.”

The two men I love most in the word shake hands.

“Take a seat, you two. I’ll make some coffee,” Dad says. I take Corey’s hand and lead him to the couch.

“I’m glad you came to see us, Constance. We were worried when you ran off like that, but Senior Sergeant Taylor told us that you’d be safe.” Mum shifts her gaze to Corey. “And thank you so much. You put yourself at risk for our daughter.”

Corey squeezes my hand. “I just wanted her to be safe.”

I swallow. “I had to make sure things were good with Corey. He didn’t know Ash had brought me back.”

My mother’s eyes grow sad. “That man had a lot to answer for. It’s a shame he’ll never have to face the consequences of his actions.”

“No, but he’ll never be a threat to any of you again,” Corey says. “That’s all that matters.”

“Drugs.” Dad stands in the doorway, two mugs in his hands. “The whole time, and right under our noses.”

I stare at him. “What do you mean?”

He places the coffee cups on the table and goes back to the kitchen for the sugar bowl and milk.

“The bunkers. Ash had quite the methamphetamine factory going on.”

My heart sinks. The men closest to him must have known about it.

Dad hands Mum her coffee and sits in a chair opposite us. “Scott and a couple of Ash’s other guys knew. Michael and the rest had no idea. They thought he was stockpiling food because he was so paranoid.”

“That piece-of-shit was …” Corey stops himself. “Sorry.”

Dad nods. “It’s okay. He was a piece-of-shit.”

“The police are questioning everyone, but Ash wasn’t stupid. He used his father’s paranoia to his own means. Robert meant the bunker and tunnels to be used for our survival, not for Ash’s money-making.”

I widen my eyes. “Did they get Ash’s associate? The one he wanted me to—”

“He’s been arrested, too. You and Julia deserve so much of the credit, sweetheart. If you hadn’t freed Michael and Jared, the truth would still be buried under those glasshouses.”

Corey slips his arm around my shoulders, and I lean on him, relief flooding through me.

A smile plays on Dad’s lips. “It’s funny how things work out. Julia wouldn’t know that bunker like you. Without your help, she might not have found either of them.”

Tears well in my eyes. “So, all those years of being disobedient paid off?”

He chuckles. “You were always such a wild one.”

“What happens now? Do you all have to leave here?” Corey asks.

Dad shrugs. “I’m not sure. A lot of us contributed to the land, and it was in a trust controlled by Robert, and then Ash. What happens to it now, I’m not sure.”

“Well, I don’t have a big house, but if you and Jackie need somewhere to live, it’s open to you.”

I wrap my arm around Corey’s waist and bury my face in his chest. “Thank you.”

“Family’s family, sweetness. I can’t help everyone, but we’ll make it work if your parents need it.”

“Thank you, Corey. Hopefully it won’t take long to unravel this mess, and we can work out where to go from there.” Dad shifts his gaze to me. “I’m assuming you’re not coming back now.”

I sit up. “About that.” I flick a glance at Corey. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Mum leans forward. Uncertainty crosses her face.

“I’m pregnant. You two are going to be grandparents. I’m not exactly sure how far along I am, but—”

“Does this mean there’s a marriage on the horizon?” Dad asks.

Mum smiles.

I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

“Dad, I—”

“Soon,” Corey says. “My brother’s about to marry his partner, and they’ve been through so much to get to this point. I wouldn’t want to take anything away from them.”

I stare at Corey. We haven’t even discussed this, so I know he’s winging it. But he’s given my dad exactly the answer he wanted to hear.

“I’m not trying to apply any pressure. All we want is for Constance to be happy. She’s been through enough lately.”

“Agreed,” Corey says. I loop my arm in Corey’s and finally get his attention. He plants a kiss on the top of my head. “Constance will be well taken care of. You can count on it. I’m just so relieved she’s safe and back with me.”

A smile spreads across Dad’s face. “I’m relieved she’s found someone who truly loves her. Ash abused our trust, and by the time we all realised just how bad things were, it was too late.”

Tears prick my eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Constance,” Dad says. “If I was a younger man …”

I nod. “I know, Dad. It’s not your fault. Ash took advantage of the power his father gave him, and we were all caught up in that.”

“You know in the old days, you would never have been matched with someone like John Parsons. And you would have had a choice if you disliked the other person that much.”

I sigh. “I know that, too.”

“I’m sorry we didn’t see the warning signs.”

Shaking my head, I reach for Dad’s hand. “You weren’t to know. And this is your home.”

“I’ll always regret what you nearly went through.”

I smile. “We’re all safe now.” I pause. “What will happen with Mum’s care?”

Dad smiles. “If we can stay here, there are going to be some big changes. The whole community were up talking for half the night.”

My heart thuds. “So you’ll all be okay?”

“The one thing that is true is that we’re self-sufficient.”

“What does that have to do with Mum’s care?”

“I’m retiring, Constance. I talked with the police last night, and I’m old enough to claim a pension. It’s not a huge amount of money, but I’ll be able to be with your mother and take care of her.”

Tears roll down my cheeks. “I’m not far away if you need help.”

“Sweetheart, you’ll have more than enough on your plate.”

Corey’s grip tightens around my waist, and I snuggle in against him.

The end of Ash has meant the start of something good—something that should always have been.

I hear Julia before I see her.

“Andrew.” Her voice carries in the air, followed by her laughter.

As Corey and I draw closer, I see Andrew. He’s running around in the sunshine, and it makes me smile. Julia sits with Jared. His arm’s around her waist, and that just makes my smile grow.

“Hello,” I say.

She looks up, gasps, and leaps to her feet. “Constance.”

In an instant, I’m in her arms, and she’s holding onto me for dear life. “I see you’re doing okay.” I nod. “Jared.”

“Oh, no. His real name is Taylor.”

“Of course.” I grin. “You were undercover.”

“Not anymore. I’m sticking around.” He laughs.

“You’re leaving the force?” Corey asks.

Jared, or rather, Taylor, nods. “Julia and I are going to give it a go now everything is settling down.”

“The whole thing is crazy, huh?” Julia lets me go. “I knew Ash was up to something, but even I had no idea how big it was.”

She squats, beckoning Andrew to her. The little boy runs straight into her arms, and she scoops him up.

“I’d like you to meet Andrew.” She faces Corey. “I named him after your brother. He probably saved both our lives.”

“I hope Drew doesn’t know. He’s got a big enough ego already.” Corey laughs. He reaches out, tickling Andrew under the chin. “Maybe you should rename him Corey now.”

Julia laughs. “I’m so thankful for your family. He and Hayley were so good to me. I can’t thank either of them enough.”

“I’ll be sure to mention you to them next time I see them.”

“Maybe they can come and visit?”

He nods. “Maybe. They’ve got children of their own. Twins. They’re about 9 months old now.”

Her eyes widen. “That must keep them busy. I have enough trouble with one two-year-old.”

Corey laughs.

She shifts her gaze to me. “So, I guess you’re not coming back?”

“I’ll be right next door.”

Taylor stands, moving behind Julia and wrapping his arms around her waist. I guess I’m not the only one to get a happy ending.

The car journey home might be short, but it’s silent. Until we pull into our driveway.

“Why did you lie to my dad?” I ask.

“What?”

“About us getting married.”

Corey flicks a glance at me. “I told him the truth.”

“Since when?”

“I’m not in the habit of lying to people, Con. You know how I feel about you.” He pulls to a stop in the driveway.

My heart swells. He meant it.

Corey captures my wrist and brings it to his lips. “Every word I said was true. It’s you and me, sweetness. Even before the baby. It always was.”

Tears prick my eyes. “We haven’t discussed it.”

“I know, but this is it. We are getting married. First, it’s Adam and Lily’s time to shine. They earned it.”

“And that’s it.” I don’t mean to sound whiney, but I’m disappointed he’s made a decision without even asking me.

His expression softens. “If you’re angry because I didn’t propose first, I will—when the time is right and we’re both ready for it.”

I pout.

“Come here, my walking bunch of hormones.” He pulls me into his arms as much as he can, thanks to the gearstick between us. “Let’s go inside and I can show you just how happy you make me.”

“Promise?”

“I promise to give you the whole world. We can build our life together, Constance, and you’d better believe that includes me putting a ring on your finger. We’ll give our children everything.”

Children.

Plural.

I raise my face to meet his. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Doubting you.”

He shakes his head. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. We’re together, and that’s all that matters from now on.”

His kiss tells me everything I need to know—he loves me.