"No, no it's nothing to do with Kirsty"

If Shelley was being honest, the situation with Kirsty had contributed to the problem, but she didn't want to further upset Dani.

Dani looked at her mothers' frail figure. Something was obviously wrong. She had never seen her Mum so distant before. She was normally so in control.

"Then what?"

Shelley glanced across at her daughters concerned face through bloodshot eyes.

"The money me and your Dad had put aside... it's gone"

Shelley had almost collapsed when the bank manager had explained to her that the money she was trying to put into Kirsty's account didn't exist. None of it made any sense.

"What do you mean gone?"

"I mean gone - it's not there anymore. I thought the business was doing well but... we're nearly bankrupt."

Shelley was desperate to talk to her husband. He usually took care of the business. He was the one who looked after the accounts. She wished that there was some way to get in contact with him. Maybe he knew what was going on. But surely he would have told her if they'd been having money problems.

.......................................

B+B

Kane sighs and sits down on the edge of the bed. He wants to contact Kirsty and find out what's going on. What he didn't need was more worry. He knew he could trust her but he hated not knowing where she was or what she was doing. There was always the thought that she might desert him at the back of his mind. She could have anyone she wanted so why did she choose him? What did she see in him?

The door clicks open and Kirsty enters alone. A brief look of relief passes over his face as he smiles faintly to greet her. She smiles lovingly back and sits down next to him on the bed. She slips her arm around him and immediately senses that he is tense.

"Did you have any luck with the job hunt?"

"Where have you been?"

Kane's serious tone surprises her but she assumes he didn't manage to find a job.

"Didn't you get my note?"

Kirsty tried to sound innocent.

"Yeah I got your note - who's Chris?"

Kane's voice is harsher than usual. He was determined to find out what had been going on whilst he had been gone. He knows that Kirsty is behaving differently.

"Oh, just a friend - Chris works here. We went and had a look around the town. Chris is great - we thought we might go to see a film at the weekend - when Mum's money comes through"

Kirsty knew she was talking quickly but she was enjoying watching Kane's reaction. He was taken aback, a glint of jealously in his eye.

"So do I get to meet him?"

"Who said Chris was a 'he'"

Kane felt a bit stupid now. He had been getting worked up over nothing. He tried to hide his surprise with little success.

"Chris - Christine... you don't think I'd have gone out with another guy do you?"

Kirsty had been deliberately giving Kane the wrong end of the stick to see how he reacted. She liked knowing that he cared. It was comforting. The whole day had been a success. She had found a home, a job and even some new friends. To top it all she was with the man she loved.

"No, of course not... I just thought..."

Kane couldn't think of a way to get out of the situation. There was no easy way he could change the subject.

"You were jealous"

Kirsty looked at him teasingly, watching his awkward posture.

"I wasn't jealous"

Kirsty was secretly pleased by Kane's defensive attitude. He had never been a good liar.

"If you say so"

Kane eyed her suspiciously.

"You put 'Chris' on the note just to wind me up"

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"Well, putting 'Christine' or something would have sounded a little bit less... dodgy"

"So you were jealous"

Kane looks at her, mildly amused and can't help but laugh.

.......................................

CARAVAN PARK

The phone rings and Shelley rushes to answer.

"Summer bay caravan park... Rhys, where are you?"

Shelley was relieved to finally hear from her husband.

"I'm just calling to say I won't be back tonight Shell - I'm going to head a bit further out of town"

"Rhys, I need you back here now"

Shelley spoke urgently now. She couldn't discuss this over the phone.

"Calm down Shell, what's happened? Is it Kirsty?"

"No, I just need to talk to you - it's really important and it can't wait - how soon can you be back here?"

"Not for a few hours at least"

"I'll see you in a few hours then"

"Alright... I'll see you later"

They hung up. Shelley turns back to Dani, smiling reassuringly for the sake of her daughter. It had to be a mistake. There was no way they had lost thousands of dollars over the space of a couple of months. It wasn't possible. Business at the caravan park had been better than ever. At least Shelley was sure it had been. If this wasn't a mistake the whole family would suffer. The business would be at risk, along with the house. And there was no way they could support Kirsty as well. It would be a nightmare. She just hoped that Rhys would know what was going on.

....................................

B+B

Late evening

Kane and Kirsty lie on the bed, Kane dressed only in boxers and Kirsty snuggled up to him, wearing a baggy shirt and shorts.

"You know how dodgy this would look if someone walked in right now"

After what had happened with Dani he was not keen on giving people more reason to hate him. After all, Kirsty was only 15.

"No one's going to walk in"

She ran her hand up his chest thoughtfully. She couldn't believe how things had turned out. She couldn't believe she was doing this. A few months ago she wouldn't have dreamt of leaving home. It all felt so new. So exciting. For once in her life she didn't have to worry about what her parents thought. No one else mattered. She could do what she wanted without anyone disapproving.

CARAVAN PARK

Rhys walks through the door. The television is on at low volume and Shelley is staring blankly at it. No one else is around. Upon hearing Rhys enter, Shelley picks up the remote and switches the television off. Rhys looks down at his wife's pale face.

"Is everything alright Shell?"

"You tell me."

Rhys looks awkward but doesn't reply

"Does several thousand dollars ring a bell?"

Shelley stands up to face him. He avoids eye contact and opts to look downwards instead. He knew this time would come.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on? Because I've checked the accounts for the kiosk and the caravan park and everything seems to be going ok - it doesn't make any sense"

"I... I lent a few thousand dollars to Pete - he phoned up a few months ago - he was desperate for some cash so that he could start a new life in New Zealand. I was expecting some of the money back this week."

He felt a fool for letting his brother rip him off again. But they were family and Rhys couldn't just turn his back on him. He had just hoped that there was enough money left so that Shelley didn't get suspicious. But what with the takings from the kiosk being down the account had been practically drained.

"I can't believe you Rhys - time after time Pete comes to you looking for favours and every time you fall for his sob stories. If we don't get that money back we're in serious trouble."

Rhys felt ashamed. He had let his family down again. This was all they needed after all that had happened. He tried to sound convincing.

"We'll be ok, Shell... I'm going to contact Pete first thing in the morning. I'll make sure he knows the score."

Rhys knew that he would probably never see his money again. He was stupid to think he would. He was stupid to think Pete was using the money to try and turn his life around. It was more likely to have been spent gambling. He didn't like to admit to his wife that he had been trying for days to get in contact with Pete with no success.

....................................

B+B

Morning

There is a knock at the door. Kane opens his eyes slowly but Kirsty doesn't stir. He reaches gently over her and picks up his watch from the bedside table. 6:00. He rubbed his eyes and reluctantly slipped out of the bed, being careful not to wake Kirsty. Pulling a white dressing gown from the hook on the back of the door, he puts it on and unlocks the door, opening it part way. Sylvia, the B+B owner stood in the corridor.

"I think we need to have a talk"

Her voice was no longer gentle and welcoming. Kane was taken aback and disturbed by this early morning interruption. He responded bluntly, not moving from the door frame so as not to allow her inside.

"About?"

"About who you are and what you're doing here"