I hope that everyone has a safe and happy Easter 2022, wherever you may be.

Saturday 26 December 2015 – Boxing Day

The house was quiet when Kate woke up the next morning. She felt refreshed after her sleep, and thought she would take advantage of the lull before everyone got up and their day started. She decided to go and do a few laps of the pool. Kate changed into her swimmers, quietly grabbed a pool towel from the linen cupboard near the kitchen and opened the doors onto the terrace, before walking down to the pool. She draped her towel over the pool fence, and did a shallow dive into the deep end of the pool before starting her laps. Kate swam for about thirty minutes, changing her stroke between freestyle, sidestroke and backstroke. Since she'd been stuck on the floating platform with Dylan back in his first year on Hammersley after they'd been ambushed by the illegal grog runners, and she'd had to admit to him that she wasn't able to swim to a nearby island due to the distance, Kate had made a point of improving her skills in that area.

Eventually Kate slowed down her swimming and came to a stop. She flipped onto her back and floated there while she slowed her breathing and heartbeat. Once these were down to close to their usual levels, Kate made her way to the steps and got out of the pool. She grabbed her towel from the fence and used it to wipe her face dry, before drying off the rest of her, then wrapped the towel around herself, and made her way back towards the house. As she walked up the grass, Kate realised that Dylan's mother Christine was sitting at the table on the terrace, with a glass of orange juice in front of her.

"Morning" Kate greeted Christine, before sitting at the table to keep her guest company.

"Hi Kate. How was your swim?"

"Great. Just what I needed to clear the cobwebs. I hope that you had a good day yesterday?"

"Oh yes. It was very nice to meet Dylan's friends and finally put faces to names. I've always thought that photos just aren't the same as meeting people in person." Christine paused and had a sip of her juice. "Actually Kate, I heard you getting up earlier and, as I wanted to speak to you, I thought this would be a good time, before everyone else is up."

"I hope that I didn't wake you?"

"Not at all. I was already awake." Despite seeking out Kate this morning, Christine did not seem to be in a hurry to begin the conversation, instead having a drink of her juice, and then wiping the table to remove the condensation left by the glass. She eventually looked at Kate and started speaking again, her tone less friendly than usual. "Just what hold do you have on my son? What makes you so special that he's willing to be in this absurd situation - sharing you with Peter?"

"With all due respect Christine," Kate began.

"Usually when people say that it means the opposite," interrupted Christine.

Kate smiled "Possibly. Actually, my relationship with Dylan and with Peter is really none of your business. If you really want answers, I suggest you speak to Dylan."

"Yes mum, why don't you ask me?" Both women looked to Dylan, who was standing in the doorway. Kate had no idea how long he'd been there, but apparently for a little while at least. His tanned face was a little pale, and he was visibly tense.

Christine had the grace to look embarrassed at being found questioning her son's girlfriend. "Well Dylan, what am I supposed to say when people ask how you are? I can hardly talk about my son, his girlfriend and his girlfriend's other boyfriend."

Dylan's shoulders slumped briefly, then he glanced at Kate before responding. "Mum, I thought you were OK with Kate and Pete and me. Frankly it's no-one else's business about my private life. There's a reason why it's called private."

"Well, I'm not OK with this ridiculous situation. It's not normal. Is she blackmailing you? I mean, surely she must have something that's she's holding over you. You're a good-looking man, with a steady job – why can't she choose you and just you? Why does she have both of you hanging off her, like she's some sort of princess?"

"Oh, for God's sake mum. Can't you just accept that I want to be with Kate? She makes me happy. Pete is my mate and I want him to be happy too. And his being happy means him also being with Kate. And being with both of us makes Kate happy."

Christine shook her head, denying Dylan's words. "So you're all happy." She sneered as she said 'happy'. "How nice for the three of you. Dylan, it's ridiculous. An absolutely ludicrous situation. And your friends seem to just accept it without blinking. Couldn't you find a nice girl who just wants you?"

Dylan stepped closer to Kate and rested his hands on her shoulders, gently squeezing them to comfort her. Kate reached up to press her hand against his, both drawing comfort from the other.

"Mum, do you know who I've had for previous girlfriends? I've haven't told you and dad about many of them. But when I was on Hammersley, denying my feelings for Kate – yes, I've had feelings for her for years. Anyway, there were two women - two murderers, well one was an actual murderer, the other one just planned what happened. One of them was a married woman – to this day I'm not sure if she was lesbian or bisexual. She murdered her husband and tried to frame me for it, and then tried to kill me as well so she could be with her girlfriend. Kate and the others from Hammersley saved me just before I drowned. The other woman was a traitor, in partnership with terrorists, who also tried to kill me, and who was responsible for the death of two good men. I've made rotten choices for girlfriends in the past, not just Laurel and Madeleine, there've been others, but Kate knows about all that, and she accepts that I'm not perfect and she helps me to be a better man."

Kate sat back, listening to but not taking part in the conversation. She couldn't. Christine's comments and aspersions had hurt Kate, and she was unable to respond. Just yesterday Kate had been thinking how lucky she was with her friends and their acceptance of her relationship with Pete and Dylan, and now today she had run smack into prejudice just where and when she wasn't expecting it.

"Mum, I think that perhaps you might feel more comfortable if you went to a hotel for the last couple of days you're here in WA. I'll go and let dad know that you're leaving. Kate, could you come with me please?" Dylan offered his hand to Kate and helped her up from the table, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, before they walked inside, leaving Christine on the terrace, speechless at Dylan's words.

Once inside the house, Dylan took Kate to her room, where he kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly before suggesting she go and have a shower. Once satisfied that she was heading to the bathroom, he left the bedroom and went to the spare room to speak to his father.

Dylan explained what had happened between Christine and Kate. Grant shook his head and commented, "I was afraid of this. Frankly son, what you choose to do with your life is your business, but mum doesn't quite feel that way. As far as she's concerned, you're still her little boy, even though you're heading to forty."

"I know dad. I know that mum loves me, but she doesn't get a say in my life. I can't have her in the house any more after the things she said to Kate. I won't have Kate hurt more than she has been by mum."

"You know that I love you son? I won't pretend that I understand the situation here between you and Kate and Peter, but I can see that Kate cares for both of you, and she makes you happy. That's obvious from the interactions I've seen between the three of you since we've been here. I'll start making some phone calls to find somewhere to stay. We're due to fly out in two days' time anyway. I won't bother changing the flights. A couple of nights at a hotel won't be a problem."

Christine entered the room just as Grant finished speaking. Dylan hugged his father and whispered "Thanks, I know you love me. I love you too." before leaving the room. He glanced at his mother but didn't speak to her. Dylan went to the kitchen where Pete was making coffee. Once both men had a cup of coffee in hand, Dylan took Pete outside to tell him what had happened.

Pete was unhappy that Kate had been upset and wanted to go and see her immediately. Dylan persuaded him to give Kate some time to herself. Soon after, Grant and Christine came out from the spare room with their bags. Pete stayed outside while Dylan went inside to say goodbye to his parents.

He hugged both of them, but spoke only to his father, "Let me know where you're staying. I'll come and see you tomorrow and spend some time with you before you fly out on Monday." Dylan helped them to take their bags out to their hire car, then stood on the lawn and watched them drive away.

Once their car was out of sight, he sighed and his shoulders dropped a little before he walked back inside. He collected Pete and the two of them went first to the spare room, stripping the bed and bathroom of linen and giving the rooms a quick clean. Once the rooms were restored to their usual state, the men went into the kitchen and prepared brunch for the three of them.

When the food was ready, Pete went to Kate's room and knocked on the door. Hearing her response, he stuck his head around the door, announcing "Grub's up. Come and eat with Dutchy and me."

Kate was sitting curled up on the window seat in her bedroom, staring out at the water in the canal. She looked up and asked, "Where are Grant and Christine?"

"Left. About half an hour or so ago. They've gone to a hotel and they won't be back before they leave."

"Ah." Kate got up from the seat and followed Pete to the kitchen. Once there, both men hugged and kissed her before gesturing to the food they'd prepared. "Guys, it looks lovely. Thank you. For everything."

"Kate, I'm sorry … mum … well …" Dylan stuttered to a stop, at a loss about what to say to her.

Kate hugged him before speaking, "Guys. Yesterday I was thinking just how lucky we are with our friends, and how they've accepted that the three of us are in a relationship. This is just a reminder that not everyone is so accepting. I don't hold it against Christine. She's entitled to an opinion, just like anyone else. It was just a bit of a shock because we haven't had someone disapprove of us before. Maybe disapprove is the wrong word? Whatever. Anyway, I'm OK." Kate smiled at the two men before helping herself to some of the food set out on the breakfast bar.

The events of this morning had put a dampener on their day, but Kate knew in her heart that it would serve to strengthen the bonds between the three of them. She reflected that they were lucky in their choice of friends; to be close to people who, mostly, accepted their choices without batting an eyelid.