Kendal couldn't concentrate. She was sat at her desk at Fusion but her mind on her sister. She had heard about the newspaper articles, even read a couple. Stories full of half-truths and vile speculations. Few referenced the fact the JR was about to go on trial for the attempted murder of his ex-wife and none of them mentioned his violent alcohol fuelled break-down that put her baby sister back in the hospital.

Kendal had already fielded half a dozen calls from news agencies looking for a quote. She had done her best to sound polite as she answered the questions but with every comment that undermined her sister's family the angrier she was becoming.

Kendal tried to return her focus on the designs for the Christmas packaging for the Fusion cuddly toy range when the phone rang again.

No longer able to contain her irritation Kendal picked up the phone and all but yelled down the receiver.

"You are vultures! Tearing apart a happy family to sell your rag of a newspaper! For the love of god, can you not just let them be! Bianca and Marissa love each other; I have never seen two people more in love…"

"I'm glad to hear it." said the startled voice at the other end of the phone.

It took her a second to recognise who it was.

"Griffin!" she exclaimed. "I'm sorry…"

"It sounds like my call is well timed." said Griffin, "I wanted to ask if you would join me for lunch."

"Um…" muttered Kendal, still a little thrown, and slightly embarrassed by the fact it was Griffin at the other end of the phone.

"I'll take than as a yes." said Griffin. "I will be by in about fifteen minutes to pick you up."

…

Kendal found herself sitting on the hood of Griffin's car looking out over Pine Valley.

"This is an amazing spot." Kendal gasped.

Griffin had picked her up as promised and driven them out into the Pine forest following a gravel track until they came to this breath-taking view.

What made the lookout point more incredible was the fact that they had it all to themselves.

Griffin sat back beside her and smiled.

"I discovered it when I came up here hiking last week. I knew I wanted to bring you up here." He leaned into her side, giving her a playful nudge, before pointing into the distance. "You can even see your house from here."

Kendal laughed.

"Yes I can." Her smiled didn't stay though. She could also see the news vans circling the school and the Miranda centre. Realising she was ruining the mood she turned back to Griffin. "Um… Didn't you invite me out for lunch?" she asked finding her smile again.

"Oh yes." said Griffin, slipping off the hood of the car. "I made sandwiches, hope you like tuna… or there's cheese…"

…

They ended sharing one of each with a can of soda between them.

"It's not much I know." said Griffin.

"What do you mean." said Kendal. "It's wonderful. It's just what I needed."

Griffin looked down at his lap.

"I had a big romantic picnic planned, champagne and strawberries, but what with work and possibly needing to find a new place to live, time is just one luxury I don't have."

"Wait, new place to live?" Kendal asked. This was news to her.

"The neighbours have been complaining to the landlord about Charlie…" explained Griffin. "He's a baby, he cries. There isn't much we can do about that. But the landlord has had words. We are probably going to have to find a new home, probably somewhere even further out of town. Although, hopefully with more understanding neighbours."

Kendal put a sympathetic hand on his. Griffin looked up at the gesture and there was a twinkle in his eye.

"Now I said I didn't have much time to plan the picnic but I did commission this just for you."

He pulled out a paper bag from behind his back. Kendal unwrapped it to find it to find a cookie decorated with an iced pink heart and around it the letters GC and KH-S.

Kendal shook her head, smiling in disbelief.

"You are such a secret softie." she laughed. "Thank you."

Their eye met and still grinning Kendal leaned close to share a sweet kiss.

…