North Star by Karly Lane

to hand it to him—he may have been slow, but he didn’t sit down once all day. Kate tried not to feel depressed, but it was such a huge job and the progress was not what she’d been hoping for. How could it look like they’d done nothing all day? Was there no end to this rubbish?
    Kate left Larry to it while she drove in to pick up the kids from school. Tomorrow they could catch the bus, but Kate wanted to be there to meet them when the bell went on the first day.
    She smothered a sigh of disappointment when she saw the dejection on Liam’s face. ‘So . . . how was it?’ she asked, trying to sound cheerful.
    â€˜Fine,’ he said without enthusiasm.
    When they picked up Georgia she slammed the door shut and slumped in her seat. ‘What a bunch of backward hicks,’ she snarled.
    â€˜Oh,’ Kate replied, unable to hide the dismay in her voice. ‘I’m sure tomorrow will be easier,’ she tried. ‘The first day’s always the hardest.’
    Liam just looked out the window and remained silent. Georgia, on the other hand, spared no detail in informing her mother just how ghastly her new school was and how much she despised it. Her tirade lasted the entire trip back to the motel.

    The rest of the week passed in a blur. By Saturday morning Kate was wondering why she had ever thought she could take this all on. She was physically worn out from clearing out the house, and mentally drained by the constant arguing with Georgia and worry over Liam. She was seriously thinking about giving up.
    The sound of a vehicle approaching broke into another argument between Kate and Georgia. Glad of the reprieve, Kate walked to the front door to see a dusty four-wheel drive pulling up in front of the house. Kate wiped her dirty hands down the sides of her jeans and ran her fingers through her hair. The old screen door squeaked painfully as she pushed it open.
    A family emerged from the vehicle, dressed neatly in jeans and button-up shirts, complete with riding boots and Akubra hats. A small, slim blonde woman with a tanned face and huge smile came towards the steps of the house and waved excitedly.
    Kate stared, sure that her mouth had dropped open. Jenny.
    â€˜I’m sorry I haven’t been over before now, but we’ve been away at the cattle sales and only just got back last night,’ Jenny explained breathlessly, hurrying up the steps and throwing her arms around Kate. ‘It’s so good to see you again,’ she said with a happy laugh.
    Stunned, Kate searched Jenny’s face, the laugh lines around her twinkling blue eyes, the wide smile. Images of long hot summers by the creek flashed into her mind, walking across dusty paddocks, climbing through barbed-wire fences, giggling over boys.
    â€˜Oh my God . . . Jenny!’ Kate cried at last and pulled Jenny towards her in another fierce hug. ‘You haven’t changed a bit.’
    â€˜And you must need glasses,’ Jenny laughed, turning around.
    A stocky man had approached, stopping one step below them. ‘This is my husband, Nathan Beaumont,’ said Jenny. He extended a beefy hand to Kate and she shook it warmly.
    â€˜I remember you,’ said Nathan. ‘Jenny’s always reminding me how a bunch of us boys used to spy on you two girls and throw rocks into the creek while you were swimming.’ He grinned and Kate vaguely recognised his face.
    â€˜And who would have thought I’d end up marrying him?’ said Jenny, laughing.
    â€˜How could you resist?’ Nathan shot back. Kate saw a matching sparkle in their eyes as they looked at each other and felt a funny little hitch in her chest.
    â€˜I hear you have children,’ said Jenny. ‘These are my two. Amy and Matt.’
    Kate switched her gaze to the two children standing at the bottom of the stairs. Matt was a nice-looking country boy, dressed like a miniature version of his father, and he