Daniel knew what people would say: ‘He’s your father – of course he loves you!’ But why ‘of course’ was what Daniel thought? Perhaps once, when he was a dumb baby and an innocent child, but now! He loved his car because it was a Mercedes; he loved his house because it...

John had been like a specimen tree that grows in the middle of a lawn: strong, straight, and tall, and in no doubt that he would always be strong, straight, and tall. When he was growing up, he had always been picked first for teams. His powerful legs had carried him...

Kate should have died twice, but fate delivered her up safe both times. The first incident occurred when she was ten – she fell out of a tree onto a metal star picket. The picket caught the edge of her waist, tore her clothing, and left a bleeding gash on her side....

‘Jacinta, I have something to tell you. Sarah had a heart attack … she died.’ 'What! But she’s only 39.’   Sarah is, was, my cousin – older by six months. Our mums are sisters. We grew up together, as cousins do. I never considered her a close friend, but it had...