Chad stared at the house through the windscreen, unable to bring himself to get out, walk across the lawn, and knock on that door. A moment ago, two children under eight had scuttled out of the house, flying the coop all the way to the kerb before they had stopped.

A woman, perhaps their mother, had run out after them, screaming at them to get back in the house. They were going to be late—for something. The woman had an eerie similarity to June. They could have been sisters in another life. Of course, this woman was much older than his June. Ten years, if not more.

He eyed the address on his phone again, triple-checking his tripled-checked address. He was in the right place, but he hadn't expected this—a family home. A picture-perfect family home, in fact. Picket fence with beautiful budding roses, a yard big enough for the kids to play in, a house with character; two kids who seemed happy, and a perfectly reasonable mother, perhaps. How did Mr Bolton fit into this picture? Ever since Jo had described the man she was expecting, Chad couldn't picture anything else. Somehow the six-foot-tall, built-like-Rambo, and tattooed-to-his-neck-in-ink image did not gel with the house or the family.

William Bolton was meant to be some hotshot hunky dream-machine that had broken June's heart into a million little pieces when he didn't want a future with her—and by doing so, is the reason she no longer sees a future with anyone. He was not supposed to be this—this family guy.

Chad brought his phone out and called Jo. "I don't think I can do this!"

"Shh! I just put Cia down for a nap. And what are you on about? Are you at this guy's place already? What does he look like?" Jo chimed in excited but hushed whispers. "Was I right? Is he Arnold Swarz next to your... uh, I don't even have an equivalent skinny actor!"

"No! He's not Arnold to my—whatever—I haven't seen him yet."

"Bet you're sitting in your car staring at the house, huh?"

Chad scrunched his face and eyed the street, wondering if Jo was hiding somewhere watching him sweat. "What do I say? I don't know what to say. Hi, I'm your ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend and I have a few questions?"

"Well, you could say that and see how things go." Jo was trying hard not to laugh. He could tell. "Or you could just ask him if he's seen her recently. She ran away and you're trying to find her and make sure she is safe and sound? What's his house like?"

"Like a happy family home."

"Family home? With a Harley out the front?"

Chad scanned the yard. There was no Harley in sight. "No. Just a normal family home, with two kids and a wife! Hence, it doesn't feel right to go and knock..."

"You saw the kids? How old are they?" Jo's tone had suddenly turned serious—sleuthing.

"What do the kids have to—" Chad began.

"Just tell me!"

"They looked young."

"How young?"

"I don't know! I saw them only for a few seconds... maybe seven, eight?"

"I knew it!"

"Knew what?" Chad sat up a little straighter.

"Bet June didn't know he was married..." Jo was muttering.

"Married? Who was married?"

"Don't be stupid, Chad! Who else?" Jo cut in, sharp as a knife.

"Bolton?"

"Yes, Bolton! Echo even called him Mr Bolton. I bet you a hundred bucks he seduced the poor girl, and she didn't even know it. He was married! No wonder she'd nearly bit your head off when she thought you were married to Cassie."

That name sent a shiver down Chad's spine. Ever since that episode, he'd made it his mission to keep tabs on her whereabouts, and currently, that was a nicely padded wall in a safe and guarded medical facility for the criminally insane—ever since she tried to kill her roommate for stealing a toy off her.

"June didn't know he was married?" He stared at the house with fresh eyes. "Or, maybe the kids are someone else's? Maybe he lives here but isn't married to this woman? Or maybe—"

"Stop, before you give yourself a stroke." Jo barked an octave higher. "Get your butt out of that car, march across that lawn, knock on that freaking door, and ask the damn question!"

The question! Chad had almost forgotten about the question. The question upon which his future rested. "What did June ever mean to you?"

"Not to me, you idiot! Ask him. God, I wish I was there right now instead of here. Go. I have to get outside and mingle now. Keep me posted."

Jo ordered. "And remember, you're doing this for her. Go!"

A moment later, Chad stole through the lawn light-footed like a thief and, with trembling hands, knocked on the door thrice.