Dave struggles with unfamiliar emotions that threaten to engulf the easy-going father and husband he has always been.

Dave Rafter prides himself on being easy going and uncomplicated. He knows himself and life is going well - or so he thought. In rapid succession, life teaches him that no human ever has total control of things - and Dave's easy going ability to roll with the punches starts to fail him.

He assumes Chel will stay with them to convalesce after her operation, but instead she's heading north to Ballina, to stay with an old friend. Nathan assumes the guest room Dave has prepared for Chel is for him and rejects the imagined offer. Rachel gets emotional about not being able to spend the night with Jake - and Dave takes it personally, thinking that yet another of his children doesn't want to sleep under his roof. Rebuff three. And then his beloved Ruby starts suffering separation anxiety and only wants her mother. It's enough to make Dave feel redundant in his own home.

Rachel is trying to settle into her new job at EMB agency but her first day proves disconcertingly frustrating when the scheduled conference with boss Paul Morgan fails to eventuate and she is left all day to her own devices. New colleague Liam seems friendly on the surface but when he supplies her the wrong time for an important meeting the next day, is he friend or foe? And can Rachel really fulfill the demands of her new position?

Carbo's wife-hunting on internet dating sites brings immediate success in the form of Loretta. It's love at first sight, despite warnings from Ben and Melissa that things are moving way too fast.

Having secured a job in Dave's business, Coby is behaving suspiciously. Does he have a secret agenda and will this come as another blow to Dave if and when he finds out?