Bed of Roses

As the new co-owner and editor of the town newspaper, Louisa wants her first issue to have a real impact, but she struggles to find a story worthy of her expectations. Holly deals with a major setback, and Nick brings both help and upheaval to Louisa’s life.

When the Echo staff uncover a damaging story about undertaker Lionel Smithwick, they’re torn between their duty to report the truth and their duty to his son, Sean. Holly decides to revel in her freedom, while Minna’s bid for greater independence is derailed by her driver’s license test.

The community rallies around a local woman whose husband has left her with three young children, and Louisa and Nick grapple with being surrogate parents for a night. Holly’s gap-year antics threaten harmony on the home front until she learns a hard lesson in responsibility.

Rainbow’s End has been plagued by a recent spate of burglaries, and when Minna becomes a victim, it throws her confidence. The community is rocked by the death of Lionel Smithwick, and Louisa is forced to add to Sean’s woes by revealing the truth about his father.

Louisa is caught between her two closest friends in a town debate over regulations for pet cats. When a stray cat wanders into her home, her attempts to remain unbiased are further compromised. Premarital counseling leads Louisa to discover a secret that Nick has been hiding from her.

Minna’s estranged sister, Frida, returns to town, and her visit coincides with the anniversary of their father’s discovery of an orchid varietal that is the highlight of a local park, now struggling from drought. As Holly tries to save the park, Minna struggles with her resentment of her sister.

When the army comes to Rainbow’s End for a training exercise, their presence flushes out more than insurgents, as Louisa learns a secret from Nick’s past. Sean reaches a breaking point and risks his relationship with Holly, while Frida finds catharsis in the trials of young love.

When a teenage boy arrives to reconnect with Nick, Louisa welcomes him into her home until his errant ways drives a wedge between her and Nick. A fundraising concert acts as a catalyst for Minna and Frida to have a long overdue heart-to-heart, while Holly’s broken heart provokes uncharacteristic behavior.

When Deb receives shocking news, Louisa and Marg try to support her through an emotional minefield. Louisa writes a profile on a local winemaker who might be able to resolve Deb’s problems-until he also proves to be the right man to distract Holly from her heartbreak.

When Gavin has a health crisis after a particularly bad day, the women in his life feel guilty for giving him grief. Minna is caught driving without a license and finds a novel way to regain her independence.

It is a week before Louisa and Nick’s wedding, and Louisa is still without a dress, so she sets off on a shopping excursion to Melbourne with her mother and daughter. But the weekend does not go as planned, and monumental revelations come to light. Meanwhile, Nick experiences his own misery when he is injured on a fishing trip with Sean.

On Louis and Nick’s wedding day, bushfires are threatening Rainbow’s End. Nick is called out to fight the fires, while Louisa must assume her official role as media liaison to the journalists flocking to cover the story. Despite imminent threat, Minna does not want to vacate her home, and Louisa confronts a devastating possibility.