She sighed but her eyes glistened. ‘Okay, it’s going to be hard to accommodate my bump, but I do like a fashion challenge, so … it’s a date. When shall we go shopping?’

I laughed and it was decided. Our excursion was scheduled for next time I was in Perth, and Hayley and Wei would make sure they were rostered off the weekend of the ball, which thankfully also coincided with one of Adrian’s weeks with the kids. Knowing I was going to have my oldest and best friend there for the evening as well as my newest ones only added to my excitement.

Adrian came up beside us, a slightly uncomfortable expression on his face. ‘What are you grinning at?’

Sundays at soccer were the only times we saw each other now—all our other communication occurred via email, text messages or passive-aggressive post-it notes left around the house, but we tried to be courteous in person for the children. Hayley and I had been so lost in conversation we hadn’t even noticed the game had finished and I really hoped no one asked me the score.

‘Secret women’s business,’ Hayley told him as Payton joined us. She leant down to give her a hug. ‘Hey sweetheart. You were a superstar out there.’

‘Thanks, Aunty Hayley.’ Payton turned her attention on me. ‘Can I go to Prosecco’s? Her mum said she can drop me home just before dinner.’

While I felt slightly saddened that Payton would rather spend our last day together at a friend’s house than with me, I knew she’d only sulk all afternoon if I said no. And although I definitely harboured concerns about anyone who’d name their child after an alcoholic drink, Prosecco’s parents were nothing but nice and always worrying about whether she had enough sunscreen on, so I was okay with the request. ‘Sure. I’ll come talk to Jane and Tim now.’

Maybe having plain names themselves had led them to be creative with their daughter’s.

‘Does Dad get a hug before you go?’ Adrian asked, leaning down. As Payton slipped into his arms, he glanced at my shoes and it looked as if he was about to have a conniption. ‘What on earth are you wearing?’

Call me childish, but I couldn’t help smirking as I stuck out my foot like some kind of model, admiring my star-speckled silver ankle boots with their high heels and pointy toes. ‘Aren’t they gorgeous?’

He visibly shuddered. ‘They’re death for your toes, that’s what they are. You should know better.’