‘Finn knows you’re here today?’ I ask.

She rolls her eyes. ‘What did I just say?’ And then she speaks to Abby. ‘Also, the men in your family are a bit thick. Finn has a lot on right now so I’m doing the drop-off.’

‘Drop-off?’ Abby says. ‘You plan to leave him here now? For how long?’

Maria sighs. ‘My God, the questions. He’s a sweet kid and won’t be any trouble. He’ll muck in with your lot. And Finn will show up when he shows up.’

‘No, he can’t stay here,’ Abby says. ‘I was never on board with my father trying to take Beau in the first place, obviously. But if the police show up they’ll think we’ve kidnapped him. And Finn saw Dad – and Charlie – at your commune, so . . .’

‘Why would the police come here?’

Abby fumbles to answer.

‘Is Finn setting us up?’ I ask.

‘Yes, that,’ Abby says, pointing at me.

Maria shrugs. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘You don’t think so?’ I say. ‘Far out, that is not a good answer.’

‘And,’ Abby continues, ‘not that it’s any of your business, but I’m the only adult in the house right now –’

‘Excuse me?’ I say. Rude.

Maria smirks at Abby. ‘You really are.’

Abby keeps going. ‘The only adult in the house, with three kids and a dog.’

‘Hang on, Abby. Maybe we should let Beau stay,’ I say. ‘He’ll be safe here, and Dad will be pleased, and if it’s Finn’s idea –’

‘Can you not?’

‘Maybe go play with the toy cars,’ Maria says.

I ignore their barbs.

‘We’re not related to him,’ Abby says. ‘He doesn’t know us. You agree that my hands are full. And – wait: Skye has a brother in Darwin, doesn’t she?’

‘Had,’ Maria says. ‘He got crushed by a house during Tracy. Listen, this is where Finn wants Beau. There isn’t anywhere else he can go. So,’ she stands up, ‘end of discussion.’

‘Not end of discussion,’ Abby says, frowning.

Maria stands firm. ‘Listen, Skye was on her way to Beau when she died. She wanted him off the commune. And I understand why, I do. So if Finn is letting that happen for even a short while, you should step up and help the kid. I do what I can to keep the little ones safe, but they’re not. Okay? They’re not safe there.’

Abby visibly pales and rubs her eyes with the pads of her hands.

‘I’m going to say goodbye to him now. There’s a bag of clothes by your door.’

Abby steps towards her. ‘I said no.’

‘Abby,’ I say. ‘You heard her. There isn’t anywhere else.’

Maria turns when she reaches the doorway. ‘Lady, I get it. But this isn’t up to me – I’m doing what Finn told me to. You can take it up with him when he shows. Just make sure you’re not alone when you do that, okay?’

That night, after Sarah, Beau and the twins have been fed, bathed and put to bed, Abby and I watch the news, taking turns to get up and change the channel. We’re working our way through a box of moselle and a bag of Cheezels. Abby talks endlessly about the difficulties of having Beau stay with her – the legal, the logistic, the financial and emotional.