Should he ask her about Thomas hitting Bella or not mention it? The playgroup mums were Lexie’s one social group. Although, it seemed to be a women-only thing; there were no family get-togethers on the weekends. Apart from Tara, whom they’d bumped into on the ridge, he hadn’t met any of the others. Marty had suggested meeting up with Elissa and some parents from the hospital but Lexie refused. Back in Sydney, she’d had groups of friends from uni, netball and the museum. And a book club too. She used to make friends so easily. Collect them wherever she went. Back then, she’d been carefree and confident.

‘It sounds like you’re really fitting in. I’ll come home early on Tuesday and I can drive you to the restaurant.’

Lexie hadn’t been out with a group of women for so long. Perhaps it was a good thing that she’d refused to socialise with people from the hospital. These days, Marty would prefer to keep Elissa to himself.

‘That’s okay—Tara said she’d pick me up.’

‘So I won’t get to meet them all?’

Did she talk about him to this group of women? What had she told them?

‘Maybe another time,’ she said, pulling out a knife to chop the carrots.

‘Where are you going for dinner?’

‘The Thai restaurant at Weston Creek.’

God, how he’d like to take his wife out to a Thai restaurant. Any restaurant really. They used to go out all the time when he wasn’t on call. Before. But she wouldn’t let Bella be babysat. Maybe the gardener, Deirdre, could help out—she was the grandmotherly type. They’d take it step by step. If Lexie could enjoy this dinner with the other mothers, then maybe the next one could be the two of them together. He missed his wife.

And maybe Lexie should do another postgraduate course. She’d finished a Master of Museum and Heritage Studies at Sydney Uni years ago, just before they’d met. One of the universities here must have a relevant research program. He’d look online for courses and find the right moment to bring it up. It could ease her back towards work. Bella would be at preschool next year and at school the year after. Lexie would need something to keep her occupied. Unless they had another baby.

‘Who’s going to dinner?’ he asked.

‘All five of us. Julia, Imogen and Mel will meet us there. Tara’s still breastfeeding—that’s why she’s driving.’

‘Did they grow up around here?’

‘Not all of them. Tara’s husband and Julia’s husband are cousins. That’s how Tara ended up in playgroup.’

‘Ah, Merrigang—such a small place. How do the others know each other?’