‘Half a beer,’ she said.

‘Jeez, it’s good to have you all here the night before the wedding,’ Tony said.

‘Cheers,’ Uncle Bill said, tapping his forehead with his beer can.

‘Jamie really impressed Merle with his handiwork on the place names, you know. She and Leanne loved it,’ Tony said.

‘Yeah?’ said Uncle Bill. ‘Bit of a creative streak, eh?’

James nodded, his face warming with the embarrassment. ‘I still have to get it done.’

‘Ah, you’ll knock it over easily, mate,’ Tony said. ‘I brought the list in from the car, it’s on the verandah table. Yvonne’s set it all up for you.’

‘You’re allowed to use the new marker pens,’ she said, placing napkins precisely.

James dragged his feet towards the hallway.

‘You’re tired, aren’t you?’ Mum said. ‘Get it done before tea, eh?’

‘Go and get things ready for him, Tony,’ Aunty Doris said, shelling peas. ‘He hasn’t got any of his clothes. Loan him a pair of your pyjamas and get yourselves a fresh towel each.’

‘Rightyo,’ Tony said, grabbing another beer and passing into the hallway.

Uncle Bill disappeared back into the living room and flicked the channel over to the footy. Mum nudged James to follow his cousin.

‘It’s all in there, mate,’ Tony said, passing the brightly lit verandah where the blank name tags sat ready for inscribing.

‘Just you and me, now that Alan’s at your dad’s,’ Tony said, crossing the hall and pulling a bright towel from the closet. ‘Don’t have to crash till you’re ready though, alright?’ and he stood aside while James crossed the threshold.

By the mirror hung a dry-cleaned morning suit, still in its plastic wrapping.

‘If you want pyjamas, look in my top drawer, on the left,’ Tony said, flicking the light on in the bathroom and pressing the towels onto a rail.

‘Okay,’ James answered.

He yanked at the drawer. Under pressure, socks, underwear and handkerchiefs spilled out. He spotted the pyjamas down on the left. The ones on top had a kind of smooth, burnished feel which was like Tony, so James pulled out a salmon-coloured set, just as his cousin emerged.

‘I forgot I had those. Never wore them, always thought they were a bit poofy,’ he said, laughing.

James was trapped by the word, chin on his chest, looking at the offending colour.

‘But, you know, what the heck!’ Tony bellowed. ‘I won’t tell your girlfriend!’

After Yvonne was sent to bed, Aunty Doris got a bit tipsy and danced with Uncle Bill on the terrace to the jazz music coming from the record player.

Mum taught Tony how to lead a simple two-step she said she’d coached Dad in before their own wedding, but James noticed Tony didn’t need much encouragement. He immediately conquered the simple moves and started twirling Mum and dipping her until her laughter rose and blended with the music.