As they approached the bridge they’d cross to turn around, she watched a team of rowers lifting their oars out of the water in perfect sync while a cox shouted commands from the front of the eight-person scull. Closer to shore, a family of swans paddled about, the cygnets awkward teenagers with fluffy grey down.

She’d only been there a few days, but Jules was already starting to fall in love with Melbourne. No wonder Chloe went on and on about it all the time. There was a lot to brag about.

*

“Oh, my god, it feels good to sit down.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Ash reached along the length of the couch and tapped her glass against Jules’s. “Worth it, though. Those cookies look divine.”

“And you only stole, like, what? Three, or was it four?” teased Jules.

“It was five. And I’m feeling it now. Sugar crash.”

“Hey, thanks for helping with the gift for Thea and Callie.”

“No worries. You had all that baking to do.”

“True, but you dressed the ham and cleaned the apartment.” The already spotless apartment was now immaculate.

“Yeah, but still. The present thing was easy—I knew exactly where I was going, and I was in and out in under twenty minutes. It’s a really nice idea. I wish I’d thought of it.”

“Well, we’ll make sure to toast them tomorrow—make it extra special.”

“With my favourite bubbles!”

“Exactly. These aren’t bad either.” Jules had another sip from her glass.

“Haven’t you heard? We don’t make bad wine in Australia.”

“I am sure that’s almost true.” Ash flashed her a grin. “So, what else did you want to get done tonight?”

Ash jumped up, and Jules wondered at her seemingly boundless energy. “Let me just get the list.”

“Ah, yes, the list!” Jules had never really seen the appeal, something that Chloe—and even Lucy—found frustrating about her when they travelled together. Mostly because she’d invariably forget something and they would end up scouring a tiny town in Italy for a phone charger, or flipflops for her size-ten feet, and one time, a DIY bikini-wax kit.

According to Chloe, the waxing kit was only necessary because Jules hadn’t written a pre-departure list, so had forgotten to get her bikini line in order ahead of time. Jules had conceded that one.

“Right!” Ash plopped down on the couch, took her glass off the table for a generous swig, then proceeded to mumble her way through a list of things that were already done. Jules watched, amused.

How had her family got through Christmas all these years without planning? She drank more sparkling wine, starting to get a little impatient for Ash to tally up the still-to-do items.

“We should probably iron the tablecloth and the napkins and set the table.” Jules scrunched her nose. “Yeah, you’re right. To hell with it, we’ll do it tomorrow. Or we’ll wait ’til the others get here and they can do it.” Jules doubted very much that Ash was the kind of hostess who let her guests set the table, and she resigned herself to ironing table linens on Christmas morning. Still, it was better than doing it now.