Another stall was selling garden ornaments made from recycled materials that Nicole lingered briefly at, wondering if perhaps the copper and tyre brolga would look good in her front yard when it was eventually finished. If it was ever finished. Not that she could afford such extras. And Jacqui, the pregnant woman from the post office, was selling artwork – mostly pretty, albeit generic-looking, landscapes. But she also had a few abstract pieces that caught Nicole’s eye.

‘Nicole! Good to see you again,’ said Jacqui. ‘You like these ones, do you?’ she gestured to the abstract pieces Nicole was admiring. ‘I’d be more than happy to show you a few more like it sometime. I keep them back at my garage studio – they tend to be a little too out-there for the market crowd.’

‘That would be great, thanks, Jacqui.’ Nicole tried a warm smile, wondering if Jacqui could read her mind, which was calculating exactly how much money she didn’t have to spend on art.

Sitting back on the picnic blankets on the hill in their viewing area as the game continued, Nicole realised she was finding the excitement running through the crowd somewhat infectious, though she was loath to admit it to herself. The cheers gained volume and frenzy as the clock ticked into the final few minutes. The teams were tied – eighteen points each. In the last few seconds a field goal from Danny put the Rangers in front and the cheer from the home crowd as the horn sounded the end of the match was so loud Nicole had to cover her ears.

A group of boys aged between six and sixteen, all dressed in Rangers uniforms, encircled Danny.

‘He coaches a few of the junior sides,’ Mandy said to Nicole. ‘He’s brilliant with them.’

The boys clambered to pat their hero on his back. Danny picked up the smallest of the boys, Jason Junior – Jacqui’s eldest – and sat him on his shoulder for the extended victory lap, which the crowd lapped up. Trevor gathered them all in for a big group hug before jogging over to his wife for a big kiss.

Mandy leaned over to Nicole. ‘They’ll be celebrating with a schooner or three down at The Royal,’ she said.

Rowdy footy players and beer was not an enticing combination for Nicole. It was time to slip back into obscurity and attack those waiting walls, but Trevor grabbed her by the hand.

‘Not so fast, you.’ He flung his arm around her shoulder. ‘Our lucky charm is coming, too.’

Nicole frowned. ‘Your what?’

‘This is the first time in years we’ve beaten those buggers. And the only thing that’s different is you.’ He slapped her on the back.

Mandy leaned in wrapping her in a protective embrace. ‘I’ll make sure she gets there.’ She pushed her husband back towards his team.