She tipped her chin up. Whoa there. ‘It’s really none of your business what I do, so you don’t have to worry.’ Where had this come from? Now they were eyeing each other thoughtfully.

Mim cleared her throat noisily as each tried to stare the other down, and Stella jumped when the phone rang.

‘I’ll get it,’ she said, and the curiosity in her voice was patently clear. She glanced at Ava as she went to answer it in the sitting room. ‘It’s Jock,’ she said when she returned. ‘He’s not coming for lunch but will bring Hana for tea.’

Ava said to Zac, ‘Hana’s thirty weeks pregnant. She has an online baby-clothes business she runs from their cottage.’

‘She has the most beautiful sewing skills,’ Mim added. ‘It’d be good to add some of that into the bloodline. None of us are much good. Though my knitting sells well at the Beanie Festival.’

Zac looked bemused. ‘You have a Beanie Festival?’

‘It’s a big event in Alice Springs.’ Ava made sweeping gestures with her hands. ‘Huge.’ She pointed to her grandmother, pride in her voice. ‘Mim’s on the committee.’ Well, it was pretty cool that Mim could go from metalwork to crochet. ‘Granny Mim has diverse skills.’

‘I’m not satisfied.’ Zac spread his hands. ‘What’s a Beanie Festival?’

Mim waved her on so Ava answered. ‘It started with beanies crocheted by Aboriginal women in remote communities. Sharing the knowledge before it was lost. Now it’s become a huge fun event where Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists share their culture and exhibit together. There’s an incredible amount of community participation because it aims to develop Aboriginal women’s textiles, promote women’s culture and promote handmade textile arts. It runs at the end of June. It started with traditional spinning and basketry and now everyone showcases their beanies. Granny Mim enters every year.’

Stella came to the table and joined them. ‘And usually brings home a prize. They have themes.’

Ava said, ‘Last year was Weaving the Magic, so think Dreamtime or fairytales. What was the year before, Mim?’

‘Spirit of the Land,’ Mim said, and Ava could see her granny enjoying the attention. She cackled and Ava had to smile.

‘So, Mim’s the crochet and knitting queen, but Hana is much better at needlework and using a sewing machine.’ Ava gestured to the other two women. ‘Granny and Mum are also good cooks.’

‘Your mother is. You take after me, or worse.’ Mim peered at Zac. ‘Did she tell you she can’t cook?’

He smiled at Ava. ‘I’m sure she can. She has a few good recipes for saving lives.’

‘More important,’ Mim agreed with a look of approval at Zac.

Ava raised her eyebrows at him. ‘Don’t tell me.’ She sighed. ‘You’re a fantastic cook?’

‘Not bad.’