‘What do you take me for? Not that there’s anything wrong with one-night stands. But yes, it was brief. Short but sweet. Which is another reason why it might be a teensy-weensy bit tricky for me to turn up on his doorstep with a little bundle of joy in my arms.’

‘But he has to help you out,’ Olivia said. ‘Financially or practically. Both.’

‘Do you want us to talk to him for you?’ Maxie said. ‘I can fly down, come with you to see him.’

‘Oh, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t appreciate a delegation. But thanks for the offer.’

‘But what will you do? You can’t bring up a child on your own.’

‘Yes, I can. I’ve even been to social security and investigated my rights. See how organised I am?’

‘Jeannie, I’ve got savings. Of course I’ll help you too, but I’m sorry, I don’t have a lot.’

‘You can have mine too,’ Olivia said, ‘but long-term, your work, where will you live, all of that?’

‘I’ve decided to move out of Melbourne. It’s too expensive. I’m going to go to a country town, somewhere with a good hospital, nice schools, cheap rent. See, I’m responsible and organised.’

‘Have you told your parents?’ Olivia asked.

‘Of course!’ Jeannie’s voice was bright. ‘They were so supportive. They think it’s wonderful news. They can’t wait to meet the baby.’

‘Really?’ Maxie said. ‘But that’s fantastic. I thought —’

‘Don’t be so stupid, Maxie. Of course I haven’t told them. I’m not going to.’

‘But they need to know too. It will be their grandchild.’

‘Olivia, when will you realise my family is not your family? We don’t like each other. Or to be more accurate, my father hates me and my mother is ashamed of me. You think they’d leap joyously at this news? That my mother would call her fancy friends and say, “Wonderful news. Not only was Jean nearly a jailbird, but now she’s having an illegitimate child! I’m so proud of her!”’

For the rest of the call, Olivia and Maxie did all they could to assure Jeannie they’d help as much as they could. Visit as soon as they could. Did she need anything now? Did she have enough money? She insisted she was fine.

They kept in touch constantly from then on, with phone calls several times a week. Jeannie moved to a country town, as she’d said she would. It was north of Melbourne, in the goldfields. She rented, cheaply, a two-room flat at the back of a bigger house in the town. She struck it lucky. The elderly couple who owned the flat were kind, understanding, non-judgemental.

‘I think they’re religious. Possibly Quakers,’ Jeannie told Maxie and Olivia. ‘They’re very quiet and un-nosy. That’s not normal, is it?’