‘Yes, sure, that’s fine. You’re the designated driver.’ Grace smiled at him.

Turning out of their street, Lawrence drove past a bush block where a stand of gum trees almost obscured the view of the big homes that had been built in the 1970s and eighties.

‘What’s that on the road? Lawrence, stop! It’s a koala!’

As he pulled over, the young koala waddled towards the trees.

‘Oh, he’s adorable. Let me take a photo for Daisy.’

‘They’re around all the time,’ Lawrence said, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

But Grace jumped from the car and lifted her phone to snap a photo, saying quietly, ‘Where’re your mumma and papa, little fellow?’

‘Hurry up, Grace. We’re running late.’

‘It’s okay. How cute is this little guy? I hope people drive carefully round here at night.’

‘No one goes out at night here. This is the ’burbs. Country style,’ Lawrence said as Grace scrambled back in and the car glided forward.

‘You’ve always been a city boy,’ said Grace. ‘Do you miss it?’

‘And you’re a water baby. Do you miss the beach?’ he countered.

‘Well, Mum’s there so I still have a connection to it. But it’s such a trek into the city from the Northern Beaches.’

‘You can say that again. Okay, so who else is coming tonight?’

‘Just the Robinsons and some of their neighbours. You said you wanted to get to know George Ashton.’

‘The bank guy? Yes. Just don’t leave me stranded with Holly Ambrose and that husband of hers. I don’t give a shit about soccer and swimming and all the sports stuff they talk about.’

‘Okay.’ She didn’t bother to argue with him. Lawrence was intolerant of subjects he had no interest in and people who he perceived to bring no value to his world. But she liked Holly, and her husband Roger did so much for the sports teams at Daisy’s school.

Lawrence pulled up and parked in front of a white, ranch-style house with a basketball hoop on the garage, a trampoline to one side, and two small bicycles lying on the front lawn.

‘There’s Holly now,’ Grace said, waving to her as she got out of the car.

*

The evening felt long. Grace had hoped they might get home early but for once Lawrence seemed in no hurry to leave. He rarely drank, but was nursing a glass of red, probing George Ashton for his views about bank rates and where certain investments were headed. George must have turned out to be a useful contact for him, Grace thought.

Finally, the other guests started to stand up. Grace carried some glasses into the kitchen and found Holly there, stacking the dishwasher. Holly glanced up and smiled. ‘Been lovely to see you guys. You must come over. Bring Daisy to use the pool any time. Roger can teach her to dive properly.’

‘Thanks, Holly, we’d love that. Daisy can swim pretty well now, but a few tips would be great.’ It was a shame, Grace thought, that Lawrence would never want to take Daisy round to the Ambroses’ place, but she made a mental note to do so herself. She and Lawrence didn’t have a pool and it had been such a hot summer.