“You okay?” Laura asked. Her sister always looked pale these days.

Kate gave a half-smile in return. “Just a bit weary.”

“That’s rich considering you’ve slept for half the day,” Bree said.

“I’ve been doing other things.”

“Like what?”

“She prepared the vegetables,” Laura said.

“That’d be right, you two always stick together.”

“What’s got up your nose?”

“That’s enough,” Milt rumbled but his words were lost in Bree’s tirade.

“You’ve been late most mornings, you work at half pace sometimes and—”

“She hasn’t been feeling well.” Laura defended her big sister.

“What’s wrong with you?” Milt asked.

“Nothing.”

“Girls, girls, girls!” Olive strode into the room, silencing the noise with a clap of her hands. “What’s going on?”

They all stopped.

“Hello, Granny.” Laura broke the brief silence.

Olive eyed them all suspiciously then kissed each girl’s cheek. She hesitated in front of her son.

“Hello, Milton.”

“Mum.” He bent to brush a kiss across the cheek she offered then turned and sat in his chair.

“Can I get you a wine, Granny?” Kate asked. “I think we’ve got some.”

“That’d be very nice, thank you.”

Olive hooked her handbag over the back of a chair. “I could smell that roast from the door.”

“Can you look at it?” Laura pleaded. “It doesn’t seem to be crisping up.”

Olive went to the oven and peered in. “It might need a hotter oven. I never mastered the art of good crackling. Your mother’s the expert.” She turned back to the others. “Where is she?”

They all paused.

“She’s gone to visit Aunty Brenda,” Laura said.

“In Brisbane?” Olive looked to her son for confirmation.

He nodded.

“I would have come out earlier and helped if I’d realised she was leaving today.”

“She’s been gone all week.” Kate set a glass of wine in Olive’s place.

“But…” Once more Olive looked to her son. “What about school?” Her shoulders went back. “How on earth have you managed with tailing?”

“I’ve got three other grown women here to help.”

“We made quite a team.” Kate glared at Bree.

“But the food—”

“I did it.” Laura grinned.

“Very well, I might add.” Milt raised his beer in a mock salute. “You all did very well.”

Bree opened her mouth as if she was going to say something then took a mouthful of beer instead and sat at the table.

“Well!” Olive said. “Fancy that. Your mother’s left you and gone all the way to Brisbane.”

“We can look after ourselves, Granny,” Laura said. She hadn’t had a chance to prod Kate into asking their dad about the Brisbane trip and obviously Granny knew nothing.

“Let me help you now, at least.” Olive turned back to Laura.