“We managed to keep our distance and then over the years it became a habit. Bob and Milt gradually made contact again. Did you know?” Veronica barely paused for breath let alone an answer to her question. “Earlier this year I came home to find them having coffee on the back verandah. Jack was with them. They were talking sheep but it was quite a shock to see them together. Then I felt bad that because of me they’d been denied that friendship.” Veronica’s tears flowed again.

“Milt had a part to play in that too.” Natalie leaned in and put an arm around Veronica. “Maybe we need to follow the men’s lead. Keep the past in the past and move forward.”

“You’re such a good person, Natalie.”

Natalie stared at the sparkling glass coffee table. Was she? Not always – she had her flaws just like everyone else – but she tried to be a good person. She’d worked out there was a difference between that and being a dogsbody and there were things she was going to change.

The strong aroma of the casserole wafted around her. She moved Veronica gently upright.

“That chicken should come out. How about I dish up the food and we eat it on our laps?” she said.

Veronica nodded.

“I don’t suppose there’s anything on TV?”

“We subscribe to something.” Veronica blew her nose and stood up to get the remote.

“Find us something cheerful.”

By the time they were settled back with their food and a comedy show on the TV, Veronica had composed herself again.

Natalie’s stomach gurgled a welcome to the casserole. “This is absolutely delicious, thanks, Vee.”

The other woman looked up from her plate and smiled. “That’s the first time you’ve ever called me Vee. You’ve always called me Veronica, even before…well, anyway, no-one else but my mother calls me that.”

Natalie smiled and tucked into more of Vee’s lemon chicken.

Milt and Bree had gone to bed but Olive and Laura were settled in the den watching another movie from Paul’s collection, Ladies in Black this time. Halfway through the movie Olive had asked Laura to pause it while she went to the toilet and when she came back she had a Cherry Ripe bar in each hand.

“I brought a few supplies with me. And I thought in the morning we could plan the rest of the meals for the week.”

“The week!”

“I know your mother will be home but she’ll want to settle back in, look after Kate. If the meals are organised that’s one less thing to worry about.”

“I suppose.” Laura had imagined her mum would take over the cooking as soon as she returned home.

Olive passed one of the chocolates to Laura and wriggled back in her chair. “This is fun, isn’t it? Just like old times.”