James started whimpering from the pram and Mimi jumped on the distraction. ‘Let’s start the walk so the twins settle down and then we can talk properly.’

‘Good idea,’ said Jill. She picked up the lemonade bottle. ‘Shall I tip this down the sink?’ she asked.

‘I guess so,’ said Mimi. And she tried not to let the disappointment show on her face as she watched her gin disappear down the drain.

*

Darren

‘Can we take him for a walk?’ Tara looked up at Darren with pleading eyes.

‘It’s fine with me but it’s up to your dad,’ said Darren, turning to look at Pete.

Pete pointed at Callie. ‘You take care of your little sister and you take care of the dog, got it?’

Callie rolled her eyes but she looked pleased. Both of his nieces hadn’t stopped patting Doggo since they walked in the door. Darren gave them the lead and they clipped it on and headed out the door without a backwards glance.

‘Nice to see Callie not entranced by her phone for a change,’ said Pete once they were gone.

‘Maybe you guys need a dog too.’

‘Yeah, not bloody likely. We’re a tad busy. All right, tell me what this email said.’

Darren flopped down on the couch and ran his hands through his hair. The email from Elizabeth, his literary agent, had come through that morning and he hadn’t known who else to talk to about it. Now, he pulled his phone out, opened the email and passed it over to Pete. ‘Read it for yourself,’ he said.

There was silence while Pete read, then he eventually spoke. ‘Yeah, all right, this isn’t ideal.’

Darren laughed. ‘That’s putting it mildly. If I don’t deliver by March I’ll have to repay the advance. I’m fucked.’

‘Okay, yeah, it’s not great. But it’s also not impossible.’

‘Pete! You don’t get it. I don’t have anything. Not a single word down on paper.’

‘But you have ideas, right? Hold up,’ Pete interrupted himself. ‘You just got a Facebook message from someone. Here.’ He passed the phone back.

Darren swiped on the message and the first thing he saw were two capitalised words at the top: LOST DOG!!!

His body tensed as he read the rest of the message.

Hi Darren,

I saw your post on the Lost and Found Pets North Shore Facebook page and it looks like you’ve found my beloved dog, Freddie! I’m so excited, I couldn’t believe it when I saw the photo you shared, I thought I’d never see him again. Could you please call me on the number below so we can arrange to meet? I can’t wait to see Freddie. You’ve seriously made my year for me.

Thank you so much!

Tia