In the end, she’d only left about twenty minutes after Tony and, knowing he’d be stopping at the service station to meet his family, buy snacks and fill up the car, it was likely she’d catch him up on the freeway.

*

Mimi

‘Looks like we’re the only ones here.’ Pete was cleaning the windshield with a squeegee while Mimi filled the tank. Callie and Tara had gone into the shop and both twins were wide awake in the car, their little hands reaching out and legs kicking jerkily. As the petrol pump clicked off, Mimi noticed James looked in danger of crying. Why did babies take such offence to the car being stationary for all of five minutes?

‘Not like us to be on time. I feel strangely proud.’ Mimi put the petrol hose back on the cradle and opened the back passenger door to make soothing noises at James.

‘Usually Tony’s first cab off the rank.’ Pete finished with the windscreen and headed round to the side of the car where Mimi was still trying to keep James from crying.

‘Speak of the devil.’ Mimi nodded towards the entry to the service station as Tony’s shiny Lexus turned in, the last dying rays of sunshine reflecting off the bonnet. He pulled up behind them.

‘Here’s Mum too,’ Pete said as Jill’s Volvo followed Tony in and parked near the shop entrance.

‘That’s good, cause we’ve gotta get going before this one loses it.’ Mimi then glanced across at Elliot and saw her bottom lip starting to tremble. ‘Scratch that,’ she said. ‘We need to get moving before they both lose it.’

*

Jill

Jill sat still in the car for a moment after parking at the service station. She’d waved merrily to Mimi and Pete as she drove in, but now she was finding it hard to get out of the car. To actually face them.

Would anyone say anything? Would they acknowledge the significance of the day? Of the drive? Or would they avoid it for fear of upsetting me? Of course, they all had other things to deal with on top of remembering Frank.

Mimi and her secret bottle of lemonade.

Mimi and her troubles with Callie.

Callie and that sadness she was hiding within.

Andrea and her discovery about her husband.

Tony and his terrible betrayal.

Tony, the son who perhaps wasn’t the person she’d thought he was.

Yes, they might all be feeling the pain of Frank’s loss, but they also had other things on their minds.

Jill pasted a smile across her face and climbed out of the car.