Jill shifted her attention back to Andrea. ‘How’s the little one doing there? Have you managed to coax a burp out of her yet?’

As if on cue, James let out a loud croak.

Mimi gave Andrea a golf clap. ‘Expert technique.’

*

Mimi

Mimi was loving all of this time without having to hold, feed, rock or burp her babies. With her own parents back in England and no other family here in Australia, she had to rely on Pete’s family for any outside help with the kids. And right now, Jill and Andrea had it all under control. They’d managed to get both of them to sleep; Andrea had even done a perfect transfer from her arms to the pram while Jill insisted James would wake the moment she placed her down.

Now, as Jill fanned the pram with a plastic menu to keep the girls cool, there was a look on her face that was a mixture between impressed and mollified that Andrea had done so well. Actually, Mimi noticed, there was something else there in Jill’s expression. Underneath all of that. Something that had been beneath the surface throughout all of lunch. A hint of sadness perhaps? And her hair wasn’t set as neatly as normal. Usually her shoulder-length, silver-streaked hair was blow-dried around her face. Today it was pinned back with clips, as though she’d done it in a hurry. Jill had been alone for almost a full year now and yet she always seemed to put up a steady façade of brightness and bravery around her family. Were the cracks finally starting to show? Was she ready to accept their support instead of worrying about everyone else for a change? Surely it had to happen eventually. Then again, Jill was a determined woman and as the matriarch of her family, an ex-principal and a mum of three boys, maybe she would never let those vulnerabilities show.

Either way, Mimi couldn’t help but feel good that she’d been able to eat her southern fried chicken burger and enjoy her glass or two of wine in complete peace. Bellbird Café was decked out in tinsel, and silver and gold stars hung from the huge outdoor umbrellas. A small Christmas tree covered with fake snow was set up in the corner. This was the time of the year she loved most. When everyone started decorating, the shops were bustling and people were giddy from long Christmas lunches with drinks. The one thing she did miss was having an office job where you got to enjoy the big company Christmas party. Working from home with Pete had its perks, but it didn’t include enjoying the office culture of water-cooler gossip and work lunches and meetings.

‘Hey,’ said Andrea, ‘can I get both your opinions on something?’

‘Shoot,’ said Mimi.

‘I’m not overreacting when I say it’s wrong to leave a child alone in an apartment, am I?’