‘Oh really? Now this is something I was needing to discuss with someone. Exact same thing’s been happening to me lately. I think a couple of glasses of wine will take the edge off and it’s like I’m drinking water. What the hell?’

‘I know, right? Trust me, switch to gin. Fewer calories than wine, stuff some lime in it, you’ll feel like you’re on a beach somewhere. Perfect summer drink.’

‘I’m sold. I’ll buy some on the way home.’

‘Better yet, come around to mine after school when it is Friday. Bring Tara for a play with Chloe. We can ignore the kids and pretend we’re on a beach together.’

‘Sounds bloody fabulous.’

A fat drop of rain hit Mimi’s shoulder then. ‘Dammit,’ she said, ‘I was hoping to make it back to the car before it started raining.’

‘Oops,’ said Leesa. ‘You need a hand with the twins?’

‘No, I’ll be right. Thanks anyway.’

By the time Mimi and Tara had dashed back to the car, pushing the stroller in front of them, the rain had started teeming down. They were both soaked, but at least the twins were safe and dry under the shield of the pram. Tara was laughing, delighted at being caught in the sudden summer storm. She helped her mother transfer the babies into their capsules and then they both jumped into the car and Mimi started laughing too; Tara’s good mood was infectious. Oh well, at least it had cooled them down.

On the drive home, Mimi considered stopping at a bottle shop to grab some gin, as per Leesa’s suggestion, but Elliot was asleep yet again and somehow it felt like dragging twin babies and an eight-year-old into a liquor store to buy spirits would be . . . unseemly.

Hold off for Friday with Leesa, she told herself. Much more fun than drinking alone.

*

Andrea

The bell for the end of the school day had already rung when Andrea remembered her promise to Mimi. She was supposed to check in on Callie. The problem was that her day was always so busy, there was never a chance to seek out a student who wasn’t in one of her classes.

She wondered if she could catch Callie before she got on the school bus. Although then she’d be chatting to her in front of all the other kids lined up, and Callie probably wouldn’t thank her for that.

Then again, she’d always got along really well with her niece, so maybe it was worth a try. She left her things in the classroom and strode out to find her.