‘Speaking of those two, who’s looking after them this arvo? Callie?’

Mimi almost spat out her champagne. ‘Ha! Now that’s hilarious. You think I’d leave Callie in charge of two newborns?’

‘What? She’s sixteen, isn’t she? Some kids give birth at sixteen.’

‘Don’t say that! And trust me, she’s a young sixteen. She’s had zero interest in helping out with the babies. I’d sooner leave Tara in charge than Callie. No, Pete’s home on dad duty.’

‘Ah yeah, I always forget you have a work-at-home husband. That you two have some sort of weird relationship where you can spend all day and all night together.’

‘Yeah, yeah, we’re freaks of nature. We should set up a glass window, charge admission. Come and gaze upon the married couple who spend all their time together.’

‘Oh, people would pay.’

Mimi laughed. ‘You know, in all honesty it’s not that weird.’

‘Yeah, I know, I’m just jealous because I know if it was me and Angus, we’d murder one another within two weeks.’ ‘You would not.’

‘We would too. And it would be violent. I’m talking gory horror film stuff. How’s work going anyway? You two have a new book coming out any time soon?’

‘We’re working on one, but we’ve been slowed down by the twins. And I’m really struggling to draw anything. I’m stuck on this stupid monkey that’s supposed to be cute and cheeky and instead he keeps coming out looking rabid and deranged. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.’

‘I do,’ said Leesa. ‘You need a break!’

‘Muuuum,’ Chloe called from the pool. ‘We’re hungry, can we have snacks?’

‘Open your mouths,’ Leesa called back. ‘I’ll throw blueberries at you like you’re seals.’

‘Mum! No!’

‘Okay, okay, fine. Go in and get some packets of crisps. See how much water you can drip on my clean kitchen floor on the way.’

Mimi laughed again and took a large sip of her champagne, enjoying the way it fizzed in her throat as it went down. ‘You’re one of the cool mums, you know that, right?’

‘Hell yeah, I know it. Come on, now’s our chance to jump in the pool while they’re not there to annoy us. Quick!’

*

Jill

Dear Frank,

There’s a smoke haze throughout Sydney today. A nor-easterly wind brought it across this afternoon. I was onto the news quick smart to see what was going on. And then I went to double-check the Ventolins in the house before I realised. There’s no point checking them anymore, is there? And then I cried.