‘You’re bloody dreamin’. You think any of that lot were on the road yet? Darren’s never been on time in his life. Pete will still be packing the car full of the girls’ stuff and Tony . . . well, I guess Tony’s usually a bit more punctual. But I still doubt he and Andrea will have made it. Now we’ll be stuck up there unable to get back and they’ll be stuck down in Sydney unable to come up. How’s that going to work for your Chrissy Day plans, love?’

‘They’ll have got through,’ Jill said, feigning confidence.

‘God, you’re obstinate, woman.’

‘I’m not, I’m positive. I have a can-do attitude. I’m optimistic and decisive. I’m —’

‘All right, all right,’ he said, laughing as he cut her off and patted her thigh. ‘I get it. Actually, can I tell you something?’

‘Yes.’

‘I wouldn’t mind having Christmas morning just with you. I know, I know,’ he said, waving his hand in her face and letting the car veer slightly, when she started to open her mouth. ‘Blasphemy,’ he continued. ‘Worst thing I could ever say. Not wanting to spend it with the kids and the grandkids and of course I do want to see them. But do you ever miss the days when it was just us?’

‘But, it’s always just us, now. We’re constantly on our own.’

‘Yes and no. I know they’re busy with their own families and a lot of our day to day is just us. But then when it comes to the big things, the events, it’s people everywhere and noise and nonsense and I can’t concentrate on anything any of ’em are saying anyway.’

‘So, get a hearing aid. I keep telling you, it’ll help.’

‘It’s not my bloody hearing, woman. It’s them.’

Jill laughed. ‘Oh yes, it’s never you, is it?’

‘Nope. It’s them. They all talk over the top of each other. Picture waking up Christmas morning with just the sounds of the bush. Drinking cups of tea in bed without being dragged out to the living room because the girls can’t possibly wait till a decent hour to open their presents but Grandma and Grandpa have to watch.’

‘Isn’t watching them open their presents the loveliest part of the day? Doesn’t the look on their beautiful faces make it all worth it?’

Frank made a noise of indifference. ‘Take it or leave it.’

‘Bullshit,’ said Jill, making Frank snort. She might not swear often but he was always amused when she did.

‘Yeah, all right,’ he said. ‘It’s a bit of bullshit. But if they didn’t make it through, this is our bright side, all right?’

Jill smiled. ‘All right.’

They were quiet for a few minutes, and then they both seemed to realise the same thing at the same time.