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What are you thinking, that we split the costs? I’ve got a couple of quotes we can look at.”
    Todd was surprised it was all happening so easily. “That sounds good.”
    “We’d already worked out a plan,” Mary said. “Here, Charles, take Amber and I’ll go get it.” She thrust the toddler at Charles and waddled back into the house.
    Charles settled Amber on his knee and started to feed the little girl cookie crumbs. Mary wasn’t long, soon coming out with sheaves of paper.
    Todd looked them over. All the paper work was done and the two of them had even calculated that his mother paid less than them; they were looking after the old lady.
    There was a name missing from the list. If she was just renting, then she wouldn’t necessarily be mentioned but he wanted to know.
    “I don’t see Sia Collins’ name here.”
    “Ah, yes,” Mary said. She was sipping on herbal tea and rubbing her belly. “Sia tried to put money in for it but Jim and I said no. Jim’s my husband.”
    “So she does live here. I thought so.”
    “No, she doesn’t.” Todd frowned. “Sia’s studio is here, but she lives with her father and her siblings.”
    “Studio?”
    “I don’t think I should say more than that.” Mary took another sip. “Sia’s a private person. But you can ask her yourself, if you like.” She nodded her head at the same time the rumble of a car engine reached his ears.
    Todd looked over his shoulder. A small white hatchback had pulled up in Mary’s driveway. As he watched, Sia got out of the driver’s seat and opened the passenger door behind her. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a neat bun and she was wearing a shirt emblazoned with the emblem of the RSL bowling club. His attention was then diverted when the other rear passenger door flung open and a small boy jumped out. He reached in, grabbed a bag then ran from the car and up the steps.
    He screeched to a halt in front of Mary. “We’re here.”
    “So I see.” Mary kissed the little boy, who Todd guessed would be about six.
    “Where’s John?”
    “In his room, playing.”
    The boy disappeared. Todd’s attention returned to Sia who was now halfway up the stairs, holding the hand of a child a couple of years younger than the other.
    In all his ruminations, he’d never considered that Sia would be married, or that she would have children.
    “Thanks so much for this,” she said as she reached the verandah.
    “Will you stop that?” Mary stood and first kissed Sia, then bent to give the child a hug. “You know I’m more than happy to look after Brock and Ebonny.”
    “I’ve texted Sienna, but she’s in Bathurst studying today and tends to turn off her phone so I don’t know when she’ll get the message.” Sia took a bag off her shoulder and put it down next to Mary’s seat. “If you’ve not heard from her by six —”
    “Assume she’s staying in town to study, won’t be back and I’ll keep the kids overnight. It’s fine, Sia. The least I can do after everything you’ve done for us.”
    Sia reached and pushed a lock of blonde hair off the little girl’s forehead. The child — Ebonny, Todd guessed — grinned at Sia and Mary. “I’m so lucky.”
    “We both are. Do you want a coffee?” Mary sat the little girl on the chair she’d vacated and bent to rummage through the bag.
    “I can’t — I’m already close to being late for work. Love you.” Now it was Sia doing the kissing, planting a kiss on Mary’s forehead. She gave Charles a wave and then skipped back down the steps, ignoring Todd.
    Todd watched Sia back the car down the driveway and leave. When he turned back to the table, it was to find Sia’s child staring quietly at him.
    Todd looked the child over — blonde hair, just like her mother, but instead of Sia’s wide, deep brown eyes the baby’s sparkled blue.
    “Cute kid,” he said.
    Mary nuzzled her nose against the child’s downy hair. “I know as a mother I should think my own are the best, but