“No, they wouldn’t.” Karen’s mouth tweaked up into a rueful smile. “Thank you for understanding.”
Warmth bloomed in Jess’s chest. At that moment, she would have done anything for Karen and she tried hard to make choices Karen would approve of, but sometimes her anger with Linda flowed fast like a river in flood. She’d continued to take risks—drinking and using ecstasy at parties—but when she chose to have sex she used protection and insisted on a bed.
She still lived by those rules. Mostly. And if a few Kurnai Bay women were going to hold ridiculous grudges for something she’d done years earlier and gloss over their own teenage mistakes, then so be it. But her worries were unfounded, and the women welcomed her warmly. Although she’d never be as close to any of them as she was to Libby—they shared a once-in-a-lifetime friendship—Jess was enjoying her new circle of friends. They were more socially reliable than a busy doctor.
But the biggest surprise on her return to the bay was her desire to get involved in the community. For a long time, she’d taken Karen’s advice to “put yourself first,” but Leo had softened her. She’d discovered that giving came back to her three times over and her new friendships were all part of that.
“Thanks for organizing the playgroup sausage sizzle this weekend, Jess.” It was the end of toddler gym and Jess and Genevieve Lawry were on packing up duty. Gen passed her a stack of orange cones. “How did you manage to get the Phelpses and the Lamannas to commit to an hour on the roster?”
Jess laughed. “I have secret powers of persuasion.”
“I believe you! I get so frustrated sometimes. We make it really clear to people when they join playgroup they have to do some volunteering. Most people do it without quibbling, but not those families. They’ve always got an excuse to weasel out of it.”
Jess stowed the collapsible play tunnels on a shelf. “I find it’s amazing how people change their minds when they feel they or their kids have missed out.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember that article I wrote for the Gazette after the working bee? I left their names off the list and their kids weren’t in the photo.”
“Oh, that’s clever.”
“I thought so.” Gen’s admiration buoyed her. “And I might have told them the other families were donating food and drinks.”
“No way!”
“Way. So the Phelps have paid for the sausages and the Lamannas have given us four cases of soda. Bread and sauce don’t cost much so that means almost pure profit for playgroup. Nick’s promised to cook lots of onions to bring in the crowds.”
“He’s so good! I wish more of the dads got involved. It’s a shame Libby can’t make it.”
Jess shrugged, not overly bothered since the duty roster was full. “Doctors’ hours.”
“I guess. It’s just I’m sure they used to do more stuff together.” Gen handed Jess a box of name vests, her face wearing the eager look of a notorious gossip. “You’re really close to them, aren’t you?”
“Yep. We go way back. I knew Nick before Libby did.”
“That’s true friendship! I’m not sure I would have let my best friend anywhere near a guy like Nick. Are they okay? I mean, you know, after …”
Jess didn’t want to discuss the state of Nick and Libby’s marriage, especially with Genevieve. “I don’t think anyone ever knows the true state of other people’s relationships.”
Disappointment flittered quickly over Genevieve’s face. “I guess not.”
“Mom, Mom, Mom!” Leo ran over. “Cookie?”
She scooped him up and pressed her face into his curls, breathing him in. Some of the women in the group had confessed to taking days and weeks to feel love for their baby, but the moment the midwife laid Leo into her arms, the rush of love had been so strong and primal, she’d cried tears of joy. In the ensuing months, nothing had dented it—not colic or teething, three bouts of mastitis or the difficult decision to give up her corporate job and leave Sydney, even though it was professional suicide. If anything, her love for her son had widened and deepened. Leo was her world and she’d sacrifice everything for him.
A stab of old pain caught her by surprise. Had her mother ever thought she was worth it?
“Coffee time!” Tenika announced to the room. Post-toddler-gym coffee was an extension of the class. “I booked the couches at Jangles.”
In a stroller convoy, they walked the short distance to the café and settled in for a chat while the children played at their feet.
“Anyone got any sexy plans for tonight?” Tenika asked.
A communal groan rolled around the couches. “Valentine’s Day is such a load of crap,” Eliza said. “Forget roses. I’d love it if Gav discovered how erotic I’d find it if he did the ironing or folded some laundry.”
“Or the dishes,” Kelly said. “When I asked Drew this morning if there was anything happening today, he reminded me he had cricket training. Mind you, he did offer to grab a bite to eat on the way home to save me cooking, so I guess that’s my Valentine’s present.”
“Did you tell him you still had to cook for the kids?” Gen asked.
“Not worth it.”
“Rob’s on the drilling platform this week so it’s Netflix for me,” Michelle said.
“What about you, Jess?” Eliza asked. “Got a hot date?”
“I have actually.”
Five sets of eager eyes swung toward her.
“Who with?”
“Where’s he taking you?”
“I’m so jealous!”
“I envy your energy.”
“Tell us everything so we can remember what romance is like!”
Jess laughed. “Stop salivating, ladies. You’re way too excited. And I’m not doing anything you can’t do for yourselves.”
“What is it?”
“I have a date with myself.”
“That’s no fun,” Kelly sank back on the couch, clearly disillusioned.
“Hang on, work with me. Remember Tenika’s girls’ night party?”
Gen giggled. “How can any of us forget? I had no idea vibrators came with so many moving parts.”
“We all bought lingerie and candles
