...to meet her mother wiping her hands on her grey tracksuit pants. Kate's hair was tied back off her face revealing tiny white milk spots above her cheeks. Anny told her that already she looked so slim and good. Kate ran her hand over her rounded stomach, arched her back and stuck her belly out at her mother.

They both laughed.

Anny had rushed out early that morning to get to the supermarket before going over to her daughter's house to babysit. But she was happy to be available to help Kate. After all, her own mother had been too busy to help her when Kate was born.

Kate had rung over the weekend and asked what Anny's plans were for Monday.

"I can fit in with you," her mother had said. "I can come over whenever it suits you."

"I'll go to aqua aerobics then. should be back by ten thirty. So if you can get here at nine. And bring lunch."

"Will I stay on and make dinner?"

"No. Don't stay on."

"We'll see then. We'll see how we go."

After Anny had been to the supermarket she'd discovered that she'd forgotten to bring the Marie Claire cookbook and the soy sauce, the ginger and the vegetable stock cubes that she had already in her kitchen. So she had to quickly dash back home to Bondi. And then, just before the Cahill Expressway there'd been a breakdown and the traffic was lined up and she was stuck in a bloody traffic jam before reaching the Harbour Tunnel.

"What kept you?" Kate asked by way of a greeting as her mother lifted the shopping bags and the laptop computer out of the boot.

Anny's own body shape was disguised in black trousers and a black v-necked t-shirt, although she'd contrasted and softened the black with a long amethyst necklace.

Kate inspected the necklace around her mother's neck. She picked it up, tugged at it. Banged it playfully against her chest. Is it new? Had she bought it recently? she accused Anny. Or did Anny only imagine it was an accusation? No. It wasn't new. She'd bought the necklace at the markets in Beijing last year when she'd done that Cycling in China trip. She'd chosen the stones and had it made up on the spot.

Kate gave her a final inspection. Flicked her eyes up and down her mother's body before giving her the okay to proceed towards the front door.

The windows of the red brick house rattled as a news helicopter vibrated in towards landing at Gore Hill.

Kate and Anny carried the shopping bags to the kitchen. They tiptoed along the wooden corridor past the closed door of the baby's room. "Don't use the doorbell any more because the noise wakes the baby," said Kate. "Just let yourself in with your key." Anny breathed in the familiar smell of, baby shampoo and fresh linen in the bathroom. The morning sun shone through the blues and reds of the leadlight window, highlighting the plastic baby bath that was turned upside down inside the big bath.

Just weeks before the baby was born Kate and...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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