interested.
‘He died,’ she said. ‘In a snowboarding accident. Before Emily was born.’
‘God, how awful!’ He seemed genuinely shocked and sympathetic. ‘That’s tragic, Jessie. Truly, I’m very sorry. I hope his family has been supportive.’
‘I never told them about the baby. Lyall was estranged from his folks, and frankly, I didn’t like the sound of them. Anyway, they live over in New Zealand. I could hardly afford to fly over all the time. I thought it best to raise Emily by myself.’
‘But what about your own folks?’
Jessie winced. ‘Not a pretty picture there either, I’m afraid. Mum was a single mother herself. My father was a married man. She was Irish and Catholic, so getting rid of me was out of the question. Anyway, she emigrated to Australia when I was a baby, by which time she was all bitter and twisted about men. A few years ago she went back home. She wasn’t at all pleased about my becoming a single mother. Said I was a fool. But I’m a very different single mother from my mum, I can tell you.’
‘I don’t doubt it. You’re one very strong character, Jessie Denton. Very brave.’
‘Brave?’ Jessie gave that notion some thought. ‘Not really. I was scared stiff at the time. Not to mention seriously depressed. I didn’t have post-natal depression. I had pre-natal depression. But I couldn’t have done anything else. Emily was my baby. And really, other than having a few money worries, it’s been an incredible experience. I wouldn’t change a day of it. And now that I’ve got a decent job, I won’t even have any money worries,’ she added, not wanting him to think she needed money from any man. Or that she might look at him as a possible meal ticket.
‘I read on your résumé that you’ve been working as a waitress,’ he said. ‘Did you like doing that?’
Jessie shrugged. ‘Not overly. But it was the only job I could get other than decoy work. And I couldn’t bear doing that on a regular basis. I only did it this one last time for the money. Do you have any idea how much a Felicity Fairy doll costs?’
‘Actually, yes, I do. I’ve been instructed to buy one for my niece for Christmas. She’s about the same age as your Emily. Maybe we could go Christmas shopping together.’
She slanted him a wry smile. ‘You planning on seducing me amongst the soft-toy section of Sydney’s biggest department store? Save yourself the price of a dinner?’
He laughed. ‘I can’t see any man seducing you on the cheap, Jessie.’
‘One did. Once,’ she added tartly. ‘And I ended up with Emily.’
‘So I’m being punished for some other man’s misdeeds, am I?’
‘Let’s just say I look before I leap these days. But you’re out of luck. Dora bought Emily’s doll for me last Saturday. So you’ll have to go Felicity Fairy shopping by yourself. A word of advice, however. Do it soon or there won’t be any left to buy.’
‘I’ll do that. We’re getting close to Roseville. I might need some directions soon.’
Jessie glanced at her watch again. ‘We’ll only just make it in time.’
‘What happens if you’re late?’
‘There are penalty rates for every quarter of an hour you keep them waiting after six o’clock.’
‘That’s rough. What if there was an accident and the traffic was backed up for miles?’
‘Indeed,’ she said drily. ‘That’s why I’ll be catching the train in future. But it gives you a little inkling of the stresses and strains of being a working mother. Not much time left over for extra-curricular activities, either. Take the next corner on the left. The day-care centre is four blocks down, on the left. It’s cement-rendered, painted pale blue. You can’t miss it.’
‘Would you go to work if you didn’t have to?’ he asked as he swung round the corner.
‘I don’t have to work. I could stay at home on welfare. But I don’t think that’s much of an example to Emily as she grows up. I think if you can work, you should. On top of that, it’s nice to have some extra money. Welfare sucks, I can tell you.’
‘What if you were married, and your husband earned a good income? Would you work then?’
Jessie laughed. ‘I don’t indulge in futile fantasies, Kane.’
‘I was thinking of my brother’s wife, Lisa. She’s been a stay-at-home mum for over four years. I thought she was happy but she’s not. I advised her this weekend to get a baby-sitter in a bit more often and join a gym. But I have a feeling that’s just a temporary solution. I think she needs more.’
‘She should find a good day-care centre and go back to work, even if it’s only part-time. Or do some voluntary work, if she doesn’t need the money. She needs adult company occasionally. And challenges outside of motherhood and wifery.’
‘Yes,’ Kane said. ‘That’s good advice. Thanks, Jessie. You might just have saved my brother’s marriage for a second time. Aah, there’s the place. And it’s still only two minutes to six. We’ve made it!’
‘Only just,’ Jessie said, scrambling out of the car as soon as Kane slid into the kerb. ‘Thanks a lot, Kane. Please don’t wait. You’ve been very kind but you can go home now. It’s only a ten-minute walk for me and Emily from here. We’ll be fine. Bye. See you tomorrow.’
She didn’t wait for him to argue with her, just slammed the passenger door and dashed inside.
Kane stared after her, then broke into a wry grin.
‘You don’t get rid of me as easy as that, honey,’ he muttered.
Switching off the car engine, he climbed out from behind the wheel and walked around to the pavement, where he leant against the passenger door, folded his arms and waited patiently for Jessie to return.
SHE emerged after only two minutes, leading a little clone of herself by the hand. Black curly hair. Pale skin. Square jaw.
Jessie’s expression, when she saw him waiting for her by his car, was a mixture of surprise and irritation. Her daughter’s big brown eyes carried curiosity and delight.
Introductions were made rather reluctantly, with Jessie calling him Mr Marshall.
Emily gave him an odd look. Some of the delight had gone out of her eyes. ‘Are you my mummy’s new boss?’ she asked. ‘The one who made her late?’
‘I am,’ Kane confessed. ‘But I’m going to make it up to you both by driving you home, then ordering a couple of pizzas to eat for dinner so that Mummy doesn’t have to cook tonight.’
He’d opened both passenger doors invitingly whilst delivering this plan for the evening to a frowning Emily. When he glanced up at Jessie to find out her reaction, a rather strange smile was playing on
