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that Jake was rather self-conscious about, often spending an inordinate amount of time and money on differing hair products, a conceit that Mattie found rather endearing. Dressed more tastefully than his children, Jake was wearing jeans and a navy polo shirt with a light blue inset panel across the chest. As Mattie watched, he slammed the boot shut and grinned across at their indecision, saying something that she couldn’t hear and gesturing towards the front door. Seconds later the doorbell rang, its shrillness making her jump even though she was expecting it. Mattie took in a deep breath, waiting until it filled the uncomfortable hollow beneath her ribcage before going to answer the door. But before she could, it swung open.
    â€˜Hey there.’Jake grinned and held up her spare key. ‘Still got this from the other day so I thought I’d save you the bother. How’s it going?’
    â€˜Good. It’s good.’ Mattie stood there awkwardly.
    â€˜Mummy!’ Courtney squeezed herself past and flung herself on her mother. ‘Mummy! I
missed
you.’
    â€˜Oh god, Court.’ Mattie bobbed down, the tight jeans protesting, and wrapped her arms around her daughter amongst the pink tulle. ‘I missed you too.
So
much.’
    â€˜C’mon, it’s only been two days.’ Jake shook his head with mock disgust as he dumped the schoolbags on the floor and then reached down into one of them and pulled out a bottle of champagne. ‘Here you go. House-warming gift. Chilled and all.’
    Still keeping one arm around Courtney, Mattie took the bottle and smiled at Jake with surprise. ‘Thanks. That’s really nice.’
    â€˜That’s me. Really nice.’
    She looked at the bottle, truly touched by his thoughtfulness, and then to hide her emotion, peered past Jake towards the doorway. ‘Where’s Max?’
    â€˜Right here.’ Jake stepped inside and revealed Max, who had been standing behind him. ‘It’s just he’s got a bit more self-control than you two. Haven’t you, mate?’
    â€˜Yep.’ Max met his mother’s eyes briefly as he shuffled inside next to his father. He glanced around the room expressionlessly and then stared down at his feet.
    â€˜I know it’s not much.’ Mattie looked at him ruefully. ‘But we can fix it up more. Hang some pictures, maybe even paint the walls if the landlord lets us.’
    â€˜I don’t think it’ll help.’ Jake gave the lounge-room a cursory look. ‘Still can’t believe you couldn’t do better than
this
.’
    â€˜Well I couldn’t.’ Mattie stood up, still keeping an arm around Courtney but with her eyes on Max. ‘Do you want to see your room? I’ve been working on it all weekend.’
    â€˜Okay.’
    â€˜Me too!’ Courtney finally disengaged herself and jumped back. ‘Where is it?’
    â€˜Up here.’ Mattie led the way up the small passage and into the kids’ bedroom. She stood back as they entered and then watched their facesapprehensively, well aware that it didn’t measure up to the other bedrooms. At home.
    â€˜Can I have the top bunk?’ Courtney clambered up the ladder and bounced on the top excitedly. ‘Can I?’
    â€˜We’re sharing?’ Max sounded stunned.
    â€˜I
told
you that,’ replied Mattie defensively. ‘There weren’t any three bedroom units around. Not that I could afford.’
    â€˜And she didn’t want to wait for something better,’ added Jake, who had come to stand in the doorway. ‘Too eager to be shot of me. Which is my cue to leave.’
    â€˜No!’ The word came out like a gunshot and Mattie immediately flushed. ‘I mean, I thought that, maybe . . . you’d like to stay for dinner?’
    Jake looked down at her with obvious amusement. ‘And I thought the whole point was to get
away
from me.’
    â€˜Not quite . .