Page 103 of Perfect Three

“Or Colin might pop them,” she whispered confidentially.

Lucy gravely promised she would put them somewhere safe so they wouldn’t.When she stood, Allison and Geoffrey arrived in the kitchen with Davie in Geoffrey’s arms.He tried to wriggle free and into Lucy’s.She took him off Geoffrey and introduced Jack to them all.

“Jack, this is my daughter, Allison, and her husband, Geoffrey.This squirming bundle is Davie, and the twins are Lizzie and Colin.”

Jack shook hands with Geoffrey, wished him happy birthday, and said hello to Allison.He bent down and said hello to the children.

“Can I call you Uncle Jack?”Lizzie asked.The children had been taught it was polite to add ‘aunty’ or ‘uncle’ to an adult’s name.

“Of course.”

She nodded, satisfied.

Allison looked tight-lipped, but Geoffrey seemed more relaxed.

He looked at Jack, slightly puzzled.“I’m sure we’ve met somewhere.I know you.”

Jack was about to answer when the twins shouted to get Lucy’s attention.

“Can we feed the chickens, Nanny?”

“Just wait a few minutes, Colin.There’s a surprise on its way.”

Lizzie’s voice was serious as she reminded Lucy, “You have to mind Daddy’s balloons.”She held them out for Lucy to take.

“I’ll just put the balloons in the library where they’ll be safe.”

“What’s the surprise?”

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

The next ten minutes were spent with the twins trying to coax the surprise from Lucy.They followed her into the library, all the while their childish voices echoing through the house.

“Tell us, Nanny.”

“Yes, Nanny, what’s the secret?”

Geoffrey stood in the corner laughing at his children’s attempts when they came back into the kitchen.“You won’t get any secret out of Nanny.She’s the best at keeping them.”

Allison sat down at the kitchen table.Lucy gave Geoffrey a quick look but was saved from any further remarks when Sebastian walked in, holding a large carrier filled with chickens.

“There are two more in the car, Jack.”

Jack and Sebastian went off to collect them while the kids gathered around the one Sebastian put on the floor.

When they returned, Lucy introduced Sebastian to Allison and Geoffrey while the twins’ attention was diverted by the chickens.Allison held herself stiffly as she said an extremely terse hello.She took the baby off Lucy.

Geoffrey pushed himself off the wall and shook hands.“I know you.Sebastian Daley, right?”

“Yep, we’ve met a few times at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Youth program.”

“That’s it!I recognized Jack too but couldn’t remember from where.How are you?”

“Good, thanks, and happy birthday.”

Lucy could see Allison looked furious to think that Sebastian, Jack, and Geoffrey already knew each other and seemed to like each other.

Lucy introduced the twins to him as Seb, and they immediately called him ‘Uncle Seb’.

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