The Mothers

by Genevieve Gannon

Grace crouched. ‘Hello there, Sam.’ Tears filled her eyes. For the sake of her boys she held them back, swallowing, and tried to sound normal. ‘It’s very nice to meet you.’ Shy now, Sam slowly placed his hand in Grace’s. For a moment she was confused, and then she realised it was a handshake.

  ‘It’s his new trick,’ Priya said. Laughter bubbled up in Sam as he held Grace’s hand and shook. Grace laughed too, tears stinging her eyes. A memory echoed in her head. A-humph! Her businessman. He was loved, he was well. For that she could only be thankful.

  ‘You’re very tall,’ said Xavier.

  ‘I’m in Year Two,’ Sam said again.

  ‘He’s doing very well,’ Priya said gently.

  Grace discreetly swiped the tears from her eyes with her knuckle.

  ‘The boys are very excited about the school garden,’ Grace told Sam. ‘Do you like the garden?’

  Sam nodded. ‘We’ve got a new hen,’ he said. ‘Her name is Pumpkin.’

  ‘Pumpkin?’ Grace said. ‘That’s a funny name for a chicken.’

  ‘It’s because she’s orange and round.’ Sam puffed out his cheeks like a blowfish. The twins cackled with glee and the sound lightened Grace’s heart.

  ‘Want to see?’ Sam asked.

  Xavier and Joseph nodded eagerly.

  ‘I’ll show you,’ Sam said, his bashfulness gone.

  He took each twin by the hand and they ran towards the garden, with its tomato vines and blossoming sweet peas, leaving their mothers behind them, watching on. As the sun warmed the schoolyard and the squeals of children filled the air, each woman was able to take a breath and watch, sharing a brief, shining moment of pride.

  Acknowledgements

  Thanks first and foremost to my writing partner Ben Phillips who loved this book before it existed and helped bring it to life. Thank you also to Jacinta White and Anna Fox who were, as ever, generous early readers who provided invaluable advice, insight and feedback.

  I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my agent Jeanne Ryckmans for her enthusiasm and dedication, along with everyone at Cameron’s Management, especially James Ward. Thank you to everyone at Allen and Unwin who worked to shape my lump of clay manuscript into a polished book, especially my editor Tessa Feggans and copyeditor Claire de Medici, and of course, my publisher Annette Barlow. Thank you Annette for believing in this story, but more importantly for taking time out of your busy schedule in 2012 to have a coffee with an aspiring writer and offer some much needed advice. I am so glad you have been the one to bring this story into the world. Thank you too to Monique Cowper and Stefanie Costi who were able to offer feedback on IVF and family law—any mistakes are mine alone—and Nicole Hickson for her sharp eye.

  I have the good fortune of being surrounded by dedicated, creative minds in my day job at The Australian Women’s Weekly, and must make special mention of my editor Samantha Trenoweth who is endlessly patient, supportive and wise. Sarah Akikusa, Anna Whitelaw, Bianca Hall, Erin Birch, Amber Manto, Andy Cameron, Melinda Oliver and Emma Owen have been there as I’ve attempted to build a career as an author over many years, as has my family, particularly my sister Viv, brothers Jo and Bede, Gabe, and our matriarch Barbara Blair, and for that I would like to say, your love and faith is appreciated more than I can say. And finally, thank you to my mother, Margy Blair.