The other parents at the playgroup in the CWA hall had been welcoming enough. Amidst their separate conversations and keeping an eye on their kids some of them came over specifically to introduce themselves to Jess and ask how old Cara was. It was typical small talk but a start at least. She admired one mother in particular, Leanne, who had headed off afterward on a bike with her little boy strapped into a toddler seat on the back.
Jess saw her out the front of the hall as she was securing her son’s harness.
‘You’re keen,’ said Jess, trying to sound supportive.
‘Nah, we enjoy it, don’t we James? Leanne replied breezily. ‘We moved here so we didn’t have to buy a car. Hubby catches the train to work and we bike everywhere. I don’t actually have a license anyway.’ She extracted the bike fr
