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Occasionally the responsibility of parenting felt overwhelming.

Elsie looked thoughtful. “But not more important than making someone better.”

“Maybe not, but still important. I think in that case Phoebe should probably tell her mummy that she wants to talk to her about something important when she’s back from the hospital.” But was that asking too much of an eight-year-old when emotions were often intense and tricky to handle? “If it feels really urgent, maybe she could talk to her daddy.”

“He tells her to talk to her mummy.”

No wonder parents were stressed. Trying to get things right and do your best required difficult judgement calls, and that became even harder when your relationship was under pressure.

“What would you do?” She transferred one piece of the coated bread into the hot pan and waited for it to sizzle.

Elsie grabbed an empty plate from the side. “If it was me then I’d talk to you, but it’s different for Phoebe.”

Brooke felt pressure at the back of her throat. “Right. Good. I’m glad you know you can always talk to me. About anything.”

“I don’t think Phoebe should ask her dad because he will tell her to go and watch TV. She should wait until her mummy is less stressed or she won’t be paying attention.”

“That sounds like a good plan.” Brooke made a note to reach out to Alysson after Christmas to check on her. Maybe she could take Phoebe occasionally if Alysson had a work crisis.

Elsie was standing close to her. “You need to turn that bread.”

“You’re right, I do.”

She’d just turned the bread over when her phone lit up.

She lowered the heat under the pan and glanced at it.

It was her mother.

Her mellow mood evaporated. A knot formed in her stomach. The sun had barely risen and already her mother was on the phone. And Brooke knew the reason she’d be calling.

The storm has cleared. When are you coming home?

Elsie picked up her phone and passed it to her.

“It’s Granny.”

“Yes, I see that.” She took the phone and held it as it rang. She gave Elsie a look of apology and Elsie gave a brave smile.

“It’s okay. You should talk to Granny. I know she gets upset if you don’t answer. We’ve finished talking anyway.”

Her throat closed and she put the phone back on the side and let it ring. “But we haven’t finished cooking.”

“You’re not going to answer it?”

“No, because right now the most important thing to me is making breakfast and chatting with you. I can call Granny back when we’ve finished here.”

Elsie slid her arms around Brooke’s waist and hugged her as Matt appeared behind her.

“Who was that on the phone?”

“It was Granny,” Elsie said. “But Mummy is going to finish having breakfast with us first and call her back later.”

The phone rang again, insistent and persistent. Brooke felt stress surge through her veins.

Matt looked at Brooke and raised an eyebrow. “I can take over if you want to answer that.”

Part of her did. She wanted to get the call over with so that it wouldn’t hang over her. It took something close to physical restraint for her not to grab it, but she didn’t.