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There was still an element of chaos in the living room on Boxing Day. Assorted presents were gathered in tottering piles on the floor, others rested on the coffee table or jostled for space on bookshelves. Bright Christmas cards, some festooned with glitter that would find its way into the carpet for months to come, were arranged in clusters along the mantlepiece. Stray streamers of ribbons and tufts of wrapping paper lay in wait underneath the lounge and chairs, passed over during the initial clean-up.

It was quiet now. The family had traipsed off to the beach for a gathering of friends and neighbours. There was a clear sky, and warm weather beckoned. They’d tumbled out the door, weighed down with eskies full of drinks and leftovers, and towels, bats and balls ready for the annual beach cricket match.

As Laura brought up the rear of the family procession, holding on to Riley’s already sticky hand whilst calling out for Ruby to look out for Ollie, there was something nudging at her thoughts. Had she forgotten something? It was a five-minute walk to the beach, and surely, they could beg or borrow anything that had been missed. No, it wasn’t that.

On they walked, with the usual delays to fix up Riley’s shoes, then a readjustment of the carry bags when he insisted that he was too tired to walk another step. Laura groaned inwardly but gathered him up. He clung to her neck, his breath warm in her ear. She thought again of what had been missed, the idea as persistent as the itch of a mosquito bite.

At last, they tramped down the shady lane, with the thump and roar of the ocean urging them onwards. The blaze of sand beneath the foaming waves always made her smile, and all thoughts turned towards the day ahead.

It waited, that sand-coloured envelope. During the present opening frenzy it had been flicked aside by the kids, the old-fashioned handwriting on the front didn’t include their names so was of no interest. Laura had glimpsed it in the stack of cards, but had been distracted by trying to keep track of the gifts for the kids. It had shifted from the table to the floor, then had settled in the corner, waiting to be discovered and opened.

Photo: Thirroul beach