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the whole house—yes, even Rosie and that brat Hugo—grab everyone and hold them tight.

    ‘It is good stuff,’ he whispered to Ari.
    ‘I’ve always got some if you need it.’
    Hector grinned widely and said nothing. He was thinking, not me, I don’t need it after tonight. Not me, mate, I’ve never needed it.
     
    Aisha’s brother arrived. Ravi was over from Perth for a few days on a working holiday, staying in a swish hotel in the city. He had lost weight and was wearing a tight-fitting, pale blue short-sleeve shirt that showed off his newly muscled chest and arms. His dark hair was shorn close to his scalp.
    ‘You look good, man.’
    Ravi hugged his brother-in-law and then went straight to Koula and Manolis, hugging them as well and kissing Koula on both cheeks.
    ‘Nice to see you, Ravi.’
    ‘Nice to see you as always, Mrs S. When are you going to visit me in Perth? Mum and Dad are always asking after you.’
    ‘How is your mama and father?’
    ‘Good, good.’
    Whatever issues his mother might have with her daughter-in-law, she adored Aisha’s younger brother. Hector knew that at some point during the evening his mother would sit down next to him and whisper in Greek, That brother-in-law of yours is so handsome. And his skin is so light, not dark at all. She wouldn’t elaborate, but her meaning would be clear. Not like your wife.
    Adam and Melissa ran out and fell onto their uncle. He raised his niece to the sky and kept a firm grip on his nephew’s shoulder. ‘Come out to the car with me.’
    Ravi spoiled the kids. Hector heard them shouting and laughing as they followed their uncle to his car. They came back each hugging a large box. The other children came out onto the verandah while Adam and Melissa ripped into their presents.
    ‘What is it?’ Sava knelt down next to Adam. The packaging was thrown away to reveal a new computer game. Melissa, always more patient, was carefully stripping away the pieces of tape and folding the wrapping paper neatly beside her. Ravi had given her a pink and white doll’s house. She hugged her uncle, then grabbed Sonja by one hand and the box by the other. She turned to her cousin.
    ‘Come on, let’s go to my room and play.’ Angeliki promptly followed her.
    The boys whipped round and looked at Hector. He wanted to laugh; their shining faces, their bright expectant eyes. Adam was holding tight to his gift.
    ‘Can we play with this?’
    Hector nodded. With ferocious whoops, the boys rushed into the house.
    ‘You spoil them.’
    ‘Shut up, Sis, they’re just kids.’
    Aisha wasn’t offended. Hector knew she was overjoyed that her brother was in Melbourne, that he could be at the party. Ravi threw his arm around Hector and they strolled over to the barbecue.
    Gary had started another argument, this time with Rhys and Anouk.
    Manolis nudged Hector, speaking in Greek. ‘Go get the chops.’
    ‘Is it time yet?’
    ‘It’s time. That Australian hasn’t stopped drinking since he got here. He needs food.’
    Gary’s face was indeed flushed and he was slurring as he fired a volley of questions at Anouk, his finger accusingly jabbing at her chest. ‘It’s just crap. That’s not how real families are.’
    ‘It’s television, Gary, commercial television.’ Anouk managed to sound cutting and bored all at once. ‘No, it is not how real families are.’
    ‘But you’re perpetrating bullshit that has an influence on millions of people around the world! Everyone thinks that Australian families are exactly like those on the show. Don’t you want to do something better with your writing?’
    ‘I do. That’s why I work as a scriptwriter on the show. To make money to pay for the writing I do want to do.’
    ‘And how much of that are you doing?’
    ‘Forty thousand words so far.’
    Anouk turned to her boyfriend. ‘Shut up, Rhys.’
    ‘Why? It’s true.’ He turned to Hector. ‘She told me this morning. She’s got forty thousand words down on her