I ease off the car. ‘There’s a deadline?’
He snorts, shakes his head. ‘Just make sure you keep following my recommendation. One crazy thing per day, remember?’
‘I’ll…I’ll do my best.’ It would be interesting to tell him about the Harris situation, if only to see the look on his face. But that’s not gonna happen.
Nick’s expression shifts into a smile as he tucks his thumbs in his belt loops. ‘You’ll come see me in Melbourne, right? I want to take you out on the town in the Big Smoke, show you what real living’s like.’
‘Hey.’ I poke his arm. ‘Real living is right here, every day. But sure, you can take me out. On a tram, or something.’
‘On a tram…’ Nick guffaws, but I think he’s just doing it so he won’t get maudlin. He reaches for me, reels me into a hug. I squeeze him, because I think this might be the last hug for a while. Soon it’ll be time to let go.
‘Don’t cry,’ he whispers. ‘Don’t you dare.’
‘I won’t cry,’ I say, sniffing.
‘If you cry, you’ll just start me off.’
‘I won’t cry,’ I repeat, my voice muddy. ‘I’m happy for you.’
‘Now say “Bye, Nick, see you round,” just like we always do.’
‘Bye, Nick,’ I say. ‘See you round.’ I swallow hard and taste salt. Everything is blurry – the street around us, the houses, the sun.
‘See you round, Amie.’ Nick releases me, and his eyes are red. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
He moves over to the driver’s side, slides into the seat. Guns the engine and pulls the Ford off the verge. I step back as the car drives out. Stand there, waving, until I see the car turn the corner and disappear.
The kitchen seems very small when I go back into the house. Everything seems gloomy inside, after the glaring afternoon sun in the street. Dad is at the sink, doing the washing up. I’m supposed to be drying.
‘So Nick’s off and away,’ Dad says, over his shoulder.
‘Yeah.’ I wander over to the tea towel rack, touch each cloth to find the dry one. ‘Off and away to rescue some poor patients in Melbourne hospitals.’ I pull the cloth off the rack listlessly. ‘I shouldn’t be sad. He’s gonna be great in the city. And he’ll be a good nurse.’
‘You can still be sad,’ Dad says. He lets me lean against him, tilt my head onto his shoulder, as his voice rumbles on. ‘People end up all over. And you can tell me, y’know. If you’re ever thinking about it.’
‘Thinking about what?’
‘Shifting to the city.’
I un-tilt my head, step back to look at him. ‘Dad, I’m not thinking about shifting to the city.’
‘Maybe you should.’
‘What? My god, it’s like everyone I know wants me to leave home…’
‘Amita.’ Dad pulls the sink plug, takes the tea towel out of my hands. ‘Sweetheart, I’ve watched you these past few years. A lot of your mates are leaving. You’ve become more isolated.’
‘You don’t have to worry about me, Dad.’ I shrug. ‘I’m fine. I’ve got a job here.’
He hangs the tea towel on the back of the nearest chair. ‘But you’re not happy here.’
‘I am!’
‘Love, I don’t mean you’re not happy.’ Dad pulls out the chair and encourages me into it, settles his own bulk onto the chair opposite. ‘You’re a happy, easy-going person. You get along with everybody. You –’
‘I’ve got a position at the hospital,’ I point out. ‘I’ve got friends.’
‘I know that, love. I know you do. What I’m saying is that you might want to see a bit of the world. Go to the city. Travel, like you planned before your mother…’ Dad trails off. He frowns at the kitchen. ‘Y’know, this is my place. This is where your mum and me settled. But that doesn’t mean it’s the placeyouwant to settle.’
