‘No, that would have come down to me.’
‘That’s awful!’
‘It’s part of the job. But yes, it is pretty awful.’
‘I feel terrible,’ I murmur. ‘I only saw the mother a split second before the car hit her. I went back for her in case she’d been injured, but I think she’d been killed on impact. I found her baby by accident.’
‘Joey.’
‘Joey?’
‘It’s the correct term for a baby koala – and other infant marsupials like kangaroos and wombats. Were you two out together?’ He’s referring to Josh and me.
‘I went to Stirling with him and some of his mates.’
He sighs with disappointment. ‘I can’t believe you let him drive you home.’
‘I wasn’t thinking.’
‘Where are Michael and Cindy?’
‘They went to Clare for the weekend.’
‘Do you want to call them?’
‘No. Let’s not bother them. It’s not as if they can do anything, right? Anyway, Mum’s used to leaving me on my own.’
‘Did she do that a lot?’
The corners of my lips turn down. ‘Now and again.’
‘Sucks, doesn’t it?’
I remember what he told me about his nan raising him because his mother was so hopeless. The expression on his face is raw. I look away.
‘I suppose you learn to cope,’ I reply.
He yawns and stretches his arms over his head and I take in my surroundings. Most of the furniture in the living room is made from dark wood and looks old enough to be antique. ‘This was your nan’s house, wasn’t it?’
‘Yeah. Still got all her old furniture.’
‘It’s nice. I like it,’ I tell him. ‘How many bedrooms?’
‘Three.’
‘That’s pretty cool. It will do you when you have a couple of kids.’
He chuckles. ‘Give me a break, I’m only twenty-eight.’
‘I thought youcountry folkgot married and sprouted out sprogs before your twenty-first birthdays.’
‘Really? Is that whatyou’replanning on doing?’
‘Puh-lease!’
He laughs and glances down at the koala. I follow his gaze.
‘She’s fast asleep,’ I comment.
