‘What’s with the rain?’ he humphs when I open the door. ‘It was thirty degrees in Adelaide when I left.’
‘It’s supposed to clear up tomorrow for Easter Sunday,’ I assure him. ‘Anyway, you moody bugger, give me a hug.’
He grins and steps into the hall, dropping his bag to engulf me. ‘Even after all these years you still sound like a Pommie.’
He’s still unbelievably good-looking, but after my initial attraction, I only ever had eyes for Ben.
And now Richard, of course.
‘Where’s Richard?’ He glances past me to the living room.
‘He’s gone to welcome his mate back from his honeymoon.’
‘Three’s company . . .’ he says jokily.
‘He won’t stay long. He just wanted to drop in some supplies.’ Which I thought was very nice of him,actually.
‘Can I get you something to drink?’
‘What have you got?’
‘Coke, Fanta, apple juice, wine, beer . . .’ My voice trails off.
‘Fanta, thanks.’ He never did go back to drinking and driving. ‘Hey, this is cool.’ He looks around. ‘I like the garden.’
We’d only just moved in when Josh last came to Sydney to visit. It’s changed tenfold since then.
‘Thanks. Do you want to chuck your bag in your room? It’s that one there.’ I point across the hall.
He comes back as I’m pouring our drinks into glasses. We take them to the sofa.
‘How are Michael and Janine?’
‘Really good. Busy at work, as ever. Janine’s been caring for a baby koala at home for the last few days.’ I wince as a memory of Ben gently holding a tiny Olivia comes back to me. ‘I popped in to see them last night before I left,’ Josh continues, oblivious to my pain.
‘How’s Tina?’
He shrugs. ‘Yeah, she’s good. Fine.’
‘Have you two moved in together yet?’ He lives in Mount Barker now, in a small house of his own.
‘Hell, no. I’d never get her to move out,’ he jokes.
I laugh. ‘Some people would say that’s the point of being in a relationship.’
‘I’m not ready for that yet.’
‘Fair enough.’
I hear a key turn in the front door lock and Richard appears a moment later. Josh gets up to shake his hand.
‘Alright, Richard, how’s it going?’
‘Yeah, good thanks, mate.’
‘How were the happy couple?’ Josh asks.
‘I had to wear sunnies to shield my eyes from their glow.’
