‘Tell me when you first started having doubts,’ Dad says, looking up from his drink. ‘Then keep going from there.’
I nod. ‘Okay.’ And I do.
I tell him about everything that happened in the house after he left, about Bridget, school, and the tense conversations I had with Mum. I tell him about Tamsin.
Then I tell him about Maggie.
‘Sorry to hear that. She was a nice person,’ he says, taking a moment. ‘Now I want to hear about this thing with Hunter.’
So I tell him about that too—sparing him some of the details.
‘Your mother thinks he’s Satan himself.’
I’m not at all surprised to hear that. ‘Hunter’s not a bad person. He’s just learning to be a better human, like the rest of us.’
Dad nods. ‘Tough thing to lose your mum at that age. And his dad probably wasn’t much help.’
He asks more questions, and I continue to answer them. It feels good watching him soak up my responses, enjoying the small details of my life. I’m not sure why I share them so readily. Perhaps I’m scared of ending up like Bridget, with walls so high no one can penetrate them. Or maybe I just missed him more than I’m prepared to admit.
‘What now?’ Dad asks me. ‘You can’t stay in Chirnside.’
‘I know.’ I twist the bracelets on my arm.
He reaches across the table and inspects them. ‘Can’t believe you’re still making these. You’ve gotten better, though.’
I look down at them. ‘I actually sold some when I worked at Maggie’s. She had a display on the counter.’
Dad’s brow creases. ‘Have you tried selling them up north?’
I shake my head. ‘I’ve been too busy pouring beers.’
‘And now you’re not too busy.’ He takes a sip of his drink. ‘You know how to make them. Now you just need to learn how to sell them. You could do a business course.’
I pick up my beer. ‘I need an income. You know Bridget. She won’t let me bludge off her for too long.’
‘You’d qualify for youth allowance, and you could still work part-time.’ He pauses. ‘It’s great the two of you are living together.’
I note the sad edge to his tone. ‘She’s really made a life for herself up there.’
He smiles. ‘I’m happy to hear that.’
I wipe at the condensation on my glass. ‘I don’t understand why the two of you aren’t in contact. You both left the organisation, and now you have nothing in your way except lost time.’
‘It’s a little more complicated than that.’
‘Complicated how?’
He drags his gaze up to mine. ‘This beer with you is the highlight of my year so far.’ He pauses. ‘If it’s all right with you, I’d like to keep that conversation for another time and enjoy this moment a little longer.’
I nod. ‘Okay.’
We watch each other across the table.
‘I’m seeing someone,’ he says, sounding nervous.
I’m not at all surprised by this announcement. ‘Does she make you happy?’
He pushes his empty glass away. ‘She does.’