Page 122 of In Sheets of Rain

“You look good,” he added.

“You too,” I said.

The lights changed from green to orange to red.

“I’ve met someone,” he suddenly said.

I turned to look at him; he smiled and shrugged.

“That’s good,” I offered and realised I meant it.

“She works in Comms,” he said. “Actually, she was working that day you were there.”

I smiled.

I’m here to see Sean. Just one minute.

“That’s nice,” I said.

“We’re buying a house together,” he said.

“Where?”

“Out West.”

“Quick up to Warkworth from there,” I said.

“I’ve resigned my roster in Warkworth,” he admitted. “Taken one at Henderson Station instead.”

“Out West,” I said.

“Yeah. Seemed like a good idea.”

“Yes.”

We stared at the street.

“Are you happy?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “Are you, Ky?”

“I’m getting there,” I said.

“Well. I guess that’s that,” he said.

“Yeah. I guess it is.”

We embraced and then parted. I watched him walk away. He didn’t look back.

Auckland City rose up all around me. Bangs and crashes and sirens and car horns.

And if I turned my head just the right way, I could see red.

I let out my breath, counting to three, and then smiled.

I got in my car and switched on the radio and sang at the top of my voice all the way back to Epsom.