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being the focus
of so much attention, particularly when I was supposed to blend
in.
    I shook hands and smiled back
at people until I managed to retreat into the corridor, where I
bumped straight into Aidan. The crushed pink flowers sent up a
heady cloud of scent.
    "I'm so sorry, I wanted to make
it to your morning tea, but I had to finish my rounds and there was
this kid in the ED who broke his arm…" Aidan was at full speed in
voice and motion.
    I smiled reflexively and told
him there was plenty of cake. I walked past him, headed back to the
ward and my patients.
    "Wait," he said breathlessly.
"When's your last day?"
    I stopped. "Today," I
answered.
    "Have dinner with me again
tonight?" he asked anxiously.
    I shrugged. I had no plans and
I intended to pick up some fish and chips again. "Okay."
    "I have to work 'til five, but
I know your shift finishes earlier. Can I pick you up?" He sounded
so eager.
    I agreed. I headed up the
corridor to my ward, while he entered the cafeteria in search of
cake.

17
     
    Just before Aidan was due to
arrive, my telephone rang. I didn't receive many calls, but I
answered anyway.
    The voice on the other end told
me that my replacement would arrive early the next morning, and
could I make sure I vacated my accommodation by 8 am tomorrow?
    I agreed automatically. We said
goodbye and hung up.
    I'd intended to spend the
following day on a boat, viewing the humpback whales in the ocean
near the old whaling station. It didn't matter. I could leave early
in the morning, before my replacement arrived, and have brownies
with ice cream together with my mother tomorrow afternoon.
    I began
packing up my few belongings. It didn't take long. Perhaps I should leave tonight, after
dinner? Then we could have brownies
tomorrow morning.
    I'd lost track of the time, so
it came as a surprise when I opened the door to take my bag out to
the car that Aidan was right outside.
    He looked shocked. "Are you
leaving already? Aren't you coming to dinner with me?"
    I looked down at the bag in my
hands. "I just got a call saying I have to be out of the house by
tomorrow morning, instead of Monday, as I'd planned. So, I figured
I'd leave after we have dinner."
    Aidan's face lit up. "You can
stay with me for the weekend."
    I hesitated. I didn't want to
share his house. It was difficult enough appearing normal for so
much of my time – I couldn't manage it all day and all night.
    He took my hesitation for
distrust. "I know that sounds bad, but I'm staying at my uncle's
friend's holiday house. It sleeps heaps of people. You'd have your
own room, at the other end of the house from me. It's not like I'm
asking you to sleep with me. I'm just offering you a place to stay,
if you don't want to go home early."
    I found my voice. "I did intend
to go whale watching tomorrow. If I leave early, I'll miss out on
the whales." I wavered in my desire to go back to Perth. I missed
the whales so much, and they'd be calving soon.
    He perked up immediately. "I've
never seen a whale before. Do they really come close to here?"
    I smiled. "Sure they do. There
used to be a whaling station, where people killed them for their
oil. It's closed now, but the whales still come to the bay where it
was. Come with me tomorrow and you'll see." The invitation slipped
out before I'd seriously thought about it.
    His joyful smile beamed at me.
"So you'll stay with me for the weekend?"
    Realisation dawned that in my
mind, I'd already accepted his invitation. "Okay." I reflected for
a moment. "I'll just put this in the car. Then I can head straight
to your place after dinner."
    Aidan looked stunned. I
wondered if I'd said or done something strange.
    "Or I could come by in the
morning…" I suggested.
    His voice was breathless with
the excitement that shone through his eyes. "You can come over any
time you like. Tonight or tomorrow. Whatever you like."
    I studied him for a moment.
"Tonight, then," I decided.
    After all, my bag was already
packed. It was a simple