Something like relief, which didn’t suit the question, swept over Frazer’s features. “No. He’s bisexual. Had a friend, who has now disappeared. Jack really only started transitioning in the last few months and found out he was pregnant two months ago. He’s in a lot of distress.”

Cora felt a little embarrassed that such a horrible situation occurred to her before the idea that Jack could have been gay or bisexual. That taught her to make assumptions.

“I bet. Hormones?” Cora asked.

“Hasn’t started. Parents refused, and now he can’t afford them.”

Cora nodded slowly. “I can easily refer him to a child psychologist who’s experienced in LGBT cases to help him through this. With the referral, he won’t have to pay once we get him his own Medicare card.” A thought occurred to her. “He didn’t want an abortion?”

“It’s too late.”

“Shit.” There didn’t seem much else to say. Cora needed to do a lot of reading. “Frazer, why do you look relieved?”

Hesitation, only lasting a second, flickered across Frazer’s face.

It wasn’t something Cora was used to seeing.

“You used he straight away.”

“I’ve had trans patients before, Frazer. He says he’s he, then he’s he.”

“It’s just refreshing.”

“It shouldn’t have to be.”

Now Cora couldn’t recognise Frazer’s expression. “No, it shouldn’t be.”

“Have you spoken about adoption?”

“He’s undecided. I think he just needs to talk. A psychologist will be good, if they’re the right one. But he’ll need you to be an ear, someone there for support.”

“I have a friend who works in a centre. I’ll get a psych recommendation from him. The changes with his body, not being on hormones—I imagine he’ll need a lot of support regardless of the decision with the baby.”

“Exactly.”

For a moment, they stared at each other, smiling, revelling in the fact that a programme now existed that could help people in these situations.

“Well.” Cora looked down at her watch. It was easier than looking at Frazer. Then she’d have to acknowledge what they’d done, what danced between their gaze like smoke. “We should go.”

They walked shoulder to shoulder back to the hospital. Outside, the air was almost sweet. It had rained the entire day before, and now, somehow, everything felt clean. It was as if both of them were humming with the excitement of getting this project started. The circumstances some of the clients would be in were terrible, but the difference they could start to make was at the forefront of her mind.

“Who do you have coming tomorrow?” Cora asked as Frazer slid her key into the lock of one of the ground-floor rooms.

“Two more teens currently in shelters also. No support.”

Once in the room, Cora sat on the couch in the corner. “Couches?”