And now she’s rewarded with the eureka moment. The girl finally opens up about the reason for her call: she’s found out she’s pregnant and the father of her baby is her best friend’s boyfriend. Dominica takes a sip of tea, waiting for the girl to calm down as the grief for her mistakes and bad choices washes through her like a storm. She sobs and sobs.

Dominica is used to this. Used to being able to witness other people’s emotions.

She was always told she was a good listener when she was young, but that was only because she found it difficult to concentrate on what people were saying when there was a radio on, or music in the background. She’s never been able to multi-task listen like Chris could. He could have the TV on as well as rugby commentary on the radio at the same time as being on a phone call, but Dominica can only listen to one source of information at a time. She never knew this was a requirement of being a good listener, until Bill told her so in training.

She sits back and tries to be still.

‘I haven’t told anyone. I’m so ashamed,’ the girl sobs.

‘It’s OK,’ Dominica says. ‘Really. Take your time.’

‘Do you think I should tell her what I’ve done?’

‘It’s not about what I think. You know your own situation so you’re the best person to find a solution.’

‘I suppose.’

‘You have a lot of things to consider, and I get that it’s hard. Of course I do. But I know from talking to you that you’re a good person and you’ll do the right thing.’

And the girl stops crying and Dominica can feel that she’s coming back down now, a little step at a time, back down into a clearer, calmer space. It never stops being a gift witnessing this happening.

Tor was right. She should be doing this. This is her calling.

37

Upfront and Honest

It’s a starlit night and the moon hangs between the dip in the downs as Maddy drives south, her possessions loaded haphazardly in cardboard boxes in the back. She feels utterly wrung out. Leaving the house for the very last time was much more of a wrench than she’d expected, especially as Trent refused to say goodbye to her or see her off.

It felt frightening driving away from her home for the last time. Not least of all because if Jamie were to go back there, strangers would be living in it. It feels as if she’s done yet another thing to hurt him, even though it wasn’t her fault. Wherever he is, Jamie truly is homeless now.

She parks outside the flat on the road and goes inside and up the stairs with one of the cardboard boxes from the boot, balancing two of the houseplants. She gave the big ones to Rey, the cleaner, who turned up to help do the final clean. It had been awful saying goodbye to her too.