‘He did a good job,’ I say softly, but Kit shakes his head ruefully.

‘Nah – I mean, I reckon I get by OK, given the fact I’m only strictly half Maori. But next to that man, I’m still only a beginner. I make mistakes all the time.’

‘Everybody does,’ I point out. ‘Look at me! And what about my parents – both sets?’

Kit fixes me with a steady gaze.

‘Bon told me about David,’ he says. ‘About the possibility of him being your dad after all.’

‘Mad, isn’t it?’

He nods. ‘Just a bit. Do you reckon you’ll find out for sure? You know, do a DNA test or something?’

If he had asked me only a day ago, I would not have known how to answer, but for some reason, I realise now that I do. And that probably, I have known ever since David told me the truth about his one night with Bonnie.

‘I don’t need to,’ I reply. ‘If the last few months have taught me anything, it’s that family are the people you choose to have in your life. David is my dad – he has always been my dad, and that is good enough for me. I don’t need a test to confirm or deny what I already know. In fact, as soon as we get down off this hill, I’m going to call and tell him just that.’

Kit is smiling again, this time with what looks an awful lot like pride.

‘You know what?’ he says. ‘I reckon my pa would have really liked you.’

‘And my mum, Anna, would have loved you,’ I say, unable to stop a wobble sneaking in amongst the words. Kit puts one of his big hands over mine.

‘Still hurts, huh?’

I can only nod.

‘I broke up with Allie,’ he says then, so casually that at first I think I must have misheard.

‘What did you s—’ I begin, only to yelp in alarm as my bag slithers away over the steep edge of the hill.

‘Shit!’ yells Kit, diving over sideways just as I do the same, both of us making a furious grab for the strap. With a resounding thud, our heads collide and we reel upwards, the mischievous bag held up in the air between us.

‘Ouch,’ laughs Kit, as I rub my brow. ‘You really know how to ruin a bloke’s big moment, don’t you?’

‘Me?’ I exclaim, still rubbing.

‘You,’ he concurs, wiping dust off his trousers.

‘Well, I’m very sorry,’ I retort.

‘Be quiet,’ he chides. ‘I’m trying to do my big speech over here and you’re making it impossible.’

‘Sorry,’ I reply, feeling all of a sudden ridiculously giddy. If I were Tui, I would be bouncing up and down on my bottom by now.