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support him,
and to be there. To have him with me.”
    “A right you haven’t exercised for more than six years,” she
flashed back.
    “Because I didn’t know. And now I do. A DNA test.
Means all three of us need to be tested, I reckon. And then we go to court.
I’ll do it whether you cooperate or not,” he threatened, his tone flat, eyes
intense. “Better to do it this way. I won’t tell him now, if you really think
better not. But I want to get to know him, and for him to know me. And to pay
what’s right, so he doesn’t have to live here.” His quick glance took in the
scarred tabletop, the faded old lino.
    “This is Northcote,” she said angrily. “He’s going to a Tier
9 primary school. I’m spending half my salary for this place that you’re
looking at as if . . . as if you’re seeing a cockroach.”
    He moved his hand impatiently as if he were literally
brushing her objection aside. “We can do this the easy way. Or we can do it the
hard way. I don’t want to get into a custody battle with you. I don’t want to
make Zack’s life harder, or yours either. But I’ll do that, if I have to. If
you make me.”
    She leaned back, face going pale. “You wouldn’t do that.”
    “I don’t want to,” he said, shame overcoming the anger.
“Come on, Emma. We’ll do the DNA testing. I’ll find out what I have to do to
establish . . . establish paternity, I guess it is. And then we’ll go from
there.”
     “But you won’t tell Zack,” she said, searching his face.
“When it’s time, it needs to come from me.”
    “What does he think now?”
    “I told him that his dad had to go away. He’s young. He
hasn’t asked more than that yet. I hadn’t decided what to say when he did start
asking the tough questions.”
    “Now you don’t have to decide,” he said firmly. “I won’t
tell him, for now. But I want to get started with this. I’ll be in Cape Town
this week, back quite late Sunday night. I could come Monday after school, my
day off. Take him out and do a bit of practice.”
    “School holidays, still,” Emma said slowly. “A couple hours.
That’s it.”
    “And the DNA test,” he reminded her. “I’m off with the squad
tomorrow. Bugger. We can do it next week, though. I’ll set it up.”
    “I work all day,” she protested. “I can’t just take off.”
    “After five,” he suggested. “I’ll have training as well.
I’ll let you know.”
    “All right,” she said reluctantly. “But, Nic. Don’t start
this unless you’re sure. He’s not something you can . . . try out, and see if
you like it or not. If you get involved, you have to mean it. Kids aren’t
temporary. They’re forever. We’ve got along without you so far, and we can keep
doing it.”
    “I’m committing to it,” he promised. “I already did, or I
wouldn’t be here now.”
    No warmth, only stern resolution in the face that looked up
at his own. “If you desert him now, Nic. If you decide it doesn’t fit into your
image, or your lifestyle, or something. If you let him down, I’ll make you
sorry. I’ll find a way, and I’ll do it.”
    “What d’you take me for?” he asked, flushing with anger.
    “I take you for somebody who’s got a pretty sweet deal right
now. A lot going for him. And who may not want to risk jeopardizing it.”
    He got up abruptly. “No point in this. I’ll text you about
the DNA testing, and about Monday. The footy. You can tell me where and when to
collect Zack.”
    “Fine.” She got up too, walked him to the front door. He
heard it close behind him as he jogged up the concrete steps and left the two
of them behind.

Chapter 4
    N ic eased himself
into the low-slung car in one quick movement and slammed the door. He took the
turns automatically that would lead him back to the opulent house in Narrow
Neck. His new house, that he’d been so proud of until tonight. So different
from the dodgy little flat he’d just left. Emma’s flat.
    Emma. How could she look the same,