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Jerry Shaw pulled into the carpark and killed the ignition. Ten year old Sam Holloman jumped out the passenger door and raced around to the boot.

Spotting Craig Holloman's form standing on the jetty, thankfully present for this father/son outing – a rare event in itself – Jerry opened the boot.

His arms full, Sam energetically leading the way down the beaten path, Jerry mentally crossed of everything required for this expedition.

Wordlessly handing Craig a fishing rod of his to use, he handed Sam his water bottle, hat, checked the fishing rod, tied a shoelace and reminded the young boy about the mobile phone in his backpack. "Use it if you need anything."

"Bye Jerry!" called Sam with a quick hug before he tugged his dad to the boardwalk.

"Have fun little man."


Craig grilled his son on life at home as the car left and they set themselves up at the end of the jetty. "So is Jerry around alot now?" he asked casually.

"Uh huh," nodded Sam as he positioned his rod just right and let it fly. It landed true and Craig acknowledged the plop. "Nice skill you got there."

"Jerry showed me," replied Sam with his usual winning smile.

Craig marvelled that he really should feel more annoyed that it was Jerry this, Jerry that, but he figured, hey, if the guy wanted to put in the hard yards, far be it from him to butt in. Saved him having to teach it.

"Jerry's showing me how to build too," continued the boy enthusiastically, his eyes intent on his line. "We're building a baby's cot together."

"That's nice," came the default answer before Craig realised just what Sam had said. "Baby?" he repeated in confusion. "What baby?"

"Our baby," said Sam, sparing a glance to his father as the answer were the most obvious thing. "Mum's looking huge now."

"I see."


It had been six months since he last saw his ex-wife, and when he dropped his son off later that morning, he could see there had been some changes in that time.

"Hello Rachel," he said as Sam disappeared past his mother, the heavily pregnant woman brushing her hand over his hair before pulling her long cardigan around her form, crossing her arms over her swollen abdomen. She nodded to him from the doorway, not inviting him in. "Craig."

There was silence before Craig spoke. "I'll come back soon."

"When?" demanded Rachel, wanting to know.

"It's hard to tell," he protested weakly. "It's life on the road you know?"

"Yeah I know," sighed the woman, resting one hand on her hip, the other brushing hair from her face. "It'll tell Sam you're going away again then shall I?" she added sarcastically.

"If you could?" replied Craig eagerly. When his ex-wife pinned him with a glare, he swallowed and changed the topic of conversation. "So... Congratulations," he offered, gesturing vaguely toward her middle area.

"Hmm."

"Hope Jerry sticks around," he laughed, his attempt at a joke. "Heaven knows, it is hard work."

Rachel shut the door in his face.

What?!