After a while Rona finished the 'phone call: she didn't want to keep Matt waiting too long. And besides, she was getting uncomfortable with his increasingly worried look. She hung up.

"I just didn't want to tell her" she explained to Matt.

"Okay" Matt said. It was her choice, after all. "But - you're going to have to tell her some time."

"Yeah, sure, some time. I will. I will some time."

"Okay" said Matt again.

"I'm gonna tell her!" Rona pleaded.

"All right. I believe you! I keep saying!"

But he was still frowning. "You don't look like you believe me" Rona pointed out.

"Well - it's just . . ."

"What?"

"I'm just wondering why you haven't told her yet. I mean, it's almost February. It's been more than a month since your dad's stroke."

"I know how long it's been."

"I'm just confused why you don't want to tell her. I mean, she's your friend isn't she?"

"It's not that I don't want to tell her. I just - haven't, yet."

Matt tried a slightly different tack. "Have you told Hannah?"

Rona didn't answer: she just looked sheepish.

"Rona . . ." Matt sighed, and smiled in a slightly exasperated manner, and ran his fingers through his hair, and looked at her.

"Why is it a problem?" Rona asked. "I'll tell them when I'm ready. I'm just not ready."

"Okay, sure honey. Whatever you want. I just . . ."

"What?"

"I just thought girls shared things, that's all. I mean, I thought it was guys who were supposed to be the ones who keep things bottled up to themselves and don't talk about anything."

"Well, gees, Matt, seems like you're doing enough talking about it for the both of us right now."

"Would you like me to shut up?"

"Yes. Yes, please."

"Okay."