“I don’t want any part of this. ”
The words hung in the air between us, heavy and final. These two had already wasted enough of my time. “If you want to leave, then you just have to go through me.
Do you understand me? ”
“Oh, I’ll tell you I am. ”
“No, no, no, no. ”
I looked at the three of them standing there.
“So, come on then. Do you want to tell me what that’s all about, please? ”
No one answered. My phone buzzed again.
Still not picking up. “No, you’re right. Always thinking if I’d never brought that knife. ”
I turned to the youngest one.
“Will you tell my mom I’ll be back for my tea before you go? ”
“Is everything all right? ”
“Well, what do you think you should say? ”
“I should hope so if you’re thinking of proposing.
”
“No, of course not, Dad. ”
Bernie still hadn’t replied to any of the messages. I should have been worried. “Just two minutes.
All right, come on then. ”
It was exactly how I felt. Sam still wouldn’t let Nick see his son. It must have been killing him.
“No worries. I’m still here. ”
“All right. ”
“You all right?
”
“No, I’m not. ”
“Well, that’s all it is. ”
“Well, go on then. Are you going to tell me what’s been going on?
”
“Can we tell your mom about all this? ”
“All right, you two. No need to thank me. ”
“So, go on then.
All three of them? Were these two bad boys? ”
Sally and Bernie didn’t check in at the retreat, and they couldn’t get hold of them. “All right, gentlemen.
I wouldn’t say no. Why don’t you offer him a biscuit while you’re at it? Have you got any? ”
“No.
”
“What do you tell him that for? ”
“Because it’s a cheap packet of biscuits from devs. ”
“The longer you do this, the longer we stay. ”
“Hey, I lost everything once because of you, didn’t I?
So, you can do the same for Cal. ”
“I’m not sure the story about Fiona’s true. ”
“So, pull the trigger then. I mean, if you are, you’re not doing a very good job.
”
“Whatever it is that you can tell me, I will always be on your side. ”
“You don’t understand. ”
“THEY’D NEVER HEARD OF YOU AND WE’VE BEEN PANICKING. I am so sorry, my lover, but if it’s any consolation, I have really missed you.
”
“Because I have to admit I’m a bit cream cracker now. ”
“Oh, no. I’ve got one or two things to do. ”
“Can I just say though, I have had the most amazing time.
”
“Should never agree to do that job for Fiona. ”
“Oh, I was coming after you with a wrench. ”
“Still got the scars from the last time. ”
“We’re never going to be best mates.
But yeah, we both love Debbie. ”
“Kev, for whatever the reason, doing that to you, to both of you, well, it was wrong. I regret it all. ”
“No way.
”
“Should hope so at that price. ”
“Can I just get a puppy instead? ”
“Should we get it then? ”
“You talking wedding bells then or what?
”
“Everyone’s going to know before Sarah at this rate. ”
“I’m happy for the both of you. ”
“Nah, she’s well into your p. ”
“Well, you never know.
”
“And don’t think you’ll need any other excuses because you’ve got like zero mates. ”
“If this thing between you and Gary is what I think it is, you need to be straight with Kip and Maria. ”
“Well, a single day without you feels too long, let alone two. ”
Still not here.
Right then. Must never forget that one. So, what else do I need? “Carlo Santana, take as long as you need.
Like different, you know, proper fresh start. You and Kevin have reached a compromise, and it’s up to both of you not to mess it up. ”
“Look at you two, thick as thieves. ”
“Come on then, your majesty.
”
“Go on then. ”
“No more trouble. ”
“No, no. I just think Nick could do with the support right now, that’s all.
”
“I played everyone else. I had to do mine all from memory. ”
“If I only had a heart. Well, if I only had a brain, thinking that you’d be nice to me.
”
“Have you not got any homework to be doing? I only gave you half a day to practice your play, but I bet you still have work to do, so go on. ”
“A sponge can only soak up so much before it weeps water everywhere. ”
“I think you should stick to hairdressing.
”
“Todd knows that there’s something going on between us. ”
“No, he wouldn’t do that. ”
“I didn’t know how else to get you to the hospital. ”
“I still really want to do science camp in the summer holidays.
”
“I suppose if you’re well enough. ”
“Come on then. I’ll tell you later. ”
“So yeah, I’d say it’s a result.
”
“Just me and Dylan have been seeing each other. ”
“No, no, no. Have you never heard of a long-distance relationship? I mean, London is only a train ride away.
”
“Bet’s just got into fashion college. ”
“No, I’d like you to. ”
“We could still see each other if you’d like. Could even stay with my mom for a bit.
”
“First question, what do you think of this one? ”
“No, not yet, but I will soon. ”
“I’d tell her sooner rather than later though if I were you. ”
“Yeah, I must have left it open before when I went back for my buddies.
”
“Why don’t you go then? ”
“Normally worse. When someone’s that nervous around me, it usually means they’ve got something to hide. ”
“Is it these drawings that were all of Will and Megan?
One of the people he trusts the most. You thought we were after him. ”
“Uh, well, it’s my first one. ”
“It’s just putting his recovery first.
”
“No, we’re not. ”
“That’s a bit below the belt. But if you think it’s going to make you feel any better, I’m here to tell you it won’t. ”
“After all that?
Go on then. ”
“I left it exactly where you said. ”
“If I didn’t know any better. ”
“Will you please tell me what’s going on?
”
“Oh, and if you’re thinking about doing a runner, we could just work it out with Ronnie and the gobbling legs instead. ”
“This goblin legs wants to know exactly what you’ve both been up to. ”
“No, sorry. I thought he was getting better, but we had all these dreams and plans, you know, going to university and then going on to study at MIT.
”
“And he still can. ”
“He was just trying to sort things between me and Kevin. ”
“It’s all sorted out. ”
“Just tell me one thing.
”
“So, not only have we got God knows who coming after us, but there’s someone out there with a loaded gun. ”
“First thing tomorrow, I want you both out there, and I want you to find it. Because if you don’t, it won’t be Fiona you’ll have to worry about.
”
