Page 113 of The One Plus One
‘Edward.’ His voice was a croak, but there was still something weighty within it.
‘Doesn’t he look well, Bob?’ said his mother.
His father studied him from under shadowed lids. When he spoke, it was slowly, and with deliberation, as if he had an allotted number of words to use.
‘No. He looks like someone beat the living daylights out of him.’
Jess could see the new colour on Ed’s cheekbone where his sister had hit him. She found herself reaching unconsciously towards her injured lip.
‘Where’s he been, anyway?’
‘Dad, this is Jess.’
His father’s eyes slid towards her. His eyebrow lifted a quarter of an inch. ‘And what the hell happened to your face?’ he whispered to her.
‘I had an argument with a car. My fault.’
‘Is that what happened to him?’
She didn’t blink. ‘Yes.’
He regarded her for a moment longer. ‘You look like trouble,’ he said. ‘Are you trouble?’
Gemma leant forwards. ‘Dad! Jess is Ed’s friend.’
He dismissed her. ‘If there’s one small advantage to having very little time left then surely it’s that I can say whatever I like. She doesn’t look offended. Are you offended? I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name. I don’t seem to have any brain cells any more.’
‘Jess. No. I’m not offended.’
He kept staring.
‘And, yes, I probably am trouble,’ she said, holding his gaze.
His smile was slow to arrive, but when it came shecould see, fleetingly, how he must have looked before he got ill. ‘Glad to hear it. I always liked girls who were trouble. And this one has been head-down in front of a computer for far too long.’
‘How are you, Dad?’
His father blinked. ‘I’m dying.’
‘We’re all dying, Dad,’ Gemma said.
‘Don’t give me your social-worker sophistry. I am dying uncomfortably rapidly. I have few faculties left, and very little dignity. I will probably not make the end of the cricket season. Does that answer your question?’
‘I’m sorry,’ Ed said quietly. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been.’
‘You’ve been busy.’
‘About that…’ Ed began. His hands were thrust deep in his pockets. ‘Dad. I need to tell you something. I need to tell you all something.’
Jess stood up hurriedly. ‘Why don’t I go and get us some sandwiches? Leave you to talk.’
Jess could feel Gemma assessing what she knew. ‘I’ll get drinks too. Tea? Coffee?’
Bob Nicholls’s head turned towards her. ‘You’ve only just got here. Stay.’
Her eyes met Ed’s. He gave a tiny shrug, like it was really not going to make any difference.
‘What is it, dear?’ His mother put a hand out to him. ‘Are you all right?’
