Page 10 of If I Could Say Goodbye
‘It’s just that you seem a bit—’
‘What?’
‘Distracted.’
‘I’m fine.’ I pause. ‘I saw Nessa yesterday. She’s back, it seems. Erica was at school.’
‘How was she?’
‘I don’t know . . . she avoided us.’
‘I wonder how long she’s been back. Shall we give her a call?’
I shake my head, remembering Kerry’s words. ‘Let’s give her time. It will be hard for her.’
‘Dad! Oscar won’t give me the controller!’
Ed smiles. ‘You’re right.’ He kisses me. ‘I’m coming!’ he replies, giving me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and then follows the sounds of battle coming from the lounge.
Chapter Five
Ed
Can I just take a minute to say my wife is incredible? I mean it. I’ve always pretty much thought that she’s perfect anyway – see my earlier confessions about The Woman I’m Going to Marry story, but to lose your sister the way that she did and then come out the other side the way she has . . . well. It’s pretty incredible, right? I mean, she’s really starting to come back to us, she even let the kids swear! She wouldn’t even let me say fart in front of them before.
And then there is the sex thing. I love the sex thing. It’s a bit out of character for her to want it quite so much, but I’m not complaining about the sex thing . . . not really, but. No. I’m not complaining about it, that would just be stupid.
I’ll shut up now, I think.
Chapter Six
Jennifer
I roll onto my front and reach for my cup of tea, blowing over the rim.
‘What time are your parents picking up the kids?’ Ed whispers. It is one of those rare occasions when I have been able to make a cup of tea without the kids being up.
‘Nine.’ I blow steam from the top of my cup and take a sip.
‘Shall we go to the garden centre?’
‘Mmmm,’ I answer noncommittally.
‘We can have a teacake in the café,’ he encourages.
I roll my eyes.
‘What? Teacake is my favourite.’
‘It’s just that—’
‘What?’
‘Well it’s hardly making the most of our free time, is it? A teacake at the garden centre.’
‘OK. So where do you want to go? Next?’
‘Not Next.’ I put my tea onto the bedside table and roll over.
