Page 98 of The Truth About You and Me
‘Why does that matter?’
She looks at me then down to the phone in her hands.
‘It was me, Jack.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The woman? The night you had the stroke?’
‘What?’ I shake my head. ‘She had red hair; it was long… It wasn’t you; it was?—’
‘It wasn’t red hair… it was a red scarf.’ She turns the phone over. I reach for it, and scan the screen.
Images of that night career into my thoughts as I look at the photo. The woman, the red hair all change form.
She holds out her hand, palm up. ‘Let me give you the answers you need.’
I shake my head, trying to reorganise the images of that night. She opens her palm, tears in her eyes. I take a breath, and place my free hand in hers and close my eyes.
I see Maggie, red scarf caught on the breeze crossing the road. A man, no longer a shadow, but tall, broad, watching her go. He pulls up his hood. I know in my gut that something is off. That the woman,Maggie, is in danger. I quicken my steps. She’s up ahead; he’s gaining on her. ‘Excuse me?’ I call out. He turns briefly then continues as Maggie talks on her phone and disappears from the main street down an alleyway. He continues to follow. I approach him; my hand clamps on his shoulder. He turns, and pushes me hard against the wall. There is a crack. My brain feels like it’s splitting in two. Then nothing.
Maggie pulls her hand away, her face creased in pain as though she’s been hit too.
‘It’s my fault, Jack.’
She wipes away a tear. ‘My fault you can’t read. If I hadn’t heard Luke’s thoughts, if I’d been more aware, if I’d walked home a different way, if I hadn’t called Tess… It was stupid of me to?—’
‘Did he catch up to you?’ I lean forwards. ‘The man,’ I say more urgently, eyes scanning her face. ‘Did he hurt you?’
‘I…’
‘Maggie? Did he hurt you?’ I ask, my voice louder.
She shakes her head, cat’s eyes widening at my reaction. ‘No.’
The feeling of relief floods through me. But it’s not just relief. Ever since the stroke I have been angry. Angry with the world, with the doctors, with myself, because I never knewwhyI lost everything, but now, it means it meant something. ‘You’re sure, he didn’t?—’
‘No.’ She stiffens. ‘I didn’t even look behind me. I didn’t know any of that had happened.’
My shoulders drop as I exhale. ‘Thank God.’ I have the mad urge to laugh. It wasn’t all for nothing. I saved her. I saved Maggie. It all meantsomething. My life didn’t fall apart for no reason, because she is safe. And it feels like fate. If ever there was a sign that we belong together then this is it.
‘Are you listening to what I’m saying, Jack? It was my fault. I ruined your life and that wasbeforeyou even knew me.’
‘I knew in my gut that something was off,’ I rush on, almost euphoric, high on knowledge. ‘He pulled his hood up and crossed the street. It’s not your fault. It’s his fault.’ I frown. ‘All of this time, I worried that it was all for nothing. That it meant nothing.’
‘He never touched me.’ She shifts towards me tentatively, eyes glistening. ‘You saved me, Jack. It means everything.’ I realise I’m shaking. My eyes are still scanning her face, making sure she is unharmed. I think back to the first time we met, that feeling of familiarity.
I shake my head again, trying to banish all the dark thoughts since the accident, the feeling of worthlessness that had hounded me for so long. Then I think back to the first time I saw her, when the power came back on. ‘I thought that I knew you. When we first met. Maybe I did know it was you?’
‘Maybe.’
‘Do you see what this means? We were always meant to be together. It’s more than a coincidence I was there that night, that we got locked in the cinema together. If ever there was a sign that we belong together then this is it.’
She looks up, her voice soft, her eyes searching. ‘Hellie used to say that sometimes you meet the right person at the right time.’
‘Exactly!’
‘And I believe that, Jack, really I do. And I think I met you at the time when you needed me most, and I’m so glad that I was that person, that I was the side character who helped you find your way. But loving me will cost you too much. And I won’t let you give up the life you deserve.’
