Page 92 of Closer than Ever

Downstairs, her parents had got out their best cutlery and crockery for the meal, and the best wine glasses. It was very sweet of them.

Over dinner, Hayley rested her knee against Anna’s leg underneath the table. For such a simple gesture, it set Anna’s heart aflutter.

“So Hayley,” her mum said. “What are your plans after Scotland?”

Hayley paused, fork in mid-air. “I, um.” She looked at Anna, hesitantly. “I’m going to travel around Europe for the summer.”

And that was it. Her mum burst the bubble. Anna took a large drink of wine.

“Lovely. What an amazing opportunity. Where are you going to first?”

Hayley put her fork down. “I’m getting a ferry to Amsterdam from Newcastle.”

“Interesting,” her mum said. “And then?”

“I want to spend some time in the Netherlands and Scandinavia. Then I’ll go to Germany. Austria. Italy. Maybe Switzerland if I can plan the route right. France. Then back up to England crossing the channel at Calais in the ferry to Dover. I’d like to explore the south of England for a bit before I sell the van.”

“That sounds absolutely brilliant. I hope you have the time of your life.”

“Thanks. I’m sure I could spend a lifetime visiting all of the places over here. I’ll only scratch the surface on this trip.”

“We tend to only holiday in Europe these days,” her dad said. “So many places to see. We love France, in particular. Go there every year. Spain more so in the past. Portugal recently.”

“We travelled a lot when Anna was little. She used to love exploring new places with us,” her mum said, looking at Hayley. “But she hasn’t been away with us for a long time. In fact, you haven’t been abroad in years, Anna, have you?”

“I guess not.” Anna frowned. Why was her mum making such a big deal about her lack of holidays?

“Shame that. You used to be such an adventurous little soul.”

Hayley’s knee was still resting against Anna’s leg. Her chest felt heavy. Why did Hayley have to leave? She pushed her food around on her plate, no longer hungry, while everyone enjoyed the meal. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t known Hayley was leaving. She’d been actively avoiding it.

“Right,” her mum said, once everyone had finished and forks hadn’t been touched in a while. “Who’s for coffee?”

Hayley helped her mum clear the table. So polite. Anna just wanted to go to bed now and hold Hayley close.

Anna made the coffee while her mum and Hayley tidied things away and put four cups on the dining table. It wasn’t surprising how effortlessly Hayley inserted herself into the situation. She was always so good with people, so at ease with herself. Anna loved it.

Her mum rooted around the sideboard and pulled out a photo album.

Please, god, no.

“This is Anna when she was little. Would you like to see?”

The full beam smile that took over Hayley’s face was almost dazzling. “I would love to see!”

Her mum pulled up a chair beside Hayley and laid the old photo album on the table. ‘Little Anna’ was written on the front. The visit had gone from bad to worse.

“This was Anna as a baby. I sometimes bathed her in the kitchen sink over there.”

“Mum. Please. What the fuck?”

Hayley grinned, her eyes sparkling with glee. “That is the best photo ever.”

“Or this one. I love this one of you, darling.”

The page displayed a five-year-old Anna going high on a swing. Her hair was curly, and she had a toothy grin.

“I love how spirited and excited you look. Although I’m amazed you didn’t insist on wearing a crash helmet.”

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