Being in England makes me realise how far apart we are and the missing you is only getting worse now I’m here.
So, here’s my promise to you. Even if you can’t forgive me, even if you’re with Dave for life, I will still be your friend, even if you can’t reach out to me. If you’re ever ready to talk, I’ll be waiting because we’re best, best friends forever.
Please hold on to the part of yourself that loved me because I can’t bear to lose you.
Now I’ve got to find a way to mail this to you. I hope you can find a way to reply. X
When Annie lifted her head, tears were tracking down her cheeks and she had to wipe them hastily away with her sleeves.
The kids had already finished their poems and were sharing them. It took her a long while to zone in on them again and when she did she realised she felt lighter, somehow, and she had a new tiny flame of hope inside her.
‘Friends scudding stones on the scudding shore,’ Charlie was reciting, much to the delight of Austen.
His poem went on for some time, but Austen never lost her genuine smile, and she led the group in applause when he sat down with a proud, gappy grin.
‘Nice one, Charlie! And you’ve added a new word to your vocabulary! Who’s next?’
Radia had waited impatiently to read hers to the group and she stood to do it.
‘A little girl went around the world and now she goes to school,’ it began, but at that moment, Annie’s attention was pulled to the opening door and Harri stepping inside, his hood up, bringing the cold of the dark afternoon inside with him.
Annie was on her feet to meet him. ‘Excuse us,’ she told the group and walked with him into the empty cafe.
‘What happened to you?’ she said, still holding on to her letter.
‘Sorry about that. I was on the beach.’
‘O-kay?’ she said, dragging out the word. There was more to it than that. He seemed wired and tired, like he’d been awake for days.
‘And I spoke to Paisley.’ He stood like he was fixed to the stone floor.
‘And?’
‘And it was good,’ he said. ‘And a bit sad, but mostly good.’
Annie nodded, not sure what he was telling her. ‘You guys are… friends again?’
‘I think so, maybe. Something like that.’
There was something different about him. Before he’d been strung out; now he was worn out.
‘Oh, Harri, come here.’ Her heart swelled for him and she pulled him into a hug. ‘Well done for speaking with her. That can’t have been easy.’ He gripped the backs of her arms as she held him, his head resting heavily on her shoulder like he’d had too much to drink. He hadn’t, she was certain. Harri was just weary.
‘You need some cherishing,’ she told him.
In the next room, the kids were noisily getting into their coats, chairs were being scraped across the floor, mothers were issuing instructions, and someone else had knocked over another cup of squash. Harri didn’t seem to register any of it.
‘Cherishing?’ he said, drawing back to look at her.
‘Yep, come on. We’ll get these guys out, lock the doors, and order takeout. There’s a TV in my room, let’s see what the reception’s like. Reckon we’ll pick up the BBC out here? MaybeHappy Valleyis streaming on demand?’
‘Should be,’ Harri said, thawing.
‘TheGreat British Bake Off, after? ThenHomes Under the Hammer?’
He smiled at this, remembering their favourite shows from a decade ago. ‘Oh, I stopped at the shops,’ he said, remembering himself. ‘Got us these,’ and from his coat pocket he produced the box.
Annie’s heart lifted at the sight of the Cadbury Creme Eggs.
