Glancing at his watch, he realised it would be a few hours before Jess returned from work, when he would go and have a word with her. He had enjoyed every minute of their date, Jess was a lot of fun, and he had clocked the looks some blokes gave her when she walked into a room, which was hardly surprising. She was a stunner, and he prayed he hadn’t screwed things up with her. And that kiss. He hadn’t felt anything stir inside him like that for a long time.
He dropped some bread into the toaster, then found a documentary on Netflix about a one-time footballer who had beaten a gambling addiction and settled down to watch it. It made him realise that addiction came in all forms, as he thought about his sister.
Following her death he had wished he had a switch in his brain that could erase all memory of his sister. Then he might have avoided the gut-wrenching pain he felt. Especially after nightfall when the thoughts would creep in and prevent him from sleeping.
Running had helped him in the months following her passing. Plugging in his earphones and pounding the pavements to a good beat had preserved his sanity. Even during the small hours, he had occasionally gone for a run whilst the city slept. It soon became a habit.
He recalled a time when he had stopped at a bench in the early hours of the morning, and howled with grief, thankful that no one was around. Night running became his thing. His safe place until he felt ready to do it during daylight hours once more.
He fancied a bit of fresh air, though, so shrugged on his jacket and decided to head out for a walk, before grabbing some milk from the shop on the way home. And if he did encounter someone from his past, there would be no mistaking them away from the dark shadows of the night.
He thought about going to see Alice before he spoke to Jess, as she would know what to do, without a doubt, but decided against it. This was his mess, so he needed to be the one to fix it.
FORTY-TWO
ALICE
‘Morning, Declan,’ said Alice as she was leaving her apartment. ‘How are you?’
‘I didn’t sleep much last night. I think I might be coming down with a bit of a virus,’ he explained, not wanting to divulge the real reason for him feeling unsettled. ‘I am just off out for a bit of fresh air.’
‘Oh dear. Well, I hope you feel better soon,’ she said kindly.
‘So, where are you off to?’ he asked Alice.
‘The cinema. And don’t worry, I am not overdoing things; my taxi will be arriving any minute now.’
Declan stood several feet away from her at the foot of the stairs.
‘Oh, by the way, how did your date with Jess go?’ She turned to him as she was about to open the front door.
‘Good. Great actually, although I think I might have messed things up,’ he found himself telling Alice.
‘Really. How so?’ She frowned.
‘Bit of a long story. Maybe I will tell you when I feel a bit better,’ he suggested.
I am turning into a right wuss, he thought to himself,lying awake with a bad stomach over a woman.Jess was reallyspecial to him, though, he realised that now. He had not met anyone like her in a long time.
‘Hmm,’ said Alice, finding it strange to be conducting a conversation across the hallway. ‘Then maybe you ought to speak to Jess, sooner rather than later,’ she advised.
‘I will do.’ He nodded.
‘Or perhaps you could post a letter through her door? Especially as you are worried about passing on a virus,’ she suggested. ‘Disinfect your hands first.’ She winked.
He felt a bit guilty feigning a virus, but he hadn’t wanted to quite tell Alice the whole truth.
‘A letter?’ Declan could not remember the last time he wrote someone a short note, never mind a letter. He wasn’t even sure what he would say. Did anyone write letters these days?
‘Yes, why not? I have always believed in the power of the written word,’ said Alice firmly. ‘And I find it much nicer than a text, don’t you think? It takes a lot more effort.’
‘Thanks, Alice, maybe I will give it a go.’ He smiled. ‘Anyway, enjoy your cinema trip.’
‘I’m sure I will. There is a special screening ofBrief Encounterthis morning. One of my absolute favourite films.’ She smiled.
Alice had read about a pensioners’ morning at The Plaza and decided to go along. She was beginning to suffer from cabin fever holed up in her apartment for two days but was grateful to have made a full recovery. She read that there would be free tea and biscuits and imagined herself being the oldest customer there, or at least one of them. She thought it important to embrace new experiences, otherwise you were simply waiting for God. She might even make a new friend, she told herself as she got ready that morning, choosing a smart black dress and her favourite red blazer.
‘Bye, then, take care,’ said Declan.
