‘I live in America, so it’s quite a long way to come over.’
‘Why?’
‘Why what?’ He peered over at her.
‘Why do you live in America?’ she asked, her face betraying no hint of emotion. He quickly looked across at Eleanor, who shrugged her shoulders, also seemingly clueless as to the intention behind Heidi’s questioning.
‘I kind of ended up there after travelling. I got a job working at a photography studio from someone I met in Bali.’
Heidi continued, her tone becoming more interrogative with every word. ‘And why were you travelling?’
‘Why does it matter?’ he sniped, unable to keep the bitterness from his retort.
‘It’s just that, in my opinion, people only travel as an excuse to run away from something they’d rather not confront.’
He stiffened, his hand gripping the camera so tightly his knuckles were turning white.
‘I was young and wanted to see the world.’
‘Hmmmm.’ She adjusted her position perfectly to catch the shower of sunlight that had peeked through the clouds. ‘And why didn’t you return?’
He was about to boil over when Eleanor cut in. ‘You must have travelled all over the world in your pageant days, Heidi? Where was your favourite place?’
Heidi simply waved her hand dismissively in Eleanor’s direction. ‘Mr Taylor?’ She arched her eyebrow, willing him to take her bait. ‘Were you not close to your family?’
‘Not really.’ He grimaced.
‘And what about Eleanor here? I thought you said you were best friends?’
‘We were.’ He felt the sweat beading across his forehead. He didn’t want to go into this. Not now. Not with her. And especially not in front of Eleanor.
‘Well then, why on earth didn’t you return? Was there nothing to come back for?’
‘I’m not sure why it’s any of your business,’ he spat. Memories were creeping out between the cracks of their hiding places, visions of his former self crowding his sight, making it impossible to see anything other than what he’d been trying to forget for so long.
‘Forgive me.’ She softened a fraction. ‘I didn’t mean to dig up old wounds, but I am an observer of people. A lifetime on your own will do that to you.’
He didn’t know why he even felt inclined to give this rude, nosy woman an answer, but something inside him was bursting to justify his behaviour. He needed her to know that he wasn’t a coward. That his choice to leave was bigger than she could imagine.
‘Of course there were things to come back for.’ He fixed his eyes firmly on to Heidi’s. ‘There was a lot to come back for. I just couldn’t see it at the time.’
He felt his face flush, his eyes finding Eleanor’s. ‘I don’t need you to berate me or judge me for it. I’m doing enough of that myself as it is.’ He felt his entire being focusing on Eleanor, every atom in his body pulling towards her. ‘But all I can do is be here now.’
The pair stared at each other in silence. It took all of his will not to open his mouth and let the mountain of unsaid thoughts and regret pour out of him. He widened his eyes and prayed she could see directly into his mind, like she could all those years ago.
‘Very well,’ Heidi interrupted brusquely. ‘Are we done here? I’m freezing.’
Eleanor smiled at him. It was a kind, knowing smile. He felt his body ease and the tension melt out of him.
‘Mr Taylor?’ Heidi pressed. ‘Are we done here?’
‘Please say yes,’ Eleanor mouthed desperately.
Fin laughed. ‘Yes. We’re done.’
‘Good. Now, Eleanor dear, will you help me up? I’ve been sitting here so long I fear my joints have forgotten how to work.’
Eleanor
