‘Yes, it’s a spur of the moment thing. I had some leave owing, and we decided to go last night.’
‘Are you OK with driving?’
Damian shrugs. ‘I think so.’
Floss squeezes his hand. Oh yeah, he was involved in a car accident a few years ago, wasn’t he? That’s nice of him to offer. Then again, I kind of forced him into it.
Malcolm leans against the counter, sipping his tea. I’m so tempted to read his mind to find out what he’s thinking, but part of me doesn’t want to know. I dumped his brother in a cold-hearted manner, so he’s not going to be thinkinganything nice.
But then he takes a deep breath and says, ‘How are you, Sadie? Long time no see.’ OK, it looks like he’s going to avoid the elephant in the room:Why do you still look the same as you did in 1983?
I give him a brief nod. ‘Good, thanks, Malcolm. How’s Tim?’ I ask the question out of politeness but then instantly regret it when Malcolm brightens.
‘He’s OK. Well, he was the last time I spoke to him. It’s been a few months. He’s off-grid, living near Pitlochry. If you’re up that way, you should drop in. He’d love to see you.’
Is he joking?I say to Hester.I really don’t think he would. I dumped him like a hot potato. The guy was about to ask me to marry him!
It’s been ages. He’s probably over it by now,she replies.It’s not a bad idea to look him up. Then we don’t have to stay in a hotel.
‘We’ll discuss it on the way,’ says Damian nervously, seeing my jaw clench. ‘We’re not exactly sure where we’re going yet.’
Malcolm chuckles, and the tension in the room eases. ‘Sounds like the trips me and my friends used to take. I have a couple of tents you can use if you get stuck.’
I shudder. Camping. I abhor it. In any season. Even staying with an ex-boyfriend sounds better than that.
Malcolm pulls out a nearby drawer and chucks a set of keys at Damian, who catches them in one hand. ‘There’s a quarter of a tank, so you’ll need to fill up on the way. Have fun.’
My lips stretch in the semblance of a smile. We’re trying to rescue my thrall from a vengeful vampire. We may all die in the process.
‘Yeah, should be good,’ I say with a touch of sarcasm. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’
Soon afterwards, we’re on the road in a red Toyota Corolla: Damian behind the wheel, Floss next to him in the passenger seat, and Hester and me in the back. Hester has to bend her head slightly because she’s so tall. I don’t envy the crick in her neck she’s going to have later on.
Damian’s eyes meet mine in the rear-view mirror. ‘Are you going to memory-wipe my dad?’
I arch an eyebrow. ‘I’d have to memory-wipe him all the way back to 1983 as I get the feeling Tim may have said something to him at the time. He probably pushed it out of his mind as ludicrous, but meeting Floss and now me again has confirmed what Tim suspected.’
Floss swivels slightly in her seat to look at me. ‘What would Tim have said?’
I shrug and stare out the window. ‘Something along the lines of me being a “stone-cold freak”. That’s what he said when we broke up. He was upset. It wasn’t an amiable break-up.’
‘So his stone-cold ex dropping in to see him forty years later might not be a good idea?’ quips Damian. I know he’s attempting to lighten the tense atmosphere, but it only serves to irritate me.
‘You think?’ I snap sarcastically.
No one says anything—for a very long time.
Damian is driving like an old man, and I’m ready to burst out my skin with frustration.
I can’t help complaining to Floss:Damian’s slower than a grandpa. We got passed by a little old lady back there.
Floss:He’s being cautious. After the accident.
Me:That was years ago. Tell him to put the pedal to the metal, for God’s sake.
Floss:No, it will stress him out!
With all the grunting and eyebrow fluttering going on, I’m sure Damian knows we’re talking about his driving. His ears are red, and his hands are white-knuckled on the wheel.
