‘You didn’t answer me,’ Pellacia said.
Henley stepped away from the main door to let a couple pass. ‘Everything’s fine. That was Simon on the phone.’
‘How is your brother?’
‘Doing what he’s best at: being annoying,’ Henley said affectionately. ‘How are you?’
Pellacia blew out his cheeks and looked disappointingly at the empty cigarette box in his hand. ‘Everywhere I turn: stress. Fox-Carnell, and every other twat who’s ever crossed our path, protesting their innocence, the SCU being under review and then there’s been stuff with—’
Henley stiffened and chastised herself for having such a reaction to the name Pellacia had stopped himself from saying.
‘Sorry, you’ve just come back from holiday and that’s actually why I came out here. I wanted to apologise,’ Pellacia said.
‘You really don’t have to.’
‘No. I do. I was out of line. You told me where we stood, and I had a hard time accepting it. You asked for space, I should have respected that.’
‘It’s not all on you,’ Henley admitted, a wave of emotion and confusion sweeping over her. ‘I know what I’ve said but that doesn’t—’
Henley stopped when a figure in the distance waved and started making their way quickly towards them.
‘That doesn’t what?’ Pellacia asked earnestly, taking hold Henley’s arm. ‘What were you going to say?’
Henley gently pulled away. ‘It’s Linh,’ she said. ‘She’s coming this way.’
Pellacia turned around, his shoulders visibly rising and falling with disappointment.
‘Sometimes I think I’m imagining things,’ he said, facing Henley again. ‘That I’m holding onto something that doesn’t exist but right now, I know I’m wrong.’
‘Good evening,’ Linh said brightly, stepping in between Henley and Pellacia; an obvious intervention.
‘I’m going back inside. What can I get you, Linh?’ asked Pellacia.
‘A very large JD and Coke, thanks,’ Linh replied as she hugged Henley.
‘I didn’t know you were going to be here?’ Henley said.
Pellacia returned inside.
‘Ezra invited me.’
‘Of course he did. You know he’s got a thing for you?’
Linh laughed. ‘Who doesn’t have a thing for me? Anyway, what did I just interrupt?’
‘You didn’t interrupt anything,’ Henley replied, lowering her gaze.
‘Liar.’
‘It was about work.’
Linh smiled and slowly shook her head. ‘I can see straight through the pair of you but I’m going to let you off because you look like you’re about to cry.’
Henley rubbed underneath her eyes. ‘It’s jetlag,’ she protested.
‘That’s the trouble with holidays. It’s all well and good being in your Caribbean sun-soaked bubble for three weeks but then you have to come home and deal with reality.’ Linh placed her arm around Henley. ‘And whether you like it or not, Pellacia is very much reality.’
‘Can we not do this now, Linh? None of this is easy.’
