“Honey, you’reneverlate.”
She was right.
“I was speaking to Gabe.”
Her eyes rolled far back enough to be lost in her head forever.
“He should be here.”
“I didn’t ask him. Else he would’ve been. We’re not acouplecouple.”
“Barefoot and pregnant within a year would be my bet.” Miraculously, her eyes were back in place.
“Not happening.” And it wasn’t. I had a huge career opportunity ahead of me, one that was far too good to pass up on with a few months out at the moment. Lorna knew that. “Come on, let’s get this party started.”
We ate. A lot. And drank a lot too, because it was Friday and tomorrow we weren’t in charge of thirty-plus children who needed our full attention and more. This time next week I’d be driving over the Menai Bridge onto the island and a different phase of my life would begin.
“I envy you.” Lorna sat down next to me, a half-full cocktail in her hand, probably some potent strength thing that had enough alcohol content to knock out a horse.
“Because I’m moving back to Sleepy Town in Sleepyville?”
She shook her head. “You’re moving back home to a place where people choose to go on holiday, not just visit for a weekend. You have the excitement of a man who adores you…”
“I don’t know if he does. We had an amazing summer – it might just be that. Now we’re just meant to be friends.” I toyed with the stem of my wine glass. It was the first drink I’d had since August and it was hitting me hard. No more after this one, leaving party or not.
Lorna shook her head. “I have a feeling that your summer romance will continue. He sounds like he has the potential to be the real deal.”
“Like your chef?”
“Maybe. But that chef is hotter than the kitchen he’s cooking in too.”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. Lorna and her chef had been glued together since I’d left the island, or before. He looked at her in a way that suggested he’d rather give her the last piece of cake than eat it himself every single time. And she looked at him as if he was the frosting on her Black Forest gateaux.
Probably the same way I’d look at Gabe.
“I saw him before. He had eyes for the restaurant’s owner. Besides, you have your own hot bit of cooking god.”
“I do. And I suspect you wouldn’t be interested in what you were looking at anyway. Not with what you’ve got already.” Helen eyed the waiter as he came round to ask if we’d like more drinks.
It had been civilised. The mix of ages blending well as it always had done at school. There were women younger than us who had just started teaching, some around my age who had babies or toddlers, some who were approaching the end of their careers.
I felt a sense of loss. My time with them was nearing an end and as much as we had been friends while we worked together, I doubted I’d be hearing much from some of them in more than a year’s time, other than a few likes and comments on each other’s social media posts.
I ordered a coffee and sipped it while listening to the year six teacher talk about the practice at one of our secondary schools, but my mind flitted to Gabe. One week and we’d be living in the same village again. Would I be spending every night with him? I didn’t know and I wanted to.
So very much.
* * *
For the first time,I took a walk out to the cemetery where Calen, his sister and mother were buried. It had been on my list to do since I’d returned. Now I was leaving – permanently – I needed to say a final physical goodbye.
Autumn had sunk in with its anchor. The trees were almost bare of their leaves, the red and yellow deposits from them crunching underfoot as I made my way across the graveyard.
It was a long way since summer and even longer since February. I’d wanted to both come here and avoid the place at the same time. I’d never forget Calen. The nightmares would never completely leave, although they were now rare. And there would be times when I would remember Calen and feel sadness drench me at what he would never experience.
His grave was next to his mother’s, his sister on the other side of her.
Playful and innocent,you were gone too soon. Forever loved. Forever missed.
