‘No, actually we’re not,’ he said grimly. ‘At least, I’m not. You and I clearly differ on what fine means.’ He got to his feet.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Going out.’ He reached for the bundle of leaflets that someone had thoughtfully placed on our bedside cabinet, showing local attractions and giving more information about this living history village we were staying in.
‘Don’t,’ I begged. ‘Let’s stay and talk.’
‘What would be the point?’ He gave me an anguished look. ‘Honestly, I’m not trying to be difficult, and I don’t want to upset you, and I promise we’ll talk again. That’s what we’re here for, isn’t it? But right now, it feels as if we’re getting nowhere fast. Let’s just take some time apart to think through what’s been said so far. It’s been a big shock for you coming here. I’ve just dropped it all on you and it’s not fair to expect you to absorb everything at once. I’m going to get some fresh air, have a look around. I’ll be back in an hour or so and we’ll have dinner downstairs, okay?’
He gently cuffed my chin and I nodded. ‘Okay.’
I watched sadly as he grabbed his jacket and headed out of the room, leaving me sitting alone on the bed, thinking over what he’d said. He looked so defeated. I hated what I was doing to him. I just wished I could put everything right and make him understand how much I loved him, because I really did.
But he was right. Therewassomething between us. And I didn’t have the first idea how to make it go away.
11
DANNY
Danny and Brooke were sitting on the stage at The Magic Lantern, along with the other ghosts. Right now, it was a scene of chaos. Lucy had suggested a song for them and there was a lot of disagreement about her choice.
‘“Sunshine on Leith”,’ she said cheerily. ‘It’s a beautiful song, it really is, and the thing is that it’s easy to sing. It has simple lyrics and the melody isn’t too demanding for you, so none of you should struggle too much with it.’
‘I’ve never heard of it,’ Millie complained, and the rest of the ghosts nodded in agreement.
‘Maybe not, but I’m sure you’ll love it when you hear it. It was Sam’s suggestion actually, but when I thought about it, I realised it was a great choice.’
‘Why? What’s it about?’ asked Bill.
Millie asked the question of Lucy.
‘Well, it’s about love and loss. It’s about healing from heartbreak, and feeling grateful to a higher power for bringing them through this pain and leading them to someone who helped mend their broken heart. The song’s actually full of gratitude at having found this person, and it’s so full of love it gives me a lump in my throat.’
‘Oh, that does sound rather lovely,’ Agnes said.
‘It certainly does, my dear,’ Aubrey agreed, ‘and I quite understand the sentiment in it. I shall never cease to be grateful to whoever or whatever brought us together for eternity.’
He took her hand in his and they smiled at each other, seeming to forget for a moment that they weren’t alone.
Danny marvelled at how much Agnes had changed. She hadn’t mixed with the ghosts for years if she could help it, but since her marriage to Aubrey on Christmas Day, she was everyone’s friend. Danny had rarely seen her before the wedding, but he’d heard she was a miserable, cantankerous old so-and-so. Yet Callie had told Shona who had told Polly who had told everyone else that she never stopped smiling these days.
That, he thought glumly, was what love could do for you. If only it was that straightforward for everyone.
He glanced at Brooke who was looking thoroughly fed up. He wondered what she was thinking and felt an ache of compassion for her. She’d never had a real relationship with anyone. Her life had been cut off before she’d even found the person she wanted to be with.
At least he’d had Kirsty for a short while. At least he’d got married. At least he’d known love. Poor Brooke had never experienced it, and he felt sad for her. She deserved to be loved, he thought. Despite everything, she was a nice girl. A kind girl.
He remembered when they’d worked at the same company. She’d always taken the trouble to bring him a coffee and a pastry each morning, and she always had a smile on her face for him. It had cheered him up on the mornings he wasn’t feeling that great, seeing her looking all bright and happy.
It was unusual for her to be so glum, and he squeezed her shoulder.
‘You okay?’
She looked surprised. ‘Er, yes. Why?’
‘You look a bit down,’ he told her. ‘Is it the song? Don’t you like it?’
‘Actually,’ she told him, ‘I do. I remember it well. Although it’s connected with football, isn’t it? I seem to remember something about that.’
