‘Fine. They miss you, of course, but they’re getting on with their lives now. It took them ages to come to terms with it, but we all rallied round. Dad had his seventy-fifth birthday last year. We had a little party for him. We all raised a glass in your memory.’
Danny gulped and leaned towards his brother, eager for information. ‘Did you invite Kirsty? Have you seen anything of her lately? How is she?’
Rory shrugged uncertainly. ‘She’s – she’s fine.’
‘Fine?’ Danny gave a short laugh. ‘Is that it? Surely you can tell me more than that? Have you any idea how much I’ve missed her? It’s been agony without her, wondering if she was coping, hoping and praying she’d be all right without me. I need to know. Is she still living in our house? Is she managing all right financially? Has she – has she met anyone else?’
Rory got to his feet. ‘I’m sorry, Danny. This is all too much for me right now. I understand you want to know everything that’s gone on over the last eighteen years, but I wasn’t expecting… Look, I need to get my head around it all. This has been one hell of a shock.’
Danny nodded. ‘I understand that. I’m sorry if I bombarded you with questions.’
‘No, don’t apologise!’ Rory shook his head, the tears spilling onto his cheeks. ‘Honestly, you have nothing to be sorry for. I’m so glad to see you, I really am. I promise we’ll talk, okay? But I just need some time…’
‘I get it.’ Danny sighed. ‘I suppose I’d feel the same if I were in your shoes. But you mean it? Wewilltalk?’
Rory’s expression softened. ‘Of course we’ll talk, Danny. You’re my kid brother and I’ve missed you so much. Iwantto talk to you. I want to know what’s been going on with you for near enough the last two decades. And I want to answer your questions. Of course I do. We’ll meet tomorrow, okay? Promise. When’s best for you?’
‘Because I have such a hectic social life?’ Danny managed a smile before he remembered. ‘Actually, Idohave something on tomorrow. Choir practice.’
He wished he could take a photo of Rory’s expression at that moment. His brother was clearly stunned by his answer and Danny couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Well, not exactly choir practice, but we’re learning a song to sing at an event that’s coming up. Oh, it doesn’t matter!’
‘Choir practiceanda book club?’ Rory shook his head. ‘There really is quite a ghostly community around here, isn’t there?’
‘Oh yes.’ Danny gave him a mischievous smile. ‘They’re around every corner in this village.’
Rory glanced around nervously, clearly expecting to see a myriad of phantoms jumping out from behind the gravestones.
‘Don’t worry. You wouldn’t see them even if they were here, which they’re not. Like I said, you can only see the ghosts you have a blood connection to.’
Rory frowned. ‘So… You mean, only I can see you? No other living person can? Apart from the owner of the estate and the others you mentioned?’
‘That’s right.’
‘It’s unbelievable. I mean, Idobelieve you, but – wow! This changes everything! There really is life after death. But – but what happens if you don’t become a ghost? Where do you go to then?’
‘I honestly don’t know. It didn’t happen to me, did it? I don’t know any more than you do.’
Danny had been about to mention Brooke but thought that could wait for another day. Rory had enough to deal with right now.
‘I’m glad,’ his brother told him. ‘I’m glad you’re not alone.’ He pulled his coat tighter around him and said, ‘I’d better be getting back. It’s so good to see you, kid. It really is.’
He looked and sounded dazed. Clearly he had a lot of information to absorb, and Danny could see why he needed time.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘After lunch,’ Danny said. ‘About two thirty?’
‘Two thirty. Here?’
Danny nodded. ‘See you then, Rory.’
‘See you then, Danny.’
Rory shook his head slightly, as if he still couldn’t believe what had just happened, then he turned and headed up the path and out of the church grounds.
Danny leaned back in the bench and closed his eyes. At long last he had a chance. Now that Rory knew he was here he’d be able to get in touch with Kirsty. She could come here and he’d be able to see her. Oh, she wouldn’t be able to see him, but Rory could help the two of them to have a conversation. He could finally tell her how much he loved and missed her. Maybe… Oh, he didn’t want to get his hopes up, but maybe Kirsty would want to move here to be with him permanently? If she hadn’t met anyone else…
