‘Who did you marry?’ she asked.Say it. I dare you.
Kirsty looked decidedly awkward. ‘Well, that’s the thing. I know it sounds odd but, actually, I married Rory.’
For a moment it didn’t register. Then the image of Danny’s best man popped into her mind and her mouth dropped open in shock.
‘Rory? You married Danny’s brother?’
The brother Danny adored and had missed every single day of the last eighteen years. He might not have talked about Kirsty, but he’d never shut up about his perfect sibling.
Kirsty nodded dumbly.
‘Oh my God! That’s – that’s…’ Actually, she didn’t even know what it was. Unexpected, for sure. Definitely not what she’d thought Kirsty would say.
Suspiciously she queried, ‘How long have you been married?’
‘It will be our tenth anniversary on Saturday,’ Kirsty told her. ‘That’s why we’re here.’
‘You’ve come to the place where your first husband was killed to celebrate ten years of marriage to your second husband? Wow.’ Kirsty was a piece of work, but even by her standards that was low.
‘No,’ Kirsty said quietly. ‘To tell you the truth, Brooke, we’ve come here to try to save our marriage.’
Brooke looked at her sharply. ‘Your marriage is in trouble?’
Kirsty nodded. ‘Danny casts a long shadow, you know?’
Brooke had no idea what to say to that. Part of her wanted to laugh and ask who Kirsty thought she was kidding. Another part of her felt a reluctant sympathy for her cousin, who looked pretty miserable, quite frankly.
Even so…
‘So you and Rory are having problems, and it’s to do with Danny?’ She couldn’t see how after all this time. ‘It’s been eighteen years.’
‘Oh, I know,’ Kirsty said sadly. ‘Believe me. I knowexactlyhow long it’s been.’
18
DANNY
‘Sorry I’m a bit late,’ Rory said, sounding quite breathless as he hurried up the path towards the bench outside the church. ‘I, er, I’ve been shopping and I had to drop the bags off before I came here.’
Danny glanced up at the church clock and shrugged. ‘Only ten minutes. It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you came. I wasn’t sure you would.’
Rory dropped onto the bench beside him. ‘Of course I came. I told you I would. Although, I must admit, I half thought I’d dreamed the entire thing and was prepared for the fact that you wouldn’t be here. But I came anyway, just in case.’
Danny nodded. ‘It’s just, you were a bit funny with me yesterday. It was like you couldn’t wait to get away from me.’
Rory rubbed his forehead. ‘I’m sorry, Danny. It wasn’t like that, honestly. It was just such a shock, and I really didn’t know what to think. I should have thought about how that came across to you and been a lot less selfish. I’m really sorry.’
Danny brightened. ‘It’s okay. I should have realised how strange this must be for you. I suppose I was just scared, you know. Scared you wouldn’t come back and I’d never see you again.’
Rory smiled. ‘Aw, Danny, there’s no way I’d have gone without talking to my baby brother. Have you any idea how much I’ve missed you? I can’t tell you how amazing it is to see you again. I never thought…’
He broke off, clearly emotional, and Danny felt a rush of relief. ‘It’s the same for me,’ he said. ‘I’ve missed you, too. You have no idea.’
Rory nodded. ‘Still wish I could hug you.’
‘I know. Frustrating, isn’t it? But look, tell me everything! What’s been going on with the family? With you? It’s been such a long time, and I’ve wondered, over the years, how you all were.’
Rory leaned back in the bench. ‘We’re all doing well. Like I told you yesterday, it took Mum and Dad some time coming to terms with what happened, but we all pulled through eventually. Doesn’t mean we don’t all still miss you and think about you, though,’ he added hastily. ‘Life goes on, but there’ll always be someone missing. It will always hurt.’
