‘Like prioritising our happiness and not doing something because we’re expected to or because we happen to find ourselves on that track. We need to jump off! Start over! Because if having to contemplate an existence without you has taught me one thing, it’s that life is short. It’s too short.’
‘I think that “someone” is very wise. That’s why I’ve chucked in my job and I have a place at uni. I’m going to be a midwife. That’s the plan.’
‘That’s brilliant! Just brilliant!’ His joy was tangible.
‘Oi! Farquhar!’ Connie called across the cove from beneath the shelter of her blanket, her face lit by the orange flames that licked the driftwood and crackled as they released fire fairies up into the night sky.
‘Who me?’ Ed touched his chest.
‘Yeah you! Welcome to the family!’ She raised her can of cider.
‘Thanks!’ He pulled Tawrie towards him, no doubt using her as a shield, which made her laugh.
‘We’ll love you forever, but if you put a foot wrong with our Tawrie Gunn, you’ll ’ave me to answer to!’
Needle led the laughter that rippled around the cove, and as the music got louder, the flames danced higher.
‘Let’s dance!’ Tawrie pulled him down the beach. ‘Let’s dance until we drop!’
‘Yes, and then we’re going to stay right here on the sand, looking up at the sky and lying here until morning, watching the movement, the light, the shifting darkness.’
‘Our checklist,’ she breathed.
‘Our checklist.’ He silenced her with a kiss.
The two were ebullient, giddy, despite not having had much sleep.
‘Where are we going?’
He followed, as she skipped along Broad Street with her hand inside Ed’s. ‘It’s so early!’ he moaned. ‘I want food! I want toast, I need coffee! I need a shower.’
‘That’s just too bad, I’m in charge!’ she sang. ‘It’s a surprise!’
‘It’s not your birthday any more, so less of the bossiness. You can’t be this demanding – this is just any other day. Besides, don’t you have to go for your swim?’ He looked back over his shoulder.
‘Nope, I spoke to Jago and Maudie, explained that I’d be absent.’
‘Actually, I saw them yesterday when I was on my hike around the Torrs.’ He pulled a face.
‘What did they say?’ She was curious, trying to imagine the three of them chatting without her.
‘Jago was very frosty and told me that you deserved more than to get lumped with a rotter. Maudie gave me a death stare.’ He shivered.
‘Ah yes, thought that might be the case. They’ll come around.’ She squeezed his hand.
‘What if they don’t?’ He sounded horrified.
‘Then I’ll bin you and let them choose me a young man they approve of!’
‘I hope you’re joking!’ He bent to kiss her.
‘I hope we never have to find out!’ she countered.
It was as they tripped along the quayside that she spotted Needle out on the water in his boat. She stopped walking and stood rooted to the spot. All bravado whistled along the wind as she faced the reality of her plan. She waved to the man who now stood proudly in his rigid hulled inflatable rib.
‘Does your surprise have something to do with Needle and his yacht?’
‘It might. Oh God, Ed, I thought I could do it. I want to do it, but I’m not so sure ...’ She pulled back on the pavement, feeling the very real beginnings of panic.
