‘Exactly that.’ Ashleigh sat up straight, as if paying this man full attention for the first time, with an expression that suggested she might be ready to dive in, filled to the brim with enthusiasm for whatever might come.
‘Yes, a little over fifty-five years ago now!’ Remy added, for no reason other than to make her sister laugh.
And she did.
Ashleigh Perera and Remy Hughes
2028
Aged 66
Remy
Remy put the phone down.
‘What did he have to say, love?’ Midge ran his hand up and down her back. She took comfort from both the contact and the warmth.
‘He said they’re going to keep going with the chemo, but that he’s very weak. Didn’t sound good.’
‘Poor Raul.’ He and Midge had formed a close friendship over the years, a remote friendship, of course, but one that was important to her and Tony, in the way that it was when your other halves were mates. It made everything a little easier.
‘Poor Tony.’ Her heart ached for him. She was beyond worried.
‘Yes, my love, I know.’
‘I wish I could see him, Midge, wish I could just sit by his bed and talk rubbish, make him laugh, get him some soup. I don’tknow, something!’ It was a dire feeling, to know her best friend was ill, ailing, and that she was unable to help. Very much as it had been post their attack all those years ago, when he had taken to his room and she had been kept at arm’s length.
‘He’s a private man in that respect. Don’t think he wants people seeing him so unwell.’
‘I know. And I’m glad Mrs Newman lives out there now, and his brother Greg, of course, I just’ – she hardly dared say it – ‘I just want to see him again, one more time.’ It was the first time she had acknowledged just how poorly her friend was.
‘You can go – of course you can! I can book you a ticket, come with you if you like?’
She squeezed his hand, her sweet man, always trying to make things better, to find a way.
‘It’s expensive. Not like nipping up the motorway, is it? And it’s too far, my love. Plus, you’re right. I don’t think he’d like me turning up to gawp at him.’
‘He knows you love him.’
These were the words that caused her distress to flare.
‘Maybe if the timing was different, but I don’t want to be far away when Ulla has the baby. She’s due in a couple of weeks. And we’ve already said we’ll go and stay to take the twins to school and pick them up. Don’t forget, when she had Clemmie and Topsy, her mum was close by to help out. Ulla will feel the loss of her even more.’
‘Flippin’ ’eck, Ren! Feels like they’re dropping like flies!’ His face crumpled as if instantly aware of the insensitivity of his remark. ‘I didn’t mean—’
‘I know, love. It’s fine. It was a shock when Ulla’s mum died so suddenly.’ Unpalatable as it was, she couldn’t decide if it was better or worse for Tony having had months to get used to the idea. Midge was right: poor Raul ...
‘Are they still going to call the new baby Nettle?’ Midge pulled a face, deftly changing the subject.
‘Yes.’ She smiled at her beloved. ‘And it’s not our place to say what we think!’
‘What happened to all the old-fashioned names like Sarah, Olivia and Charlotte!’
‘Time, my love. That’s what happened, time passed, and they became just that, old-fashioned, but no doubt they’ll come back around. Names seem to go in phases, don’t they?’
‘I guess.’ He stretched his arms over his head. She knew that since he’d retired he felt the pull in his muscles, punishment for all those years spent running with a heavy backpack and latterly the hours spent hunched over an engine. ‘But I don’t remember Nettle ever being in fashion.’
‘We will love little Nettle! And once we see her face, won’t be able to imagine her being called anything else.’ This she knew to be true, exactly as it had been with Bertie’s twins, who were nearly eight and doing so well at school.Well enough to pass the scholarship for one of the fancy schools in the area ...This she kept to herself.
