‘Don’t you think I’ve thought of that?’
‘I don’t know. Have you?’
‘Yes, I’ve decided I’m going to talk to her about it at the top ofthe Empire State, having drunk several strong coffees.’ Hayley felt her chest tighten at the thought of broaching the subject with Angel. She carried on regardless. ‘I’ll tell her I know about her wish and that I’m going to help her find her father.’
A loud bang on the floorboards had Hayley turning towards the doorway. She gasped. Angel was stood just behind her, the special dictionary fallen open on the floor at her feet.
29
DRUMMOND GLOBAL OFFICES, DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN
‘That was reception again. Your mother has left another message,’ Clara said, putting down the phone on Oliver’s desk.
‘When do you think she’s going to give up?’ he asked, leaning back in his chair.
‘I’ve known her half my life, Oliver. She isn’t going to give up until you talk to her.’
He nodded, filling his chest cavity with a long breath. Clara was right, of course, but he wasn’t ready yet.
‘Is this about the McArthur Foundation?’ Clara asked.
He shook his head. ‘No.’
‘Then…’
He knew she’d deliberately left the end of her sentence open, the words hanging there, just waiting for him to fill in the gaps.
‘So, romantic locations,’ Oliver said, pulling himself upright and smiling at Clara.
‘You were serious about that?’
‘Did you think I wasn’t?’
‘It’s that woman who was here the other day.’ Clara smiled. ‘Lois.’
He couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his mouth. ‘Maybe.’
‘Oliver, I’ve never seen you look like that before.’
‘Like what?’
‘Like you’re not running from the world.’
He swallowed, the smile fading a little. Was that what he did? Was that how others saw him? He felt the familiar grip of fear tighten its hold on his heart. Planning a date like this was having faith in something he didn’t believe in. This wasn’t a casual pick-up. Making a diary entry with someone was as permanent as he’d ever been. A voice at the back of his mind was urging caution.You are going to die.He swallowed, tempted to listen. Or did he dare to ignore it? Live life without thinking too hard, like Tony kept suggesting.
‘It wasn’t a criticism,’ Clara said quickly. ‘I just know how much pressure you’ve been under since your father died and?—’
He cleared his throat. ‘So, I was thinking of a Broadway show. What’s best?’
Clara put a hand to the turquoise statement necklace on her chest, twisting the beads between her fingers.
‘No?’ Oliver asked.
‘Well, it’s a nice idea but you can’t really talk to each other in a show.’ She shifted in her seat. ‘A first date should give you an opportunity to get to know each other better.’
He nodded. ‘You’re right. What was I thinking?’
He thought over Clara’s statement, watched her cheeks redden because she’d spoken her mind.
