The queue moves, and I shuffle forward, my mind pulled by a million thoughts. I hadn’t planned for the night to end as it did, both of us baring more than just skin. Although, baring skin also seemed highly improbable. The fact that I asked him, the fact that he said yes. It all just seems so ridiculous. And what now? Are we friends? Because I know we can’t be anything else. Archer Powell does not swing that way.The monogamous way.He made that more than clear. And I’m sure if he did, Heather Whittington wouldn’t be top on his list of prospective.
‘Heather? Heather Whittington?’
Yep, that’s me. Heather Weirdington.
‘It is you!’
Wait, what?
Large arms envelop me as I’m crushed to a substantial chest, one that smells of manly soap and laundry detergent and a sort of wholesomeness.
‘Look, it’s me!’
‘Barney?’
‘Hello, H!’
The man standing before me with the enthusiasm of a golden retriever, and hair the same colour as its fur, was the best friend of my eldest brother, Leif, and he used to live next door. And H? Well, that’s what he used to call me back when I used to be the horrible little sister my brothers never wanted around. Though unlike my brothers, Barney tolerated me. He never chased me down the garden with the hose.
Barney, by the way, isn’t his name. It’s William or something. God, I can’t remember. But he was Barney from being a toddler, I seem to think, because his parents said he was like his grandfather’s beloved dog because of his affable nature. Although one time when Leif was in a particularly bad mood, he said it was because Barney was a little bit thick, just like the breed. But I think he meant oblivious rather than stupid. Maybe?
‘What are you doing here?’ I return his hug with one of my own now that I’m over the surprise.
‘I was supposed to be here for a wedding, but my plane was late getting in. I missed the service, and more importantly, I missed the food.’ He rubs his stomach like a department store Father Christmas, though his figure is hardly the same, even though Leif also once said his parents nicknamed him Barney because he was also the other kind of thick, heavyset like the breed. He did used to be a little portly, I remember, but he certainly isn’t anymore. He was the kind of boy who seemed to be older than his years. Very serious and would always introduce himself to those around him with a very formal introduction which included a handshake.
‘I was here for a wedding, too. Poppy’s wedding?’ I can’t imagine there was more than one wedding in the place yesterday.
‘Goodness, yes! She’s my second cousin. Not so close that I would’ve been missed yesterday—what I mean to say is I didn’t miss any responsibilities. My ushering services weren’t required, and I wasn’t orating because that would’ve been dreadful to miss.’ Typical Barney. Always thinking of others.
‘Well, I’m sorry I missed it. And I missed you.’
‘But I’m here now. It’s so lovely to see you, H. All grown up.’ His eyes flick over me, leaving me with a weird sense of being appraised. But it has been a while, probably pre my pink-haired days.
‘Yep, all grown up, I think. Or at least I have been pretending to be for a while now. What about you? What are you up to these days?’
‘I went into medicine, like my mother.’
‘We always thought you would.’
‘You don’t choose your calling; your calling chooses you.’
‘If you’re lucky, I think.’ Or else you get stuck in an office posting vacuous words and stupid memes to social media accounts.
‘What do you do, Heather?’
‘Oh, office stuff. Far too boring to talk about.’
‘I’m withMédecins Sans Frontièresat the minute. That’s how I missed Poppy’s big day. My flight from Mogadishu was delayed.’ He ruffles a hand through the thatch of his hair. ‘Actually, it was cancelled.’
‘Oh, wow. For the, erm, job. Too bad about the flight.’
‘Yes, very much too bad. We could’ve caught up. Chatted about the old days.’
‘How long are you here for?’ The queue shuffles forward, and I duly oblige.
‘Just today. I’m off to Inverness this evening to spend a day or two with my parents and then back to Somalia on Wednesday.’
‘So really just a flying visit?’
