Sometimes they then scrunched up together in the big corner bath, soaping each others’ bodies and exchanging stories from their lives.
What they didn’t do was face up to reality.
Honor knew she had to — and soon. Using Martyn’s computer because she’d left hers when she’d packed so haphazardly at the bungalow, she’d just received an email from Jessamine.Is Stef still there? Are you OK? I miss you. Dad’s worried — he’s about ready to get on a plane to England.
She responded,Tell Dad not to worry. I’ll be back for a while, soon, and I’m guessing if I go home then Stef will surely follow.
She gave a huge sigh. Martyn sat down on the sofa beside her, swooped her up and arranged her on his lap, kissing her cheekbones. ‘Trouble?’
‘Oh, you know. My sister emailed. My dad’s worried. And I know I have to go home soon and deal with stuff.’ She let her head settle back into the crook of his neck. ‘I’m getting my head around it.’
His warm arms tightened as if he didn’t want her to go, even as he said, ‘I suppose so.’
She fiddled with the laptop, shinily black, running her fingers around the keys. ‘I want to see Ru before I go. I know he was freaked by what I told him and I need to know he’s going to be OK in the end.’
‘Text him.’
‘Hm.’ She drew more patterns. ‘It’s Thursday but I don’t feel like going to self-defence class. And I’m kind of hoping that Ru doesn’t need it any more.’
‘So invite him for fish and chips. I’m sure he’ll take that bait.’
‘OK.’ Still snuggled on his lap, she took out her phone.Join us for fish n chips tonight? Martyn’s, at 7.
In only a few minutes she received,OK.
She was ultra-relieved when Ru arrived at seven, easing himself into the room with just one familiar smile, half-seen behind his hair. Honor gave him a quick hug. It was like hugging a plank that wouldn’t get its hands out of its pockets but he didn’t actually resist.
‘I’m starving,’ was all he said. ‘Shall I go and get the chips?’ And Honor realised that he didn’t want or didn’t need to talk about what she’d told him. He just wanted everything to be OK.
‘Great,’ she said. ‘I’ll give you the money.’
Afterwards, they arranged themselves around the sofas, too full to do more than sit for a while. Ru reached for Martyn’s laptop. ‘Can I do my Facebook and stuff?’
‘Of course.’ Martyn had begun flicking through the movie channels on TV. He pulled Honor’s legs over his.
Honor watched Ru, his mouth half-open as he focused on the screen. ‘So, how are things with Robina?’
Ru shrugged. ‘’Bout the same.’ He tapped briskly. ‘I didn’t tell her.’ It was the first indication he’d given that Honor’s confession had ever happened.
‘Probably best. Has she said whether she’s found that form she wants me to sign?’
His eyes were still glued to the computer. ‘What form?’
‘She called me and told me I had to sign some form for the British tax authorities.’
Ru frowned.
‘Then she couldn’t find it and slammed around, quite obviously not wanting me there and blaming me for the fact that I had to be.’
Ru’s eyebrows shot up.
‘So I left her to her snit. She didn’t mention it to you, at all?’ Honor persisted, nudging him with her foot to break the spell that had glued his eyes to the laptop.
Ru put his head on one side. ‘Martyn? Are you gay?’
‘Don’t think so.’ Martyn winked at Honor. ‘I don’t even think I’m confused or curious. Why?’
Ru read from the screen. ‘Your Facebook status update says that you are. And that you’re groomingmefor . . .’ he squinted, ‘“delicious discoveries”. And you’re going to change your name to Mary.’
