Part Four
Wednesday, 23 October
Text messages between Henry and Halley:
Halley, I’m so sorry about that, but it WASN’T what it looked like. Can we talk? Henry.
Halley, please can I call you back?
Halley, I know it’s the middle of the night there, but let me know when you’re awake. Anytime. ANYTIME. Please.
Henry, if it really wasn’t what it looks like, then explain.
* * *
From: Henry Inglis
Subject: Explanation
To: Halley Hart
Thank you for replying, Halley. I hope you’re OK, and got some sleep?
That was Gabrielle. She’s Julian’s... girlfriend I suppose, though I haven’t heard them define it. I thought she’d left with him, shortly before you called.
But she isn’t just Julian’s girlfriend or whatever. She’s my colleague, from the history department. Also, I dated her during my first few months in Oxford. It was short-lived, never serious and fizzled out over ten months ago. Which might make what just happened seem worse. I don’t know.
Them getting together is why I’m moving out. Not because I have any lingering feelings for her — I’d feel like a spare wheel whoever Julian got serious with.
Finally, please let me know any questions. I’ll answer anything. And if you need corroboration, I’m sure Julian would be prepared to talk to you on the phone.
Very best, Henry
* * *
From: Halley Hart
Subject: Questions . . .
To: Henry Inglis
1. Why did she call you darling? And walk around in what was barely more than underwear?
2. At the start of our call you said you hadn’t had much sleep?
3. Wait — you told Julian about me?
* * *
From: Henry Inglis
Subject: Answers
To: Halley Hart
Dear Halley,
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to explain further.
1. She’s French. She talks like that to everyone. And she doesn’t seem to do embarrassment. But I do, and was, at seeing her... scantily clad like that.
2. I avoided hearing Julian and Gabrielle by blasting music through my headphones all night... To be clear, I wouldn’t have wanted to have listened to Julian... entertaining anyone.
3. Yes. I hope that’s OK. Gabrielle finally clocked my phone, and asked bemusedly if I was filming her. I was stammering that I’d actually been on FaceTime with the woman I’m involved with as Julian got home. It was an exceedingly awkward conversation all round, and once she left I told Julian the whole story. I know it was awkward for you too, and only hope this hasn’t changed anything.
Very best, Henry
* * *
Thursday, 24 October
From: Halley Hart
Subject: Good answers . . .
To: Henry Inglis
It was an unfortunately timed incident. You don’t have anything to be sorry for, and I should have thought it all through before I overreacted like that. There was always going to be a logical explanation, and I’m a logical person. Except where you’re concerned, when logic flies out the window and I can only FEEL. Right from that senseless kiss, onwards.
I was really enjoying our vid-chat, until then. Wanna try again this weekend?
* * *
From: Henry Inglis
Subject: Yes please!
To: Halley Hart
What about Saturday, noon your time, eight p.m. mine? I can’t wait.
And our kiss may have been senseless, Halley, but I’ll never regret that it happened.
I hope you’re having a good week,
Henry
* * *
Friday, 25 October
From: Halley Hart
Subject: It’s a date
To: Henry Inglis
Crazy-busy week, rather than good , but the department just hired another TA, so once she’s trained, my schedule should let up a little.
Looking forward to Saturday.
* * *
Text messages between Mom and Halley:
How long will you ignore me? (To the tune of The Waterboys’ ‘How Long Will I Love You’.) Love Mom
I’m not ignoring you, Mom. I just need a little space.
* * *
Saturday, 26 October
Henry
It’s a date.
The three words from Halley’s subject line echoed in Henry’s head all night. Despite reminding himself, in stern management of his own expectations, that it was probably a turn of phrase, he’d gone to a lot more effort for a video call than ever before.
He pushed into the Hope and Anchor on North Parade and navigated his way to the bar, unsurprised that it was busy.
The barman waved a hand. ‘The back room’s ready for you, Henry. What do you want to drink? It’s on the house.’
Given that Henry had paid ￡60 for exclusive use of the back room, he readily accepted a pint. Carrying it carefully through the throng, he heard someone call his name, and, glancing over, saw Kwame and Ruth round the far side.
He picked his way over, and Kwame clapped him on the back. His name may have hailed from Ghana, where his father was born, but his accent was pure Bristolian. ‘Aw-reet, mate?’
‘Great. And you both?’
‘Any news on whatever you’re searching for?’ Ruth asked, her eyes fixed on him rather too intuitively. He avoided meeting them. As yet unsure if the disaster caused by bloody Gabrielle was entirely resolved, he didn’t feel like talking about Halley.
‘Kind of — thanks for the advice. Now, my biggest problem is the amount of time house hunting takes up.’
Kwame’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You wouldn’t be interested in—’
‘Kwame,’ Ruth said on a sigh.
‘What? It was your idea to rent it out.’
‘Not to Henry ,’ Ruth said.
‘Why?’ Kwame said, at the same moment as Henry said, ‘ What? ’
Ruth rolled her eyes despairingly. ‘Where Kwame lived before we got married. Instead of selling it on, he’s been shelling out several hundred a month on maintenance, while it sits totally empty.’
‘Because it’s the best location in Oxford! Completely peaceful, stunning views, and only ten minutes from the city centre. We’ll be glad of it if you ever switch to a role without accommodation.’
‘I’m never living there, my love,’ Ruth trilled.
‘She can’t see past the composting toilet,’ Kwame said, returning his attention rather mournfully to Henry. ‘But there’s gas for cooking, solar panels for leccy, even a power shower.’
‘Sorry,’ Henry said. ‘I’m not following. You used to live where?’
‘A houseboat, on the canal,’ Kwame confirmed. ‘I was years on a waiting list to get that mooring — I’m not giving it up. So I thought I’d keep it as a man cave, for when Ruth’s writing sermons, or gets a crying student over. But I’ve barely used it, so she suggested renting it to someone desperate.’
Ruth hissed at her husband, ‘You realize you’re implying—’
Henry cut in, amused. ‘He’s right — I am desperate. What’s the internet connectivity like?’
‘Superfast broadband.’
Henry smiled. ‘Sounds perfect. I’ll call you to arrange to see it?’
He moved off before they could ask what he was up to, retreating into the small private room with its reserved sign on the door. Inside, he arranged his pint and laptop on a table in front of the open fireplace, before adding a log to the fire and seating himself. He sucked in a deep breath and touched Halley’s name.
She sprang onto his screen an instant later. She must be in the dark, he thought, as only the blue light from her phone illuminated her face. It emphasized her grey eyes which now looked enormous, and threw the contours of her face into sharp relief, like her bones were pressing through her skin.
‘Did I wake you?’ he asked, wondering if she’d been up all night.
‘Not at all. I have a habit of working with the blinds closed.’
‘I’ve interrupted you then — I could call back?’
‘No, this is good,’ she said. ‘Well, as long as you’re not calling to announce that my overreaction to Gabrielle scared you off.’ She let out a rather breathy laugh, then cut it off abruptly.
It took him a few beats to realize she was nervous. ‘Your reaction was proportionate to what happened, Halley.’
Her wide mouth twitched. ‘Your roommate getting together with your ex. Isn’t that against some sort of bro code?’
He shrugged. ‘I told Julian that if they can find happiness together, more power to them. And ex is too strong. We went on fewer dates than I can count on both hands.’
Halley fiddled with her hair. ‘And you said it fizzled out?’
‘It did.’ Henry sipped his beer, thinking hard. He’d never put his unease into words before, or even fully formed them into a thought. ‘I wasn’t really feeling it. I thought she wasn’t either. Then she immediately turned her attention to Julian. It took months for him to get over his nerves and respond, but... I don’t know. It was odd.’ Henry shook his head. He absolutely didn’t want to waste any more time on this. He motioned around him. ‘This is the Hope and Anchor I intended to direct you to.’
Halley’s eyes widened. ‘We’re having a do-over?’ She sounded delighted, and he sent the message from his draft folder.
‘Click on the link in the email you just received.’
She did so, then grinned. ‘A log fire video. So we both get one to enjoy! What’s that you’re drinking? I’ll grab something similar.’
‘Locally brewed bitter.’
She pulled a face, before disappearing, and returning with a bottled IPA. ‘Closest I’ve got. By the way, what were you drinking while you waited for me, that night?’
He thought back. He’d ordered a sandwich, and something to wash it down with. ‘Just Earl Grey tea.’
‘Huh,’ Halley said, leaning back on her desk chair, and looking at him through her lashes.
There was a significance to this that he was entirely missing. ‘It’s a black tea, flavoured with oil of bergamot orange.’
Halley straightened, and slapped her desk with both hands. ‘Citrus! There was like, a smokiness, combined with something sweet and fragrant.’
Henry furrowed his brow. ‘I’m not following.’
Halley blushed rather becomingly. ‘Ever since we... since I kissed you, I’ve been trying to figure out what you... smelled like.’
‘What my breath smelled like?’ Henry asked, appalled.
‘In a good way!’ Halley chewed on her lower lip.
‘Oh . . .’ Henry was feeling rather helpless.
Explosive giggles took over Halley entirely. ‘Sorry! The look on your face!’
Henry had to place his mug down, then put his face in his hands and laughed.
When they’d recovered, the lingering tension had broken. Henry planted his elbow on the table, propped his chin in his palm, and smiled into his laptop, wishing harder than he’d ever wished for anything that he could see her again in person. ‘Tell me how your work’s going, Halley.’
She caught him up on her research and explained her TA responsibilities, then asked about his own. He explained the subjects he was tutoring this term and described his students, including the first year who was presenting such a conundrum of silence.
‘And your research? You mentioned a lead on the records you’re after.’
‘Haven’t achieved any forward progress on that,’ he admitted. ‘They should be logged on the Bod’s archive database, but I can’t find them there. It probably means a transcription error, and I need to try a load of possible typos and misspellings. Halley — I’m intrigued why a Northwestern University alumna, and current Stanford Ph.D. student, is wearing a hoodie that says University of Illinois at Chicago .’
She glanced down at her torso. ‘I guess I find it fun to confuse people. This was Mom’s, from when I was a baby and she went back to school to complete her nursing training.’ Before he could ask if she’d like his college scarf, she added: ‘So now your buddy knows about me, right? I feel kinda bad I haven’t told anyone about you, yet.’
The yet seemed to be left dangling, and he considered scooping it up, and asking when she might tell someone, or what she would say. Caution won out. ‘Your mother knew I existed before anyone on my side.’
Her smile faded. ‘She doesn’t know we’re...’ She waved her finger between them. ‘I still haven’t spoken to her.’
‘I don’t like seeing you look sad,’ Henry said, because it was true, and because he didn’t want to say the wrong thing and risk making the situation worse. ‘Is there anything I can do to help, sweetheart?’ Her eyes blazed and he added hastily, ‘I should have checked if you mind—’
‘Henry,’ she snapped with mock annoyance. ‘I know we’ve fallen off the no-apologies wagon pretty badly, but if you say sorry for that then I’ll be really pissed.’
He smiled. ‘Sweetheart works?’
‘Unless in your head you’re imagining it written sweet-h-a-r-t, and it’s a pun. I hate puns.’
‘Furthest thing from my mind.’
Her mouth regained its bracket of dimples. ‘Then it’s the nicest thing I’ve been called in ages. Angelie’s given me a nickname so bad it’s unrepeatable, Mom calls me Junior , and the guys in the cubicles either side of mine call me Hal.’
‘Then we share a nickname! Viola calls me Hal, on occasion.’
‘Shouldn’t it be Hen?’
‘I suppose Hen’s a bit avian. Historically, Hal’s derived from Harry, which Henrys are also often called. Prince Harry was christened Henry, but it also goes back centuries — before he ascended the throne of England, Henry V was called Harry or Hal.’
‘Thanks for the history lesson, Prince Hal. D’you have any other nicknames?’
He thought for a moment. ‘Viola called me Eggy for a while.’
‘Like egghead, because you were a book addict?’
‘Eggy like a boiled egg,’ he said wryly. ‘When I was small my hair was white-blond, and my eyebrows were so pale they were invisible. So apparently I looked just like one. Don’t laugh! She saw it as performing her sisterly duty, to stop me getting arrogant.’
‘Well, good job, Viola,’ Halley said, still smiling.
Henry seized the moment. ‘Uh...’ He filled his lungs. ‘In light of the debacle earlier in the week, it feels important to ensure that you know that I’m not, uh... corresponding with anyone else, in this way. I mean, obviously I do write a lot of other emails,’ he added, suddenly flustered. ‘And one of the Halley Harts phoned a few times, wanting to help me find you. By corresponding , I mean that I’m not romantically involved with anyone else, on any level.’
She was either completely still, or the internet connection had frozen. ‘Halley?’
‘I’m here,’ she said. ‘Just... is what you’re saying, that you want our correspondence to be exclusive ?’
He scrutinized her face, but her expression gave nothing away. It was tempting to leave it there, and pick up the conversation at some later date. But she’d been hurt by that mix-up with Gabrielle, which made him determined to be honest.
‘Yes,’ he said bluntly. ‘I know on some level that must sound ridiculous, with so much yet to learn about each other, and the vast distance between us, and having only met once. But... that’s what I’d like. Of course, you may not, which is totally...’
‘I do, though! Except, we don’t have to keep calling it correspondence , do we?’
He beamed at her. ‘We can call it whatever you want.’
She sucked her cheeks in, thinking. ‘This,’ she said eventually, pointing at him, then at herself ― ‘feels like a date. So let’s do more of it.’
‘More dating, through a screen,’ Henry said, grinning. ‘Exclusively,’ he added, trying not to sound smug. From the way Halley narrowed her eyes at him, he wasn’t entirely sure he’d succeeded.
‘Sure,’ she said. ‘Though I’m not sure yet how the logistics work, with both our schedules.’
‘I won’t remain as busy as right now.’ Henry wondered if it was too soon to ask what she was doing for Christmas. ‘I can take leave once it gets to mid-December.’
‘That’s when your term ends?’ Halley’s gaze moved to one side. She was consulting a calendar, he guessed.
‘That’s a little earlier. Then there’s ten days of interviews — prospective candidates for admission next year. Afterwards I’ll have at least two weeks of freedom.’ He tightened his hands under the table.
Her forehead wrinkled as she made a few rapid calculations. ‘I’m committed to a symposium here until the eighteenth of December, but I can swing a break afterwards. How would you feel about celebrating the holidays in California?’
He thudded his fists on his knees, then moved his hands to his keyboard and bashed on a random stream of keys. ‘I hope you meant that ― I’ve just booked a ticket.’
He was hoping for a smile, but her reaction was quite different. ‘You’re serious,’ she said unsteadily. ‘You’ll come?’
‘I’ll be there,’ he said, trying to transmit maximal sincerity through the screen. ‘I can’t wait.’
‘Me either,’ she breathed.
‘And until then, we’ve got these video calls, and texts.’
‘I still want to email,’ Halley put in. ‘I love our emails.’
‘Me too. So that’s agreed? Exclusively dating. Still emailing. Christmas in California. And as for all the other logistics, well, we’ve got one and four-fifths of a pair of doctoral degrees between us.’
Her eyes lit up. ‘Exactly. If anyone can figure this whole thing out, it’s us.’
* * *
Sunday, 27 October
From: Henry Inglis
Subject: Now we’re dating . . .
To: Halley Hart
Dear Halley,
Now we’re dating, I hope it’s OK to ask when your birthday is? Mine’s February 19, when I’ll be twenty-nine.
And may I have your address, so I can return your sunglasses? I’d give you mine, except I’m viewing a potential new place in a few days, so hopefully I’ll be moving.
Henry
* * *
Monday, 28 October
From: Halley Hart
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY dating . . .
To: Henry Inglis
Henry!! Our birthdays are the same week! And Valentine’s too! I’ll turn twenty-eight on Feb 13.
I want to organize our next date. The sky’s at its darkest right now so I’m pulling a lot of late nights, so how about a week on Saturday?
Address attached. In exchange, you need to tell me alllll about the potential new place once you see it!
Your Halley
* * *
Tuesday, 29 October
From: Henry Inglis
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY and exclusively dating . . .
To: Halley Hart
Dear Halley,
A date a week on Saturday sounds great. Same time as before?
Of course I’ll let you know how the viewing goes!
Hope your week’s going well? Sorry to keep this brief — insanely busy today.
Henry
* * *
Thursday, 31 October
From: Halley Hart
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY and exclusively dating AND I’M YOUR SWEETHEART...
To: Henry Inglis
Henry, never apologize for being busy. I know what it’s like! Between TA stuff and a couple all-nighters, I didn’t even get time to write you yesterday. Tonight is two days before a new moon, so the conditions are perfect for astronomy, but there’s no point in going up to the telescope. It’s Halloween, and fireworks are the bane of astronomers. The darn things should be banned.
Next Saturday, same time as before, for... wait for it... a movie date! Here’s a link to instructions for a system setup, so we can watch a movie and see each other at the same time.
Your Halley
* * *
Friday, 1 November
From: Henry Inglis
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY and exclusively dating AND I’M YOUR SWEETHEART and my flight to San Francisco is reserved...
To: Halley Hart
Dear Halley,
I’ve reserved a flight for December 19, from London Heathrow to San Francisco International, and I’ll buy it on payday.
I’m sorry to hear fireworks ruined a good stargazing night. Halloween isn’t such a big deal here, so I hadn’t properly clicked that it was yesterday, until my third years arrived for their tute as Marie Antoinette and a traffic cone. The costume was a marked improvement for the traffic cone, who usually attends in grubby pyjamas.
The viewing went well, but I haven’t yet committed to the new place. I wanted to check first: what would you think if I lived on a narrowboat on Oxford’s canal? Photos are attached...
I’m about to take a tutorial with my first year — Mr Exactly, I find myself calling him internally, as he says little beyond exactly . His tute-partner, Ms Oxcited, emailed to say she has ox-freshers flu . It could be an entirely silent hour... we’ll see.
A film date sounds fantastic and I’ll do my best with that setup you suggest.
Henry
* * *
Saturday, 2 November
From: Halley Hart
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY and exclusively dating AND I’M YOUR SWEETHEART, and my flight to San Francisco is reserved AND I’M WEARING YOUR SCARF...
To: Henry Inglis
Hi Henry,
I don’t know if I’m more excited that you’ve reserved your flight or about those photos! For what it’s worth, the boat looks like a cool place to live. And my favourite photo’s the one with you in it.
Also, my sunglasses arrived this morning. Thanks so much! And, even more for the college scarf, which I adore.
Between the scarf and the photos, I’m feeling really close to you, Henry. I just wish you were physically closer. Like, right here next to me. December feels like a long time to wait.
Halloween isn’t such a big deal in Britain? Wow! I should move there.
How was the tutorial?
Your Halley
* * *
Sunday, 3 November
From: Henry Inglis
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY and exclusively dating AND I’M YOUR SWEETHEART and my flight to San Francisco is reserved AND I’M WEARING YOUR SCARF and yes, you should move here...
To: Halley Hart
Dear Halley,
Are you well?
I have to admit that we have fireworks here on Bonfire Night, which is upcoming. But I really don’t think you should let that stop you from your excellent plan of moving here...
Funnily enough, Mr Exactly came alive in his solo tute. So at least I’ve been able to confirm that the strong written work he submits is his own. I’m hoping that now he’s started talking, he’ll continue. Fingers crossed!
I’m glad the photos and parcel weren’t unwelcome. Could I have a photo of you too? Either that, or permission to miss half the film, taking screenshots of you...
Henry
* * *
Monday, 4 November
From: Halley Hart
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY and exclusively dating AND I’M YOUR SWEETHEART and my flight to San Francisco is reserved AND I’M WEARING YOUR SCARF and yes, you should move here AND I’VE TOLD ANGELIE ABOUT US...
To: Henry Inglis
Hi Henry,
No, I’m not well. I have a hangover. And it’s your fault, because I told Angelie everything, and she opened a bottle of wine to celebrate and somehow we finished the whole thing. She wanted to know if you say fanks, babes , (because that’s how everyone talks on British Love Island, which she’s obsessed with) (I said I didn’t think so?) and also how many x’s you do when you write me. Apparently in the UK everyone does kisses to everyone in messages. I told her I have seen no sign of any numbers of x.
I’ve attached the pictures you took of me in Oxford so now you can concentrate on the movie! Oh, and as well as following the system setup for our date, you need to buy popcorn and a bag of M&M’s, since it’s what we’d be eating if you were really coming for a movie date at my place.
Gotta run to take a class,
Your Halley
* * *
Tuesday, 5 November
From: Henry Inglis
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY and exclusively dating AND I’M YOUR SWEETHEART and my flight to San Francisco is reserved AND I’M WEARING YOUR SCARF and yes, you should move here... AND I’VE TOLD ANGELIE ABOUT US and you’re so beautiful...
To: Halley Hart
Dear Halley,
I hope the hangover has passed?
Thank you for the photos. You’re so beautiful. I should have said that before now. I had noticed.
People do like to x at the end of messages here, but it’s not a habit of mine. You, however, can always have as many as you want.
By the way, both M&M’s and popcorn?
Henry
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
* * *
Wednesday, 6 November
From: Halley Hart
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY and exclusively dating AND I’M YOUR SWEETHEART and my flight to San Francisco is reserved AND I’M WEARING YOUR SCARF and yes, you should move here... AND I’VE TOLD ANGELIE ABOUT US and you’re so beautiful AND ONLY THREE DAYS TO GO...
To: Henry Inglis
Yes, Henry, M&M’s and popcorn. You mix them up in a bowl together. Please don’t tell me if you don’t like chocolate, because I don’t date haters.
Thank you for sending all the kisses!
Three days! I CAN’T WAIT!
Your Halley
* * *
Thursday, 7 November
From: Henry Inglis
Subject: Now we’re OFFICIALLY and exclusively dating AND I’M YOUR SWEETHEART and my flight to San Francisco is reserved AND I’M WEARING YOUR SCARF and yes, you should move here... AND I’VE TOLD ANGELIE ABOUT US and you’re so beautiful AND ONLY THREE DAYS TO GO and have I mentioned how much I love chocolate...
To: Halley Hart
Dear Halley,
Just a quick one to say that I can’t wait to talk to you ‘in person’ tomorrow.
Dad’s unfortunately had another fall. Nothing awful, apparently, but they’re checking him out in hospital. So I’m off down to Hampshire, and I’m not sure how much opportunity I’ll have for checking my messages, but I’ll definitely be there for our date, one way or another.
Henry xxx
* * *
Saturday, 9 November
Halley
‘You made it,’ Halley breathed, the instant he appeared on their TV.
‘Of course,’ Henry said. His eyes swept over her to Angelie, beside her on the couch. ‘This is Angelie, I take it?’
‘When I told her about this, she insisted—’ Halley cut herself off. ‘How’s your dad?’
‘Absolutely fine,’ Henry said. ‘He was released from hospital earlier, complaining that he didn’t need to be admitted in the first place. You look so worried, sweetheart — I shouldn’t even have mentioned it.’
Angelie stabbed at the Bluetooth keyboard Halley had connected to their TV and the phone she’d propped above it, which was filming them. Henry’s face was instantly obscured by a mute symbol. ‘ Sweetheart !’ she said, pretending to swoon. ‘In that accent! It’s even better than babes .’
‘Give that here!’ Halley hissed, reaching for the keyboard. Angelie snatched it up from their coffee table and hopped up onto the back of their couch, lifting it beyond Halley’s reach.
‘And I can’t believe he’s actually so cute !’
‘Would I be so obsessed if he wasn’t cute?’
‘Erm...’ Henry said, going pink. Halley stared at Angelie, who had unmuted just in time for him to hear that.
‘Oops,’ Angelie said, totally unapologetically, seating herself once more.
‘Sorry to make you witness a murder, Henry,’ Halley said, grabbing back the keyboard and raising a cushion in one swift motion. Pummelling her friend with it, she raised her voice. ‘And that she hasn’t left the apartment yet. She bullied me into this.’
‘I pointed out―’ Angelie wrestled the cushion from Halley and chucked it to the other side of the room, before gazing into the screen ― ‘that to keep your virtual date as authentic as possible, I should meet you at the start, like if you were actually coming over. So this is highly altruistic of me. Plus, I knew that you’d like to meet me, right, Henry?’
‘Careful what you say, Henry,’ Halley said. ‘There are two options, and I’ll be pissed if you go for the wrong one.’ Henry must have stood up, because his chest came into view, then he moved aside leaving only a couple of armchairs in sight. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Gathering reinforcements.’ His voice echoed from further away. ‘ Viola — would you like to come and meet Halley and her friend Angelie?’
‘Oh my God,’ Angelie jabbed Halley with her elbow. ‘He lives with another woman?’
‘Viola’s his sister ,’ Halley breathed. ‘I’m gonna barf.’
Angelie gave her a critical once-over. ‘Just as well you didn’t wear that slutty dress I tried to lend you. You look lovely. You are lovely. She’ll love you.’
A few heart-stopping seconds later, Henry reoccupied the same armchair. A woman with corkscrew curls seated herself in the one beside him, waving tentatively. Her colouring was darker than Henry’s, and her freckles much more obvious. If Halley hadn’t already known that she was a few years older than Henry, she’d have had trouble deciding the order of their births.
‘Viola, this is Halley,’ Henry said.
Halley gave the screen a tentative wave.
‘Who I’m dating,’ Henry added, with no sign of any tension. His mouth twisted with suppressed humour. ‘Exclusively.’
‘Hi, Halley,’ Viola said, smiling between her and Henry. ‘He’s very keen on you!’
Halley’s pulse sped, until she could barely hear the rest of the introductions above its thrum in her ears.
‘It’s lovely to meet you both,’ Viola was saying, when Halley managed to concentrate again. ‘Or — can we call it that, over a screen?’
‘Sure, when they call it dating, over a screen,’ Angelie said, tapping Halley’s foot with her own. ‘Don’t you, Bu—’ she continued, as Halley thudded her foot onto Angelie’s smaller one. ‘Shit, uh... Halley .’
The near-miss at her excruciating nickname getting out had somehow broken Halley out of her meet-the-family induced panic. ‘It’s good to meet you too, Viola. Are you visiting Oxford?’
‘No, Henry’s staying with me,’ she said.
‘Once we got Dad settled back in, there wasn’t time for me to get home,’ he explained. ‘Plus, her TV’s newer than Julian’s, so the set up was easier.’
‘And you said your dad’s OK,’ Halley said, wanting Viola to know that she’d asked after him.
Viola shot her brother a look of long-suffering exasperation, which would have immediately clarified which of them was the eldest. ‘That’s the second fall on those stairs this year. If he breaks the other hip, it could—’ She broke off, turning back to the screen. ‘Sorry. Henry’s right, in that Dad got lucky, this time. What beautiful names you two have, by the way.’
Angelie grinned. ‘It was how we first bonded, at this women in STEM mixer in our first week on campus. We had to go round in a circle and say something unique about ourselves, and Halley said she shares a name with her mom.’
‘And Angelie said,’ Halley put in, ‘that she could beat that — she shares both her parents’ names.’
‘Dad’s called Angelo and Mom’s Lina. They put the first half of both names together to make mine — it’s a Filipino thing. For my next brother down, they reshuffled the combination, and christened him Linelo. We just comfort ourselves that it could be much worse.’ She was giggling again. ‘Our youngest brother was born after we’d moved over here. They thought their American kid deserved something really special, so they smooshed together the best family they could think of, and called him Jejomar.’
Henry and Viola both looked baffled. ‘I couldn’t figure it out either,’ Halley said. ‘Jejomar is named for Jesus, Joseph and Mary.’
Henry snickered, and Viola’s eyes went very round.
Halley took the opportunity to whisper to Angelie, ‘D’you think she likes me?’
‘What?’ Angelie said at full volume.
‘ What what?’ Henry asked, blinking.
‘She was asking what...’ Halley couldn’t think of an excuse.
‘What you two have found you have in common,’ Angelie said smoothly.
‘Ah,’ Henry said. ‘Lots of things. But most recently, that our birthdays are only a week apart.’ His eyes flicked towards Halley. ‘Though she’s an Aquarius and I’m Pisces. I’ll have to do our charts to know if that’s a problem.’
Horror flooded Halley. But Viola’s reaction — swivelling to stare at her brother — gave her pause, and then the wicked glint in his eyes confirmed it.
‘The look on Halley’s face!’ Angelie said, cackling. ‘Good one, Henry! Y’know, she once walked out ten minutes into a date with a guy who confused her being an astronomer with an astrologer and asked what it meant that he was on the cusp of Libra and Scorpio.’
‘Not only that!’ Halley said. ‘He made almost constant puns, and didn’t believe in the moon landings. I showed him an astro photo of the equipment left up there by Apollo 11, and he mansplained how photos can be faked.’
‘Let me guess, you’d taken the photo yourself?’ Henry said.
‘Exactly!’
‘Henry once dumped a girl for leaving a red-wine stain on the cover of a book,’ Viola said slyly.
‘There was a coaster right there and she actively chose to put her glass down on A Tale of Two Cities ,’ he grumbled, which only made the women laugh harder. ‘Viola, you’re meant to be reinforcements, and instead you’re giving them ammunition.’ His voice was amused, rather than truculent, and it hit Halley that Mom would approve. She always said you could tell a lot about a man from his reaction to being laughed at by a group of women.
A faint chirp sounded, and Viola brought a phone into view, then sighed resignedly. ‘I’d better drop by the parentals. Mum says Dad’s writing a strongly-worded complaint about the paramedics taking him to hospital against his wishes.’
‘Thanks, Vi,’ Henry murmured. ‘I’ll take over later.’
‘Too right you will,’ she said as she exited. Halley looked meaningfully at Angelie.
‘I’m late to... something,’ Angelie said, leaping up. ‘Great to meet you, Henry!’
‘So,’ Henry said, once they were alone. His smile was very different to the one he’d given the others.
‘You told your sister about me!’
‘I did,’ he said. ‘She works with a lot of travel agencies and airlines, so I asked her help booking my flight at Christmas, and she wangled the whole story out of me. Including how we met, so I got a ticking off for that freebie — don’t worry, she’s not pissed off at you about it.’
Halley tucked her legs up under her. ‘And how was the rest of your week?’
‘Good — oh, except that Mr Exactly went silent again, with his tute-partner back. I think I’ll ask Rupert for permission to conduct two tutorials for the final few weeks of term, and see them separately. What about you?’
She reached out to get the card from the shelf under the coffee table. ‘It’s Mom’s birthday in a few weeks, and I’m preparing the card. Look at this...’
The aged birthday card displayed a cartoon kitten holding flowers, under a banner declaring birthday wishes, especially for you . ‘Mom gave this to me when I turned five. Ten months later, when it was her birthday, I got it out, added a message to her, and gave it back to her. I guess I thought birthday cards were one single card, being exchanged back and forward — and that’s what we did — and still do.’ She opened it, tilting to give Henry a good view. Every bit of it was covered with Happy birthday, Junior, lots of love, Mom in a variety of sizes and colours interspersed with Love you, Mommy, from Halley , and other variations on that theme.
‘We’ve so little space left, we’re now on the back cover, and both keeping our writing very small.’
Henry was grinning, and moving his head to read it from every angle. ‘That’s adorable.’
She put it away. ‘You ready for this movie? We have to click on it at exactly the same moment, or we’ll be out of sync — it might take a few tries. Ready? Three... two... one...’ Her TV switched to show two windows, side by side. One displayed the starts of the title sequence and the other the live feed of Henry. He held up a thumb. ‘Turn your volume up.’ She increased her sound too, listening intently to both audio feeds. ‘Hey, we’re perfectly in sync on the first try!’
‘Not a surprise to me,’ Henry said. ‘There’s never been anything wrong with our timing. We managed to meet three times in the day we were in the same city, after all.’
‘It’s the distance thing we need to improve,’ Halley said.
‘Christmas will be a good start . . .’
There was a beat or two of weighty silence, and Halley could read the same anticipation on his face that she felt.
She cleared her throat. ‘Have you seen Interstellar before?’
‘Never,’ he said. He looked happy and relaxed.
‘It’s the best,’ she promised. ‘There’s even a never-ending bookshelf for you. The plot’s quite... mind-bendy though.’ She added, hopefully, ‘I’d be happy to pause it, every now and then, to explain the physics.’
‘Would you? I’d love that.’ He threw a piece of popcorn high into the air. He missed it, laughed, then tried again and caught the next piece between his teeth.
‘Seriously? No one ever takes me up on that kind of offer. Especially not on dates.’
On one side of her screen, Henry’s mouth turned up at the edges. ‘Well, you’ve never dated me before.’