Chapter 14
Mid-December
Josie felt really, really terrified.
But in the best possible way.
The moment she had been thinking about since she arrived, more than a week ago, in this crazy version of reality, was here.
Standing outside the townhouse, she checked the number beside the door a third time against the Waterloo address on her phone. The last thing she needed was to work herself up to this momentous reunion, only to have the door answered by some old biddy in a housecoat.
It was correct.
She exhaled very slowly, then pressed the buzzer.
A moment’s silence.
“That you, Bosie? Hold up, I’m coming down.”
Her brother’s voice, unmistakable.
Footsteps thundered down the stairs of the two-story terraced house, and the door was flung open.
David beamed at her. Her brother, really him — disheveled, pushing his hand through thick, sun-bleached hair, shirt half-undone, wearing surfing shorts despite the cold, drizzly December weather.
Josie stared at him like an idiot, clutching the handle of her wheelie case as if it were the only thing holding her up.
“Sis! Wonderful to see ya.” He flung his arms around her, his hand against the back of her head as he gave her a firm kiss on the temple.
Josie let go of the suitcase and slid her arms around him, fearing he might disappear if she did it too fast. But his wiry body stayed solid. Josie firmed her grip, buried her head in his shoulder, and broke into a flood of tears so violent, her knees buckled.
“Bose, Bose, what’s up? Oh, come now! Stop that. Let’s get you inside. Here, let me get that.” He kept one arm round her, grabbing her case with his other hand, towing her through the open door into a carpeted hallway. He pushed the door closed with his bare foot.
He led Josie up the stairs but let her go to carry the suitcase. Her legs wouldn’t cooperate. Still sobbing, she collapsed on the fourth step.
Abandoning the case, David sat down next to her. It was a squeeze. Josie stared at him. She couldn’t believe he was here, beside her. He gave Josie a warm hug and waited for her to stop crying.
“I’m sorry . . . I’m a mess,” she managed with a snotty sniff.
“You really are, aren’t you?” David’s smile was kind. “Poor Bosie. I didn’t realize your accident had traumatized you so much.”
She nodded, gulping the tears down. “I’ve . . . lost . . . so much time. So much time with you.”
You have no idea.
“I know, it’s crazy. You really can’t remember anything from the last few years? Staying here last Christmas? Biarritz? You going to Venice with Mum?”
She shook her head with another sniff, finally beginning to pull herself together. “No. I’ve seen photos, but as far as I’m concerned, I wasn’t there for any of it. I don’t even know my own flat or job. Even some of the people in my life.”
“Man, that’s effed up. What a nightmare. Come on, you can make it to the top of these steps.” He stood up. “We’ll get you sorted.”
He grabbed Josie by her armpits, hauling her up the rest of the stairs, then quickly going back to retrieve her luggage.
He reached past her, pushing open the door to his flat.
To the right was a large living room with a bay window, but he turned left into a small bedroom overlooking a row of tiny backyards.
“You can have my room, since I’m such a gent.” He winked. “I sleep on the settee half the time anyway. I made the bed and everything.”
The bed was indeed made, with mismatched linens, and a foil-wrapped chocolate placed on top of a folded towel. Overwhelmed with joy, Josie laughed at her brother’s trademark gesture.
She turned and hugged him again, this time cheerfully.
“I’ll give you a five-star Trivago review. Sorry I’m such a wimp. I’ve been through a lot, and it’s just so good to see you, brother.”
David rubbed his knuckles on her head, albeit gently, flashed his megawatt grin, the one that got him in and out of trouble.
“You sort yourself out, I’ll put the kettle on. Earl Grey?”
“Brilliant. Cheers.”
They were themselves again, and it was like the past few years had never happened. In either universe.
He cooked dinner as Josie sat at the tiny kitchen table drinking tea, watching him, listening to him filling her in on everything he thought she should know about the past three years.
Family gossip, plus what he and Josie had done together during that time — the surfing vacation in Biarritz, Christmas in London last year, and his visits to New York, including one a couple of years ago with his now ex-girlfriend Hayley (a trip Josie remembered, but differently — she and Rob had taken them to Eleven Madison for David’s birthday, about six months before Hawaii).
He also spoke about how much he hated his stockbroking job in the City, his recent surfing trip to Australia’s Gold Coast, and how amazing it was, plus an update on some major political and world events. Those, Josie already mostly knew, of course. They, at least, were the same in both realities.
“Did anyone tell you yet?” He put down two plates of glistening fettuccine and pulled up a chair to the table. “If you’ve lost three years . . . You’ll never believe who’s President—”
“Yeah, I know about Trump.”
“Right. I guess Suzie filled you in on a lot of stuff.”
“Plus I have watched the news in the past week. Still, I’m sure there’s a lot I don’t know.”
Josie took a bite of pasta as David grabbed two beers from the retro-style fridge behind him. He cracked open a bottle, handing her one.
“So,” she said, “have you seen much of Charlie?”
He took a swig. “Some. We go for beers Friday nights after work sometimes. Such a tosser, that guy, but he’s a laugh. Making a shitload of money at Paribas, and he’s still seeing that Zoe, the big-pharma heiress who looks like a bank clerk.”
“I’d like to see him while I’m in town. Next Friday, maybe? It’s been ages.”
“No can do. He’s with Zoe’s family in the Caribbean until late December. Staying there for Christmas, no doubt to avoid Auntie Jan’s sawdust-dry turkey. Wanker.” David gave an exaggerated wink and shoved a huge forkful of pasta in his mouth.
They took their time over dinner, David full of information and Josie basking in his company, his laugh, his very existence.
Opening more beers, they sat on the leather sofa in his living room and watched Zero Dark Thirty.
As the credits closed, Josie gave her brother a hug and thanked him for a wonderful evening.
“What, pasta and telly? You’re easy to please. You can stay again.”
Laughing, she went to bed. As she turned out the light, she thought to herself this was the happiest she’d ever been.
Happier even than her wedding day.