Chapter 36
36
RORY
Sunday 14th December
What a tedious journey back from Scotland, with a diversion and then a broken-down lorry causing tailbacks. Elena had gone straight up to bed after we visited Morag yesterday, having hardly spoken to me. She couldn’t face a drink in the B&B’s bar. She was still deep in thought this morning, over bacon and eggs that remained untouched on her plate. At her request, we skipped the planned trip around Leith. I mentioned her imminent birthday party, but she wasn’t enthusiastic. Whatever Morag had said, Elena was still being nervous about next weekend and didn’t want to talk about the children’s book we’d been shown. We didn’t even stop at the services, despite the terrible traffic. No sooner had we got back than the shower was running in her bathroom. I made cheese toasties and took hers up, but she had disappeared, possibly for the whole afternoon.
I wouldn’t know though, as I rang up Julian and asked if I could go over. He’s a good mate and he cancelled plans with his new girlfriend – a customer at the veterinary surgery who is also a primary school teacher. She’d seen a social media post about the stick insects needing new homes and wanted some for her classroom. One bramble twig led to another and they’d been out on three dates since. I felt like dating Julian myself when I arrived at his. He’d ordered Indian takeout and made one of his fruit crumbles for afterwards. He’d often left a portion of those outside my door in the past, when he couldn’t polish it all off himself.
We talked about Chelsea, the teacher, and Brandy and Snap’s big new tank. Julian spilled the tea about the builders working on my apartment, who sing louder than they drill and are full of banter at 7.30a.m., when any normal person is still waking up. After 1 chicken balti, 1 pilau rice, 2 naan breads, a scoop of Saag Aloo and 1 onion bhaji, I finally got around to asking Julian about his illness and the stress that had made parts of his life a misery.
I felt disloyal for sharing Elena’s childhood secret, but it was for the best, because I think I have an explanation for her promise that runs deeper than her memory simply being messed up by a children’s book. Julian shared his experiences and concluded, like me, that there were things about that night, in the woods, about that death deal, that weren’t explained by everything Morag had said.
I need Elena to open up more, except she’s avoiding me. I understand why. Her whole persona and reputation is based upon sound judgement, on level-headedness. Those are the things that have got her to the top of her profession. She’s embarrassed.
Perhaps it will do her good, having the house to herself tomorrow, as I’ll be over at Tahoor’s watching the footie. Dad is coming over too! When we got back from Scotland and Elena shot inside, I went over to Tahoor, who was dead- heading a plant in his front garden. I mentioned that Dad hadn’t been able to get tickets for tomorrow night, so Tahoor suggested we make a lads’ night of it. He looked… happier. His manner has a purpose to it now, and he’s arranged to go bowling with friends after Christmas. We batted a few football facts at each other before I left to unpack:
Football began in China over 2,000 years ago, and was called cuju.
North Korea has the biggest stadium, that can supposedly hold 150,000 people.
The average player runs 11km during 1 game. We both felt knackered just imagining that.
Right. Time for sleep. It’s a big week ahead, with the football night, staff Christmas quiz night and then Elena’s birthday bash.
But most importantly, I’m hoping, with the whole of my heart, that the biggest thing will be that Julian’s theory is right, and that the question he’s given me, to ask Elena, will finally lead to the truth about whether she’ll die at thirty.