Chapter 43
FLORENCE
Laura mentioning tomorrow’s storm has made me anxious and teary.
I couldn’t sit in the garden and think depressing thoughts about how we will die in the storm – would it rip the roof off one of our houses like one of those tornado documentaries or would it cause something like a telegraph pole or a tree to fall onto our houses and crush us in our beds? It got too much.
I’m distracting myself with Jane’s idea. She has set up her podcast equipment in Clark’s spare bedroom, Sam is perched on the end of the bed and he’s just given me a potted version of the woman he met in my café last year, the one he wants to try to contact.
He’s staring at his phone’s notes app. ‘What do I say?’
My brain loves a challenge. ‘Dear Lonely-Hearts,’ I say, pacing up and down the spare room. ‘I’m writing in the hope that a little serendipity might work in my favour.’
He’s busy tapping my words into his phone.
‘Last year I met a woman in the queue of The Last Chance Café. She had beautiful red hair and made me laugh. What started as small talk turned into friendship and something I treasured more than I ever admitted.’
Jack enters the bedroom. ‘Mum, can I talk to you?’
Jane looks up and shakes her head. ‘Not now, Jack. I’m busy. After this, we will go home, and you can talk to me then.’
He makes a sad face and leaves.
‘Carry on, Florence,’ says Sam.
‘Our friendship ended abruptly when she told me she was six months pregnant. She was facing it all alone and she didn’t think I’d want to be friends with her any more.’ I break my monologue and turn to Sam. ‘What did you think when she told you?’
He scratches his head. ‘I didn’t know what to say if I’m honest. I stepped back, and I’ve regretted that ever since.’
‘Add that,’ I suggest. ‘You need to say that if she’s listening, you still think of her.’
‘I wish I’d told her how much she meant to me,’ he says.
‘Yes, add that too.’
‘I want to say that I don’t know where life took you, but I hope you’re happy and loved.’
Jane sighs. ‘Sam, that’s lovely.’
‘What can your name be?’ I say, studying Sam’s face. ‘We need a good name for you.’
‘The 8.24 train guy,’ he says. ‘She’ll know it’s me. Beth and I would always catch the 8.24 train into the city.’
Jane claps her hands. ‘That’s it. My final letter for episode three.’
‘When will it go live?’ I ask.
Jane flicks her fringe out of her eyes. ‘Well, it’s Dan’s birthday tomorrow and I wasn’t planning to put the episode live until the next day.’
I let out a silent groan. Clark and I won’t get to hear it. We will have died in the storm before it goes out. ‘Is there any chance you could put it live tonight?’
Jane glances down at her laptop and microphone. ‘I could. It would mean editing it later after I’ve had a few glasses of wine. You seem eager to get it live, Florence?’
‘I am already a fan, Jane,’ I say, thinking on my feet. ‘Just excited.’ I look at Sam. ‘I’m also keen to get Beth tracked down for Sam’s sake.’
Sam lifts his head up. ‘That would be cool, Jane.’
Jack appears at the door. ‘Mum, can we go home now?’
Jane shakes her head. ‘Let me record this, and we can go.’
He rolls his eyes and goes away.
She looks at the window. ‘Do you think we could get them to turn the sound down?’
‘Sure,’ I say, opening the window. ‘Clark, can you lower the volume?’
He gives me the thumbs up, and the music is turned off.
Jane begins to get herself ready. ‘Okay, Sam – are you sure about this?’
He nods. ‘Let’s find Beth.’
The party has ended. It still feels warm.
A few paper plates and glasses are still scattered over Clark’s long outside table.
Above us, the sky is a deep velvety blue, and a handful of stars have made an early appearance.
My ears still hold remnants of the leftover noise from the party: the music, chatter, Laura’s laughter, Molly’s phone blaring out TikTok videos, Minty’s grunts, Pearl’s tipsy giggles and Jane talking excitedly to Sam.
The smell of overcooked burgers still lingers in the air.
I can’t believe how great it went and what a nice way to spend our penultimate evening it was. We chatted, laughed and at one point stared in amazement at a drunken Laura dancing with Minty. Molly rolled her eyes and told me that she had been blessed with the cringiest mother ever.
‘How are you feeling?’ Clark asks as we shove empty paper plates in the rubbish bag.
I look up and smile. ‘Surprisingly upbeat.’
‘Me too,’ he gushes. ‘I kept thinking about how friends and family will have tonight as one of their last memories of us.’
‘What a lovely memory,’ I add. ‘Makes a change from seeing us argue and bicker.’
He nods. ‘Your mum seemed happy.’
I smile. ‘She and Steve make a nice couple. He comes across as genuine and now that I know Dad knew him, I feel better.’
‘Your dad and Steve were always laughing together. They were like old mates.’
‘Really?’
‘Florence, if your dad is looking down then he will be over the moon to see your mum with Steve.’
‘Do you think so?’
‘I know so. Are she and Steve a couple yet?’
I shake my head. ‘She says they’re not, but I think she’s telling me porkies.’
‘They’ll be fine,’ he says.
Fear crawls over me and I hug Clark. ‘The thought of dying is making me feel scared.’
He kisses me. ‘I’ll be with you and I will hold your hand when the time comes.’
‘Will it hurt?’
‘Did you feel anything before when we got run over?’
I think back. The car hit me and the next thing I knew Clark was looming over me in the afterlife. I shake my head. ‘No, I didn’t.’
‘It will be the same. All over in a second. When you open your eyes, I will be there in the afterlife holding your hand.’
My body relaxes against him.
He plants a kiss on my forehead. ‘Now. Go home and get some sleep. We have a long drive tomorrow.’
He leads me through his house. At the front door, he kisses me passionately. ‘I will see you tomorrow.’
‘Goodnight, Clark.’
‘Goodnight, my gorgeous girlfriend.’