Chapter 48
CLARK
We enter my house, me in my coat and silky black boxer shorts and Florence carrying my wet trousers. There’s about an hour and a half to go. We’ve both agreed to put the love making on hold for a bit as we are desperate for a sugary cup of tea and some warm clothes.
As we come into the living room we gasp.
Hilda and Iris are sat waiting for us. They stand and wave their clipboards. ‘Just your friendly neighbourhood angels,’ says Iris with a giggle. She spots my underwear and immediately covers her eyes. ‘Clark, I’m not peeping. Honest.’
Hilda nudges her. ‘Iris, control yourself.’
‘Are you here to take us to the afterlife?’ Florence asks as I wrap the blanket I gave to Jane around my waist.
Hilda gestures for us to take a seat. Iris is busy flicking through the papers on her clipboard.
Florence and I sit down and hold hands.
Iris is beaming at us. ‘We’re pleased to say that you have passed.’
‘What?’ we both say in unison.
I am speechless. The word ‘passed’ is echoing inside my mind.
Florence’s jaw is hanging open and she’s not even blinking.
Hilda smiles. ‘Since we saw you last night, we have seen so much change in you both that we have reevaluated our decision.’
Iris continues. ‘You forgot about yourselves today. With Pearl, you were protective of her, and you only wanted her to be happy. It was lovely to watch.’
Hilda nods. ‘Tonight you saved someone who needed you. There was no hesitation, and you didn’t argue or try to outdo each other. You just leapt into action. That’s what love looks like.’
Iris claps. ‘Congratulations!’
I can’t believe it.
Florence is shaking my arm. ‘Clark, we have our lives back.’
My heart has gone berserk inside my chest. I reach out, cup her face with both hands and pull her in for a kiss. Tears start to stream down both our cheeks as we half-cry and half-laugh.
‘We have a second chance,’ says Florence as we come up for air. I gaze into her eyes and wipe a clump of wet hair from her forehead.
‘I love you so much, I say.’
Hilda pipes up. ‘Florence, your dad says he loves you, and he wants to say to Clark – thanks for keeping my promise.’
Florence turns to me. ‘What did you promise my dad?’
I hold her hand. ‘When we’re waiting for the ambulance, he asked me… to look after you.’
She blinks. ‘Really? Dad asked you that?’
‘I will always look after you.’
‘Even when my coffee doesn’t taste right?’
I laugh. ‘It tasted great, I was just being an idiot.’
Hilda and Florence stand up. ‘We must go now,’ says Iris. ‘I need to stop this storm.’
‘A waste of money,’ snaps Hilda. ‘You knew we were running out of budget.’
Iris scowls at Hilda. ‘Live a little, Hilda.’
They wave their clipboards at us. ‘You’ve been great,’ says Iris. ‘Enjoy your life together.’
‘Oh,’ says Hilda. ‘Nana Olive says hello as well, Clark. She told me to tell you to stop feeling guilty. She loves you very much.’
I wipe my eyes as the room goes blurry.
‘Goodbye, both,’ says Hilda. ‘Make the most of this second chance.’
I pull Florence close. ‘Don’t worry – we will.’
When the door closes I lift Florence up and twirl her around as she laughs. ‘We have our lives back,’ she shouts.
After placing her down I gaze at her. ‘Kiss me, Florence Hill. Can we skip the sugary cup of tea and go to bed?’
She giggles and kisses me. ‘Clark Fielding, I love you.’