Hi Alex

Thanks for letting me know. All’s well here – hope you’re OK too.

Bronte

I suddenly remember that I don’t even know exactly when he’s coming – I don’t want to be on edge for the entire month of October. I ask the question and then press send, safe in the knowledge that it’s the middle of the night in England and he won’t be checking his emails for hours.

His reply is waiting for me on Tuesday morning.

7th October – I’ll be there for three weeks.

That’s all he says.

I don’t reply.

When I walk through the door that evening, I find Lachie sitting on the sofa, strumming his guitar. His long legs are encased in tattered denim jeans and his bare feet are up on the coffee table, beside an open bottle of beer.

‘Hey,’ he says with a small smile, going to put his guitar down.

‘Don’t stop.’ I grab his beer and take a swig, squeezing between him and the armrest. His eyes drift to my lips and his own curve up into an amused smile. ‘What’s that you were playing?’ I ask.

‘Nothing. Just messing. How was your day?’

‘Fine.’ I lift my shoulders into a shrug.

‘Has he replied?’

I forgot that Lachie is like a sniffer dog when it comes to Alex.

‘Yeah. He’s coming on the seventh of October for three weeks.’

‘He volunteered that information himself?’

‘No.’ I shake my head, feeling uneasy. ‘I asked when he was coming.’

‘Ah.’

If he was testing me again, I have a feeling I’ve failed.

He puts his guitar down on the floor. I kick off my shoes and rest my knees against his lap, edging my shoulder into the crook of his arm. He takes the hint and pulls me close. I kiss his neck and he turns his head to stare at me levelly. His expression is unreadable, but I’m reluctant to ask what he’s thinking.

He soon makes it clear. ‘Do you want to see him?’

‘No! I’ve already told you that.’

‘You just ran away. Four years ago, from England and Alex. I’ve never really known if you were taking the easy option by staying here in Oz with me.’

I pull away from him and stare at him, shocked. ‘How could you even think that? You are why I stayed in Australia. I wasn’t running from Alex. I love you. I chose you. And, thankfully, you let me.’

A long moment passes and then Lachie’s lips quirk up into a smile. Full of relief, I lean forward and plant a kiss on them.

‘I don’t want to see him,’ I repeat firmly, grabbing his super-soft T-shirt with my fingers. ‘That part of my life is done with. If I never set eyes on him again, it’ll be too soon.’

I mean the words as I say them.

It’s only later that I doubt their truth.