Chapters (50)
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Contents
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Ninteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Forty-one
- Forty-two
- Epilogue
- Letter From the Author
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
These were exactly the same thoughts I’d had a few days ago.
Before I could respond, she said, ‘Well, let’s not make any decisions now. Maybe we can talk about it when I get home.’ She paused. ‘Oh, can you do me a big favour and take my suit to the drycleaner? It’s on the chair at the end of the bed.’
‘Sure.’ I was tempted to point out that it wasn’t that easy for me to run errands while I still wasn’t properly on two feet, but didn’t want to be a wimp.
‘Thanks, gorgeous.’
It was only later that I realised what she’d said before. Home. When I get home.
I took Charlie’s clothes – one of her ‘Charlotte’ outfits, a slim-fit grey trouser suit – to the drycleaner in Herne Hill, about ten minutes away. It didn’t look dirty to me but my standards were clearly lower than Charlie’s. I paid for the super-express service and, while waiting, went over the road to the park.
I stood by the lake where Charlie and I had made love. The ice had melted now and the ducks looked relieved. Standing by the low metal fence I closed my eyes and remembered that evening: the delicious surprise, the slap of the cold water, Charlie’s pale skin in the moonlight, the spark in her eyes. It still overwhelmed me, the way she affected me physically, that giddy intoxicated feeling that came over me when I looked at her, the naked need to touch her, to have her close to me. The taste of her kiss, the little murmuring sounds she made in bed, the earthy scent of her flesh. A great rush of love surged through me, compelling me to take out my phone and send her a text.
I want you to come live with me. Share my nest. I love you and want to be with you forever xxxxxxx PS I wish you were here right now so I could kiss you . . . everywhere xxxxx
She replied almost straight away. Where exactly do you want to kiss me? Xxxx
I think you know . . . xxxx
I went back to pick up Charlie’s suit, then walked home, still buzzing from the text exchange, passers-by glancing questioningly at my dizzy grin. Whatever else happened in my life, as long as I had Charlie, everything would be OK.
Walking back to the flat, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Thinking it was probably Charlie again, I put the suit down on a wall and wrestled my phone into the open.
The message was from Sasha.
Hey you. Hope you’re OK. Can you call me? I need to talk to you. X