‘I know.’ For a moment he thought about saying Don’t go. Let’s never be apart. You can come to my house, but he bit his tongue. It sounded too much like Lindsey. She was going skiing, and that was that.

There was a knock on the door. She kissed him and opened it. Guy came in, car keys in his hands.

‘Hi,’ he said. ‘Ready?’ He held up the keys. ‘Car’s downstairs. Can I help with a bag?’

‘Thanks,’ Annabelle said. ‘Do you want to leave soon?’

‘I was thinking of it. My uncle wants me to help him with something later today.’ He smiled at Matt. ‘Sorry to tear you two apart.’

‘You guys going back to Richmond together?’ Matt said.

‘Yes,’ Annabelle said. ‘My dad’s busy, so I asked Guy.’

So this was it. Goodbye for twelve days. He picked up the heaviest bag. ‘I’ll give you a hand.’

2

‘So, how was the term?’ His dad glanced at him from behind the wheel. ‘Enjoy it?’

‘It was good.’ Matt looked out of the window. He didn’t want to talk. It was worse than he had anticipated. He felt wretched; he knew it was pathetic, but he couldn’t help it. He felt bereft without her. The world seemed pointless.

‘Is that it?’

‘It was good, Dad, all right?’

‘One more year and you’re done. Hard to believe you’ll have a degree and be heading into the world of work. I’m very proud of you, Matt.’

He didn’t reply.

‘I said I’m proud of you.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Is everything OK?’

‘Yeah. Pretty much. You know.’

His dad tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. ‘Annabelle’s going skiing?’

‘Right. It’s twelve days.’

‘That’s not terribly long,’ his dad said. ‘And you know what they say. Tempus fugit.’

‘Tempus what?’

‘Tempus fugit. Time flies.’

He turned away. His dad was quoting Latin to make him feel better. This was worse than he had thought.

‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Tempes Flugit.’

Back at home, his mum handed him a mug of tea.

‘Well,’ she said. ‘Your dad and I got you an early Christmas present.’

She went into the hall. When she came back she was carrying a black carrier bag. She handed it to him.

‘Try it on.’

Matt frowned. ‘What is it?’

‘Take a look.’

He opened the bag and took out a winter coat. It was brown with light blue patches under the arms.

‘See if it fits.’

He stood up and pulled it on.

‘It looks good,’ his mum said. ‘Do you like it?’

‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘But what’s it for? I don’t need a coat.’

‘It’s warm,’ she said. ‘It was on sale. It’s a second. There’s a slight stain on the shoulder.’

‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘It’s great.’

‘Glad you like it.’

‘It would be good,’ his dad said slowly, ‘for skiing.’