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I nod. It resonates; his words, my heart. Like two magnets, meeting. North Pole and South. I think of my emails, all ofmyconcealed truths, breaking free, like birds. The sun, lighting them all up. Out there. Nowhere to hide.
‘Mum loves you,’ is all I can think to say, ‘she really does,’ and Dad nods.
Neither Dad, nor I, say anything else. We watch the tide pull away, the gap between us and the shore, and the waves, widening and widening, and I hope that like the tide, my dad will edge slowly back to shore. To land. To Mum.
*
Text message from Millie:Guess where I am, and who I just saw in the boat store looking very pretty indeed? (Unless there is another green dinghy calledInstincthanging out in Leigh.)
Text message from Jack:I’ll tell him you called him handsome next time I see him. He’ll be made up.
Text message from Millie:A MALE boat? Rebellious.
Text message from Jack:Always.
Text message from Jack:And guess where I am. Clue: I’m not in Leigh wandering by boat stores. (Unfortunately.)
Text message from Millie:In the vortex?
Text message from Jack:Not quite. In a taxi, on my way to the airport. Flye need me in Madrid. (Then Italy.) Europa League.
Text message from Millie:OMG what? For how long?
Text message from Jack:Six days, all in.
Text message from Millie:Well, that’s very unfair!
Text message from Jack:Very unfair that I’m in Europe while the UK pisses it down or very unfair that you have to endure a long, painful week of work without me?
Text message from Millie:Oh, of course, only the first bit. Who needs Jack Shurlock when I have Cardboard Gary and Chatty Martin for company?
Text message from Jack:Mute Martin, Millie.
Text message from Jack:Don’t make me correct you again.
Chapter Nineteen
From: Gail Fryer
To: ALL office
Subject: Flye’s Monthly ‘Dates for the Diary’
9th– Broadcast Awards Ceremony for those invited – South Kensington, London, 7pm.
10th– Last date to RSVP to Christmas party (invite attached as refresher)
12th– Jack Shurlock’s Leaving Us (again!) farewell drinks – The Peterboat, (outside space, booked)
1st– Christmas party – gladrags on, folks!!!
*
From: Jack Shurlock
To: Millie Chandler
Cc: Michael Waterstreet
