Evie started obsessing about Dan again. When would his letter arrive?
She looked up. Priya was walking towards her brandishing her phone.
‘Got a date,’ Priya said.
‘What? Who with?’
‘The man who was sitting behind us.’
‘No way.’
‘You got to seize your opportunities when they present themselves. Life’s short and he’s hot. There’s a fine line between hate and love.’
Hmm. There was maybe something in that.
* * *
Evie made sure that she was out all day Sunday because she didnotwant to sit around for hours waiting for Dan to deliver his letter only for him not to turn up.
She got home late afternoon from a long walk on the common with Mia to discover an envelope with ‘Evie’ written on it in decisive-looking navy handwriting on the front door mat. Her heart started racing just at the sight of it. It had to be Dan’s letter.
‘Cup of tea?’ Mia asked.
‘Cool, thanks,’ Evie said. ‘I’ll be there in two minutes.’ She went straight into her bedroom and closed the door and sat down on her bed to open the letter.
Dear Evie,
I don’t really know where to start other than to say that I love you and I’m so sorry for messing up.
I love everything about you. I love the way you throw yourself into every dance. I love that you’re such a loyal friend. I love that you’re a fairground hustler. I love your sense of humour. I love talking to you. I love that you can’t help yourself tidying up around people. I love YOU. (And you’re gorgeous but I’m not sure if it’s acceptable to say that in writing.)
I messed up. I got scared. As you know, I spent a lot of years seeing my mum get hurt by my dad and being hurt by him myself. I realised that I’d fallen in love with you and I got scared that loving people was dangerous, in that there’s so much potential for pain.
I realise now that in trying to protect myself, and you, I’ve just ended up hurting us both.
I’d love to try again.
Obviously you might not feel the same way.
But I wondered if you’d like to meet for a walk in Melting next week?
All my love,
Dan
Evie re-read the letter and then folded it up very carefully and put it back in the envelope, and then put the envelope on her bedside table.
She knew what he meant when he said that loving people was dangerous, because of the potential for hurt, because that was exactly how she felt about loving him. She didn’t want to be like her mum, involved in a series of messy relationships and frequently devastated. But Dan wasn’t like the men that her mum tended to hook up with.
It probably wouldn’t hurt to meet him for a walk.
Forty
Now – December 2022
Dan
‘It’s the village carol singing this evening,’ Dan’s mum said, handing him the cup of tea she’d made him while he unpacked his car.
