“No, sure, I get it. I, erm, well…” They’re both staring at me waiting for the gossip on why I’ve run away to my grandma’s in the country. I don’t know why it feels dirty to say, but it does. But if I’m going to be staying here a bit longer, people are going to talk. “I recently broke up with my fiancé,” I blurt out just as Sam comes back into the hall.
He stands there awkwardly. Oh God, he’s going to think I’m like a weirdo who ran away from my fiancé because I have commitment issues or something.
I carry on, making sure he can hear. “He was sleeping with my friend… well, I thought she was my friend.”
“Oh my gosh, how awful!” Hannah exclaims.
“What a dick!” Lois remarks with anger in her face.
I look at Sam who now has pity in his eyes. Great, so now he feels sorry for me.
“Honestly, some men are just terrible!” They all stand for a moment staring at me until Hannah speaks again. “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you come out with us on Saturday to Ravenswick? It’s the town down the road, bigger than here and they have a pub!” She turns to Sam. “You’re actually playing that night, aren’t you?”
He looks shyly towards me. “Eh, yeah, I am.”
“Playing?” I ask, looking at his eyes. God, they look like the forest around us.
“Our Sam’s a musician! Didn’t he tell you?” Lois says smugly.
“Oh, wow! Man of many talents!” I gleam.
I can tell he feels awkward with all three of us now starting athim. “Well, music and meat, yeah…”
We laugh as the three kids run into the corridor to join us.
“Can we go home now, Sammy? I want hot chocolate!” Lola whines while yawning.
“Sure.” He ruffles her hair. “Get your bag and coat.”
Lola runs off with Hannah and Lois’s boys to get her things.
“We’re getting a taxi so we will swing by yours at six, Harri. Is that OK?” Lois asks.
“Sure! That sounds great. As long as you don’t mind me intruding.” I look towards Sam.
“It’ll be nice to have a fresh set of ears to play to,” he says causally. “Right, we’ll leave you two to it. Thanks for having her and thanks for everything else.” He rolls his eyes at Lois.
“You’re welcome.” She grins.
Lola gives them both a hug and follows us back out into the cold. We only need to go next door to Gloria’s house where the lights are now also on. Sam opens the door and Lola runs in.
“Hi, Nanaaaa,” she shouts.
We walk into the living room where the fire is raging, and Gloria is nodding off in the armchair with the news on low on the TV in the corner. Her home is the typical floral cosy grandma home that you imagine when you think of country grandmas.
“Oh my, I must have dozed off.” She sleepily smiles. “It’s been a long day. Lola, my sweetheart, go and put your pyjamas on, and I’ll make some hot drinks for our guest.”
“Oh, Gloria, please don’t worry about that. It is getting late anyway, so I’ll head back, but I’ll definitely come round again for hot chocolate. If that’s OK?” I grin.
She nods. “I have to make one for Lola so it’s no trouble, but I understand if you’re ready for your bed. I won’t be long into mine.” She hoists herself out of the armchair. “Samuel, can you walk Harri home please?”
“You don’t have to,” I butt in.
“It’s no problem. I’m not going to let you walk out there on your own. The forest can be scary at night.”
I say goodbye to Gloria and Lola, who gives me a squeeze which is cute. Sam grabs a big torch from the cloakroom near the front door. We cross over the road to walk the same path I did earlier with Aradia, but in the pitch black it looks a lot spookier.
The brambles reach the side of the road, so we walk right to the kerb slowly, ensuring we don’t trip. No cars or streetlights light the way. Just the torch in Sam’s hand and the moon high in the clear night sky. If you squint while walking, you can see the lights of my family’s cottage in the depths of the forest.
