He wishes it wasn’t quite so nice to hear her voice. He wishes he couldn’t quite so easily envisage her mannerisms and little idiosyncrasies as she walks along the cobbled pavements of St Andrews Market Street. Partly, he wishes he was still in her house and waiting for her return. But things have changed.
‘I’m happy you found her, Heather.’
‘You don’t sound happy.’ Her voice falters.
‘Heather. Honestly. I’m glad Georgia’s okay. But to be honest. I think it was always pretty clear she was going to be fine.’
Heather’s tone cools a little as she slows her pace and catches her breath.
‘Well, it wasn’t to me,’ she says.
‘No. But it was clear to anyone else.’
‘You sound really annoyed, Scott. If Trey were here, he’d say you sound pissy.’
Her attempt at mild humour falls flat on its face.
‘It’s okay, Heather. You just reminded me of a promise I made, that’s all.’ He pauses. Steels himself. ‘Look, how about we leave it for today and meet for a coffee tomorrow?’
‘I’m seeing my parents tomorrow morning.’
It breaks his heart a little to hear the confusion in her voice.
‘After that, then?’
Her hesitancy is now palpable.
‘Afterwards? Okay then. Bye.’
‘Bye.’
The emptiness and discontentment continue into the afternoon, so when Luca calls from the halfway checkpoint of the bike ride Scott missed to see Heather today and poses Scott with a conundrum, they agree to a call back.
Scott spends two and a half hours on the phone to Luca that evening, discussing, Googling, emailing and planning. And, eventually, comes to a decision.
FRESHMAN PARENTS' ONLINE FORUM: ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY
Is Valentine’s Day a ‘thing’ in St A’s? My DD seems to be getting all het up about roses being sold around campus and expectation they’ll be delivered during lectures. Sounds a bit awful for those who don’t get anything.
Nope. Don’t think so. Think one of the Colleges are selling roses as part of their charity drive, but not an annual thing as far as I know. Tell your YP it should be fine.
My DS has already bought 4 to give to different girls. Hedging his bets!
(Admin)
Lots of YP not doing the Valentine's thing. Tell your DD not to worry X.
Chapter 30
HEATHER
Heatherexperiencesaniggleof foreboding when she hangs up. It’s clear Scott isn’t happy with her decision to undertake a last-minute mercy mission to St Andrews, but those words, bandied about so readily by the young -“I wish I was dead” -are enough to cause any mother to abort her plans, right? It’s not just her. She’d call Claire to check if it weren’t for the fact she’s left Fraser’s dog tied to a lamppost outside a pub on South Street. Or was it Market Street?
