Page 19 of Secret Paths

Nancy and Luke pause by an old wooden signpost to check the map. Hunter stands beside Alexandra a little further ahead, one hand resting at the small of her back while she points towards something beyond the next field.

Peter has taken off his beanie, leaving his copper-brown curls slightly flattened as he walks beside me in silence.

“You did not say it would all work out,” he says.

I glance at him. “No.”

“Everyone else has.”

“That must be… comforting?”

“It is very irritating.”

“I thought so.”

Peter looks down at the path, kicking at a loose stone with the side of his boot.

“Mrs Patel said I would land on my feet.”

“Who is that?”

“One of our regulars.”

“Has she ever asked what’s next for you?”

“No.”

“Then she is guessing.”

“She means well.”

“People often do.”

His brown eyes meet mine again, waiting.

“I am not saying you will not be fine,” I add. “I am saying you are allowed to be angry first.”

His mouth pulls slightly to one side.

“You are very good at making things sound manageable.”

“I did not say manageable. I said you are allowed to be angry.”

“That is less reassuring.”

“It is more honest.”

Peter gives a quiet laugh. “You really are a terrible comforter.”

“I am not trying to comfort you.”

“No?”

“No. I am trying to stop you from making yourself miserable because you think you ought to have your whole future mapped out by next week.”

He is quiet for a moment, fingers brushing absently over his full, neatly trimmed beard.

Then he says, “You make that sound like a very Peter thing to do.”