Page 106 of The Time of My Afterlife

‘We might be – why?’

‘Make sure you’re back before teatime as there’s going to be a massive storm. Ronan just texted me to cancel our date tomorrow.’ She giggles.

To my surprise she looks over at Minty who smiles at her.

Under the table I reach for Florence’s hand and give it a gentle squeeze.

43

FLORENCE

Laura mentioning tomorrow’s storm has made me anxious and teary. I couldn’t sit in the garden and think depressing thoughts about how we will die in the storm – would it rip the roof off one of our houses like one of those tornado documentaries or would it cause something like a telegraph pole or a tree to fall onto our houses and crush us in our beds? It got too much.

I’m distracting myself with Jane’s idea. She has set up her podcast equipment in Clark’s spare bedroom, Sam is perched on the end of the bed and he’s just given me a potted version of the woman he met in my café last year, the one he wants to try to contact.

He’s staring at his phone’s notes app. ‘What do I say?’

My brain loves a challenge. ‘Dear Lonely-Hearts,’ I say, pacing up and down the spare room. ‘I’m writing in the hope that a little serendipity might work in my favour.’

He’s busy tapping my words into his phone.

‘Last year I met a woman in the queue of The Last Chance Café. She had beautiful red hair and made me laugh. What started as small talk turned into friendship and something I treasured more than I ever admitted.’

Jack enters the bedroom. ‘Mum, can I talk to you?’

Jane looks up and shakes her head. ‘Not now, Jack. I’m busy. After this, we will go home, and you can talk to me then.’

He makes a sad face and leaves.

‘Carry on, Florence,’ says Sam.

‘Our friendship ended abruptly when she told me she was six months pregnant. She was facing it all alone and she didn’t think I’d want to be friends with her any more.’ I break my monologue and turn to Sam. ‘What did you think when she told you?’

He scratches his head. ‘I didn’t know what to say if I’m honest. I stepped back, and I’ve regretted that ever since.’

‘Add that,’ I suggest. ‘You need to say that if she’s listening, you still think of her.’

‘I wish I’d told her how much she meant to me,’ he says.

‘Yes, add that too.’

‘I want to say that I don’t know where life took you, but I hope you’re happy and loved.’

Jane sighs. ‘Sam, that’s lovely.’

‘What can your name be?’ I say, studying Sam’s face. ‘We need a good name for you.’

‘The 8.24 train guy,’ he says. ‘She’ll know it’s me. Beth and I would always catch the 8.24 train into the city.’

Jane claps her hands. ‘That’s it. My final letter for episode three.’

‘When will it go live?’ I ask.

Jane flicks her fringe out of her eyes. ‘Well, it’s Dan’s birthday tomorrow and I wasn’t planning to put the episode live until the next day.’

I let out a silent groan. Clark and I won’t get to hear it. We will have died in the storm before it goes out. ‘Is there any chance you could put it live tonight?’

Jane glances down at her laptop and microphone. ‘I could. It would mean editing it later after I’ve had a few glasses of wine. You seem eager to get it live, Florence?’