Page 107 of The Time of My Afterlife

‘I am already a fan, Jane,’ I say, thinking on my feet. ‘Just excited.’ I look at Sam. ‘I’m also keen to get Beth tracked down for Sam’s sake.’

Sam lifts his head up. ‘That would be cool, Jane.’

Jack appears at the door. ‘Mum, can we go home now?’

Jane shakes her head. ‘Let me record this, and we can go.’

He rolls his eyes and goes away.

She looks at the window. ‘Do you think we could get them to turn the sound down?’

‘Sure,’ I say, opening the window. ‘Clark, can you lower the volume?’

He gives me the thumbs up, and the music is turned off.

Jane begins to get herself ready. ‘Okay, Sam – are you sure about this?’

He nods. ‘Let’s find Beth.’

The party has ended. It still feels warm. A few paper plates and glasses are still scattered over Clark’s long outside table. Above us, the sky is a deep velvety blue, and a handful of stars have made an early appearance. My ears still hold remnants of the leftover noise from the party: the music, chatter, Laura’s laughter, Molly’s phone blaring out TikTok videos, Minty’s grunts, Pearl’s tipsy giggles and Jane talking excitedly to Sam. The smell of overcooked burgers still lingers in the air.

I can’t believe how great it went and what a nice way to spend our penultimate evening it was. We chatted, laughed and at one point stared in amazement at a drunken Laura dancing with Minty. Molly rolled her eyes and told me that she had been blessed with the cringiest mother ever.

‘How are you feeling?’ Clark asks as we shove empty paper plates in the rubbish bag.

I look up and smile. ‘Surprisingly upbeat.’

‘Me too,’ he gushes. ‘I kept thinking about how friends and family will have tonight as one of their last memories of us.’

‘What a lovely memory,’ I add. ‘Makes a change from seeing us argue and bicker.’

He nods. ‘Your mum seemed happy.’

I smile. ‘She and Steve make a nice couple. He comes across as genuine and now that I know Dad knew him, I feel better.’

‘Your dad and Steve were always laughing together. They were like old mates.’

‘Really?’

‘Florence, if your dad is looking down then he will be over the moon to see your mum with Steve.’

‘Do you think so?’

‘I know so. Are she and Steve a couple yet?’

I shake my head. ‘She says they’re not, but I think she’s telling me porkies.’

‘They’ll be fine,’ he says.

Fear crawls over me and I hug Clark. ‘The thought of dying is making me feel scared.’

He kisses me. ‘I’ll be with you and I will hold your hand when the time comes.’

‘Will it hurt?’

‘Did you feel anything before when we got run over?’

I think back. The car hit me and the next thing I knew Clark was looming over me in the afterlife. I shake my head. ‘No, I didn’t.’