Page 115 of The Time of My Afterlife

‘Sorry, Clark,’ he cries, throwing his arms around Clark’s waist.

Relief floods my body, and tears stream down my face. ‘Jack, you’re safe.’

Clark hugs Jack. ‘Let’s get out of here,’ he shouts as thunder booms above us.

We return to the car park and climb inside Clark’s car. I sit in the back with Jack, who is sodden and shivering. Reaching over, I give him a hug.

He casts me a weak smile. ‘Sorry.’

Clark is phoning Jane. ‘We’ve found him. He’d fallen into the river. He’s safe.’

I wipe Jack’s hair away from his eyes. ‘You’re safe.’

He shakes his head. ‘I miss my dad.’

Tears bubble up in my eyes and I pull him close. ‘I miss my dad too. He’s in heaven like yours.’

Jack looks up at me. ‘Really?’

I nod and wipe away a tear. ‘I read your note that you left your mum. Jack, I’ve been thinking something very similar. Like everyone has forgotten about my dad and it made me sad.’

His eyes widen. ‘Like me?’

I nod. ‘Like you. I know how you feel.’

‘That’s cool.’

‘The thing is I know that the people I love haven’t forgotten him.’

‘How do you know?’

I gesture towards Clark. ‘He has a photo of my dad in his kitchen.’

Jack smiles at Clark, who turns around. ‘Jack, I will happily put up a photo of your dad in my kitchen if it makes you happy.’

He smiles. ‘I’d like that.’

Two figures knock on the car window.

Jack shouts, ‘Mum,’ and scrambles out of the car.

Jane and a policeman are standing in the pouring rain. Jack throws himself at his mum. ‘Oh, God, you’re okay. I have been so worried.’

She looks at me. ‘You are an angel, Florence. Thank you for rescuing him.’

I turn to Clark. ‘It wasn’t just me.’

Jane beams at Clark. ‘Thank you so much.’

As Jack gets into the policeman’s car, he looks back at me. ‘Thanks, Florence and Clark.’

Clark pulls me into a hug. ‘We’re heroes.’

I point to his sodden and muddy trousers. ‘You should take them off and drive home in your boxers. Let’s get home.’

He nods and changes. ‘Promise you won’t look at my underwear,’ he says jokingly.

I smile. ‘Clark, get in the car.’