Page 28 of The Time of My Afterlife

Clark has stood at my door many a time to argue about my parking or the pile of little bags outside his front door, filled with his cat’s poop found in my back garden. But he’s never been invited in.

He grimaces, which I think is his way of signalling that this new situation we find ourselves in is a struggle for him too. I watch him stride into the living room. For a few seconds, he stops to survey my white bookcases and my rainbow-gradient book spines. He sniffs the air. ‘What’s that weird smell?’

I point to the lit candle on my coffee table. ‘The scent of an old bookshop candle.’

‘It smells like a school classroom.’

The urge to chuck him out is strong, but I resist. ‘It was expensive.’

‘You were conned.’ He goes to lean against my mantlepiece. His brown hair looks unruly and wild.

‘You can sit down, Clark.’

He shakes his head and leans against my mantlepiece like a Victorian father with a pressing matter on his mind. ‘I just want to get this over with.’

I sit on the sofa. ‘How did you get on?’

‘Good. Sam across the road needed someone to talk about a personal issue with.’

I gaze out of my living room window at Sam’s house, which is next door to Pearl’s. ‘He used to come to the café a lot before he caught his train to work,’ I say. ‘Did you go to his house?’

Clark shakes his head. ‘I took him to the pub and we chatted it through.’

My curiosity has piqued. ‘Oh, what was his issue?’

‘I’m not going into details. What about you?’

Molly’s face flashes up in my mind. ‘I talked with Molly.’

He arches an eyebrow. ‘About extra shifts? Florence, the afterlife didn’t set you a test to increase your café’s takings.’

Anger ignites inside of me. ‘Stop saying that.’

He shakes his head and looks away.

‘Molly has been on my mind for ages. There’s been something troubling her. I did think the offer of a Saturday job would help her, but today I got to the bottom of her issue. She doesn’t like Vince, Laura’s ex-boyfriend. That’s what’s making her frosty with her mum.’

‘What have you done to help?’

I fiddle with the zip on my cushion. ‘Laura needs a new man in her life. So, I helped her secure a date with the Irish guy in the café. They’re going out later this week.’

Clark arches an eyebrow. ‘Is that what you were doing earlier while forgetting about my order?’

I roll my eyes. ‘Yes. You didn’t help with your complaining.’

‘You looked like you were flirting.’

My eyebrows are rocketing up my forehead. ‘I was busy matchmaking, Clark.’

‘Are you sure that’s what Molly wants?’

I feel a prickle of irritation. He won’t tell me what he’s done, but when I share details of my progress, he starts picking it apart. ‘Yes, I am.’

‘I hope we pass,’ he says, checking the time on his phone.

Feeling proud of my breakthrough with Molly and Laura’s potential suitor, I lean back and let out a little sigh. If the robin confirms we’ve passed, I will celebrate. Maybe I’ll buy a new pair of shoes. I need to do something.

There’s a flapping of wings, and a white dove shoots through my open window. I gasp. ‘They’ve changed the bird. That means something. I’m sure doves signify hope.’