Page 94 of The Time of My Afterlife

‘I need to go home.’ I rise from the sofa.

‘Florence, don’t go,’ he says, taking my hand. ‘That kiss we just had was wonderful, and you can’t now leave in a mood with me.’

‘I’m not in a mood with you.’ I take my hand from his. ‘I need some time to think.’

He runs a frustrated hand through his hair. ‘We need to be together tonight for the message.’

‘Come over later.’

I walk towards his front door. ‘I could have gone home with her the other night,’ he says. ‘It would have been so easy.’

His words make every part of me tense up.

‘Do you know what stopped me?’

I shake my head.

‘You, Florence. I knew how much she and Ben hurt you. I chose you instead of her. The lift home from the bus stop was a silly mistake.’

I need time to think. I offer him a weak smile and step outside.

38

CLARK

It took me a while to stop screaming into a cushion after she left. We have come so far since getting run over on the crossing and embarking on this weird journey. Florence and I have gone from shouting and screaming to passionately kissing each other. Now, I feel like we’ve entered a weird limbo-like state – all thanks to Margo.

I made myself a late lunch and then checked on Pearl, who seemed brighter. She was sitting at her kitchen table doing some crochet, which she claims always helps her to think straight when she’s in a pickle. Maybe I need to take up crochet, I wonder.

‘My supermarket delivery arrived a short while ago. I bought too much meat – can you take some off my hands?’ Pearl asked as I made us both a cup of tea. She pointed to the fridge. ‘Have a look.’

She’d bought enough sausages and burgers to feed the entire street.

‘I can’t eat all that,’ I exclaimed.

She shook her head. ‘You look pale. I think you need some iron. Now take all that meat with you, stick it in your fridge and have a nice tea tonight. Freeze the rest.’

‘Are you sure because this would have cost you a lot? Shall I give you some money?’

With a horrified look, she said, ‘No, Clark, you do a lot for me as it is.’

As I was leaving, clutching my bag of meat, she said, ‘You like her, don’t you?’

‘Is it obvious?’

She laughed. ‘Clark, it’s been obvious for years. All this huffing and puffing – you’ve both been busy avoiding the elephant in the room.’

‘Which is?’

‘You’re both madly in love with each other.’

I rolled my eyes and told her that if she needed anything later, I would be at Florence’s. This made her giggle. It was nice to see Pearl happy at least.

Now I’m back at my house, placing the sausages and burgers in my fridge, and Florence’s face won’t leave my mind.

All I can think about is how she’s been a steady presence in my life. We’ve argued, bickered, and fought while growing up, during my father’s affair and departure, when Harry sadly died, and when Ben and Margo betrayed us. She’s always been there. Our quarrelling has always given me another reason to annoy and argue with her. I think back to when her mum texted me about having to rush Florence to the hospital. I cancelled all my plans and drove over there. For eight hours, I sat in my car, sending her my love telepathically.

My love?