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“Yes, of course. Are you coming home now?”
“No, I’ll go with Marc to Hamilton, for a bit at least. I’m not sure what he’s going to want to do, or if he’ll want my help.” I’m floundering; I’m not Marc’s wife, and I’m not even his girlfriend. I have no social standing. He’s not going to want to try to explain our relationship to everyone while he’s grieving. But then again I am his friend, aren’t I? I’d help if it was anyone else at the Ark.
“Look,” Dad says, “kia kaha, sweetheart. Stay strong. Marc will need you now, whether he knows it or not. Be there for him, and when it’s all done, you’ll be able to talk about where you go from here. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“You know where I am if you need anything. And expect a call from Noah; he’s bound to ring once he hears.”
“Yeah, okay. Thanks, Dad.”
“See you soon.” He hangs up.
I wipe my face and get to my feet as I hear Marc’s footsteps on the stairs. He comes outside and stops before me. “Sorry about that,” he murmurs. His eyes are red, but he looks composed.
“It’s okay. I just spoke to Dad, and he’s going to ring Noah. I asked Noah to make sure nobody calls Izzy and Hal, though. I thought you’d want to do that. Unless you want Noah to, or me?”
“No, I’ll do it now, I think. We have a bit of time before we have to go to the airport, don’t we?”
“Yes. Would you like a glass of whisky?”
“Oh man, I’d love one.”
I rub his arm. “I’ll pour you one while you make the call.”
I leave him to it, watching out of the window as I retrieve the bottle of whisky from the box and pour some into a glass. He dials and walks away, toward where the sea breaks on the rocks, sending a couple of seagulls into the air. He starts talking, so I know Izzy has answered, and I watch as he pinches the bridge of his nose with two fingers, then runs his hand through his hair and tips his face up to the sun. I cover my mouth with a hand, full of emotion, wishing I could make it better for them. Poor Izzy, on her honeymoon and receiving such terrible news. I know she didn’t get on with her mother, and didn’t see her very often. But that’s not going to make it any easier. It might even make it harder, because she’s bound to feel guilt at not seeing her more.
I wait for him to finish the call, then go out and hand him the glass. He drinks half of it in one go, and we both look out over the ocean, to where the sky is slowly darkening, turning the sea orange.
“It’s a stupid question,” I say, “but how is she?”
“Shocked. Angry.”
“At you?”
“No, at Mom. For dying without us.” He gives me a crooked smile. “I spoke to Hal briefly. He’s going to try to convince her to stay another night until their flight’s due. There’s no point her rushing back. We can wait and have the funeral in a couple of weeks.”
“Will you have it in Hamilton?”
“I don’t know. To be honest, she didn’t have any friends, apart from Rebecca, her neighbor.”
“What about her partner, Luke, wasn’t it? Do you think he’ll want to go?”
“I don’t know,” Marc says. “I suppose I should ring him and tell him—I doubt he knows.”
“Do you have his number?”
“Yes, it’s on my phone. I’d better do that now.”
“I’ll get you a refill,” I tell him, take his glass, and go back inside. By the time I’ve poured the next glass, he’s finished the call.
“Short and sweet,” he says when I go back out, taking the glass from me. “He didn’t say much. He wants to go to the funeral.”
“He’ll be feeling guilty, no doubt,” I say.
Marc shrugs. “It wasn’t his fault. I don’t blame him for leaving. She could be difficult.” He stops and scuffs at a stone with his shoe. “I shouldn’t say that. Not now.”
I rub his arm. “It’s all right. There’s only me here. She had a hard life, and she struggled a lot with her issues. But she knew you were always there for her. She must have been so proud of you and Izzy, with all that you’ve achieved.”
