Page 62 of Postscript

‘You’ve got work.’

‘I can take the day off. We’ve got enough girls on the shop floor and frankly I could do with a distraction.’

‘Thank you, friend,’ I say, resting my head on her shoulder.

‘How is our man doing?’ Denise asks, watching me check my text message.

His family are around him. His grandchildren have sung him hymns. Everyone has said their goodbyes.

I read Joy’s text aloud. ‘Not long now.’

As I’m locking the front door, I hear a car door slam behind me, followed by heavy footsteps in our direction. Feet on a mission.

‘Uh oh,’ Denise says nervously.

‘I knew it!’ Sharon announces.

‘Where are the kids?’ Denise asks.

‘With my mum, I have a scan today.’

‘But thought you’d do a little detective work first,’ Denise asks.

‘I called your house. Tom said you were staying here. Is it true?’

‘Denise is having a moment of doubt,’ I explain.

‘Why didn’t you come to me?’

‘Because you’re highly judgemental and pass-remarkable. And you have no spare bedroom.’

Sharon’s mouth falls open.

‘But mainly because you have no spare bedroom.’

‘I could have put Alex in with Gerard, that’s what I always do with guests.’

‘Yes, but then I have to share a bathroom and I don’t like sharing a bathroom.’

‘Holly only has one bathroom upstairs between two bedrooms.’

‘Yes, but she has a shower room downstairs.’

I look from Sharon to Denise, to see if this conversation is serious. It is. ‘If you two want to continue this conversation, you’re welcome to go in and use the house, but I’ve really got to go.’

‘You don’t work on Mondays,’ Sharon says, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at me. ‘The shop’s closed. Where are you both going?’

‘To deliver some love letters,’ Denise sings happily.

Sharon’s eyes widen. ‘The PS, I Love You letters?’

‘Yes!’ Denise says, opening the car door and sitting into the passenger seat.

‘Why do you tease her so much?’ I ask as I pull the driver’s door closed.

‘Because it’s so easy to wind her up.’

I start the engine, lower my window and look at Sharon standing open-mouthed staring at the two of us. She looks exhausted. She could do with an adventure.