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Above us the sky had become endless and infinite
I twisted the handkerchief in my hand ‘Yes Well I still feel … responsible I drank too much to show off I was a terrible flirt I was –’
‘No They were responsible’
Nobody had ever said those words aloud to me Even Treena’s look of syet drunk and silly with ers squeezed mine A faint movement, but there it was
‘Louisa It wasn’t your fault’
I cried then Not sobbing, this ti else was leaving s I hadn’t yet found words for I leant ently on his shoulder and he tilted his head until it rested againstto me?’
I murmured a yes
‘Then I’ll tell you soood,’ he said, and then he waited, as if he wanted to be sure he had reater consequences than others But you don’t have to let that night be the thing that defines you’
I felt his head tilt against mine
‘You, Clark, have the choice not to let that happen’
The sigh that leftWe sat there in silence, letting his words sink in I could have stayed there all night, above the rest of the world, the war the worst of et back,’ he said, eventually ‘Before they call out a search party’
I released his hand and stood, a little reluctantly, feeling the cool breezes on h aboveair, the tension of weeks,a little, and let out a deep breath
Below ht amid the black countryside below us I turned back towards hiht, but I kneatching et me’
He shook his head, and turned his chair back towards the path
18
‘Disneyland is good’
‘I told you, no theme parks’
‘I know you said that, but it’s not just roller coasters and whirling teacups At Florida you’ve got the film studios and the science centre It’s actually quite educational’
‘I don’t think a 35-year-old for’
‘There are disabled loos on every corner And theis tooto say there are rides specially for handicapped people next, aren’t you?’
‘They accommodate everyone Why don’t you try Florida, Miss Clark? If you don’t like it you could go on to SeaWorld And the weather is lovely’
‘In Will versus killer whale I think I knoould come off worst’
He didn’t seem to hearwith disability You know they do a lot of Make-A-Wish Foundation stuff for people who are dying?’
‘He is not dying’ I put the phone down on the travel agent just as Will ca to set it back in its cradle, and snapped ht, Clark?’
‘Fine’ I shtly
‘Good Got a nice frock?’
‘What?’
‘What are you doing on Saturday?’
He aiting expectantly My brain was still stalled on killer whale versus travel agent
‘U Why?’
He waited just a few seconds before he said it, as if it actually gave hi’
Afterwards, I was never entirely sure why Will changed his mind about Alicia and Rupert’s nuptials I suspected there was probably a large dose of natural contrariness in his decision – nobody expected hio, probably least of all Alicia and Rupert the closure But I think in the last couple of months she had lost the power to wound hie without Nathan’s help I called up to make sure the marquee was suitable for Will’s wheelchair, and Alicia sounded so flustered when she realized eren’t actually declining the invitation that it dawned on me her embossed correspondence really had been for appearance’s sake