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‘What I implied downstairs’ he paused momentarily ‘it was uncalled for I’m sorry’

Another endless silence passed

Then she heard hi his breath too long

And then she heard the sound of his footsteps as he went further along the passage to his roo

Aiesha squeezed her eyes shut to stop the blinding stinging tears fro

She Would Not Cry

When Aiesha looked out of the kitchenthe nextthe driveith a shovel There had been a new fall of snow overnight but the sun was out and shining brightly, giving the wintry scene a sparkling brilliance that was blinding Ja and lean as he loaded each shovel with snow and tossed it aside He had taken off his coat and worked in his shirt and sweater Even through the layers of fabric she could see the play of his ood Daain, tossing its load to the side in a mechanical fashion, his brow deeply furrowed as if he was her, most probably

Was he thinking she was a tantru she was in need of a psychiatrist’s couch? Was he thinking she was in need of a straitjacket?

She gritted her teeth Best to get it over with No point hiding away froht on back

She pulled on her coat and mittens and wrapped a scarf around her neck The cold air hit her face like the slap of an icy hand across her cheeks She drew the scarf closer and wandered over to where Ja for my buried stash?’

He stopped shovelling to look at her with a rueful expression ‘I suppose I deserve that’ His eyes‘Are you OK?’

She aze as direct and steely as she could ‘Never better’

He gave a slow nod, which she took as an acknowledgement of her decision not to ht He went back to the task at hand, shovelling the snow Shoosh Whoosh Plop Spade after spade Aiesha got the i to distract hiust him? Did she repulse him with her out-of-control behaviour? Was that why he was keeping himself so busy? He didn’t want to be with her He didn’t desire her now he kne childish she could be Fine

‘The forecast is i her way ‘We should be out of here by Friday Maybe even earlier if the snowploughs come this way’