Tag Archives: Michael Ross

 

 

Love story with hard edges

EXCERPT

By five o’clock, Will’s father was tucked up in bed, and Aunt Susan had gone for a lie-down, so Will rang Ben to update him on the police letter.

“That is great news buddy,” Ben responded, “you must be mightily relieved.”

“Yes, mightily. Have you gone all theatrical on me? Mightily?” Will asked.

“Ha. Kar and me are still pumped up. We’ve been working away at some ideas ever since you left. Anyway, enough about us and our success. I can still find time to talk to you and the easing of your problems.”

“Oh, it’s still a problem. A letter from the police changes things, but the big picture for my father is the same; there are some problems that are not going to go away.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound flippant, Will. It sounds like a victory for you and your dad, albeit a small one. People other than your family, who have had an independent take on things, have come down on your side. Work with the positives mate, you’ve had enough negativity to last you a lifetime.”

“Slight case of exaggeration there, Ben – but that’s what you theatrical types are like.”

“So what now?” Ben asked.

“I’ve arranged to meet her daughter.”

“Emma,” Ben confirmed.

“I didn’t know you knew her name.”

“Duh! You have mentioned it once or twice. Or maybe ten times…a lot, in fact.”

“Oh, have I? I wanted to see how she felt about the letter and let her know that doesn’t change how we as a family feel about things.” There was no response from Ben. “Hello, are you still there?”

“Yes. I’m trying to decide whether that’s a good thing or not.”

“I’m meeting her in twenty minutes,” Will declared.

Ben adjusted quickly. “Oh, in that case, it’s a good thing then, a very good thing, and remember all those maths lessons Will, because sometimes, just sometimes, two minuses can make a plus.””

“I’d better go.”

“Best of luck, buddy. Call me later.”

***

The Feathers was surprisingly quiet, which was unusual as it was a pub that always seemed to have a buzz about it. Will felt quite unsettled with the stillness. He could hear other people’s conversations, and he most certainly didn’t want people to eavesdrop on Emma and him talking.

When she had not turned up by seven-fifteen, rather than leave the pub, he called her.

She answered instantly. “Two minutes. I got stuck in traffic.”

She had obviously recognised his number, making him more nervous than ever. He swivelled around in his chair to face the main entrance.

“Sorry, I’m late. I didn’t mean to be.” Emma had come up on his blind side, catching him unawares.

Her appearance surprised him; she was dressed in a smart navy blue business suit, with hair pulled into a tight bun on the top of her head. She looked very business-like and stunningly attractive.

“Can I get you a drink?” Will stood up and asked.

“Just tonic water, please… I don’t touch alcohol during the week.”

If Will had been able to hide his beer bottle, he would have but walked over to the bar to conceal his reaction. This was not a date he told himself – this was nothing more than a business meeting, a family business meeting.

“Here we are.” He placed her drink on the table.

“Thank you. You wanted to talk,” she stated.

“Give me a moment. Okay.” He cleared his throat before continuing,” Have you received the letter?”

“Another letter from you?” Emma asked.

“No, no, from the police authority.”

Emma frowned. “No.”

“I wasn’t sure how I wanted you to answer that question. Now you have, I wish you’d answered yes.”

“Go on.”

“Do you mind if I try and get out all I want to say in one go before you comment?”

She looked dubious but nodded in agreement.

“The police have investigated the accident and decided not to prosecute Dad. It has taken them a longer time than we all thought because it was quite a thorough investigation. They concluded that the council bore some of the responsibility because the lighting in the area was totally inadequate and short of the specification approved for the site. For my father and for all our family, it is obviously a big relief, but I’m worried, massively worried, that you think that we might be celebrating, that we would no longer be consumed by the tragedy that has fallen on you and your family. All of us would give anything to be able to turn the clock back, in all truthfulness as much for ourselves as for you. I wish there was something I could do to find a positive out of all this.” Not once had Emma stopped looking directly into his eyes.

Will pressed on with the real purpose of their meeting. “I would like to see your mother. I would like to meet her and say sorry.” He waited.

“I can’t answer that yet. It’s a lot to take in.” She stood up abruptly. “I’ll call you sometime over the weekend.” With that, she was gone.

Will stayed in his seat for the rest of the night. People came and went from the pub, and after a while, he replaced his beer with lemonade which was still only half consumed two hours later.

“Anyone else using this table?”

He looked up to see a group of five students staring at him.

“No. I was just going, feel free.”

He got up and walked back to his car and sat there for a while before he was disturbed by the noise of a text coming in. He was not sure if he wanted it to be from Emma or not. He opened the message.

Unknown: Did it. No good. Thanks. Do not call. Lydia xx

Was that something else that he had screwed up? Maybe he would see if Aunt Susan could spare some more sleeping pills.

***

Emma was lost in thought as she drove home and dialled her best friend’s number as soon as she sat down.

“Lucy.” Her friend’s reply was muffled, and she had obviously been sleeping.

“Hi. Em here. Is it too late?”

“It’s not ten yet – don’t be so daft. What’s up?” Lucy sounded more alert.

“I met Will Edwards tonight. The police have decided not to prosecute his dad.”

“Oh, I bet he’s chuffed to bits then,” Lucy guessed.

“I don’t think so…no, I’m fairly certain he’s not…he wants to visit Mum.”

“Crikey. Why would he want to do that?”

“I don’t think it’s as much as he wants to. I think it’s more a need. A basic animal type of reaction.”

“Do you want to come around and talk about it?”

“No thanks, Lucy. I’m going to sleep on it. It was just that sometimes it helps to say the words out loud.”

“Or write them down on paper.”

“Yes, that as well,” Emma agreed.

***

Will recognised the phone number instantly but did not let on. “William Edwards.”

“Hi – it’s Emma here.”

“Hi.” Will felt slightly breathless.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said.”

“Yes?”

“I think we should talk this through, but not make such a big thing about it, rather than meet at a pub; maybe we could have a meal, take our time…so we don’t have to rush what we say. If I hadn’t left straight away yesterday, I think I might have said things I would have regretted. I don’t want to do that. There’s enough hurt in the air as it is anyway.”

“That sounds like a perfect idea.”

“Do you know Daniels Bistro about five miles out of town, on the A38?”

“I know of it, never been, but I’ve heard it’s good.”

“It’s usually booked a couple of weeks in advance, but I’ve a friend who is manager there, and she can fit us in tomorrow.”

“On a Thursday, that’s good.” It was anything but good; he had an important monthly meeting that could go on until eight.

“What time would suit you?” she asked.

“The later, the better if I’m honest.”

“I hope you’re always honest.”

Is she flirting with me?

Emma continued, “That would suit Lucy – she’s got a big office party booked for an early evening bash. Shall I say eight-thirty?”

“I will look forward to it.”

The phone line went dead. It was very possible she was not flirting. In fact, it was impossible to imagine that she had been flirting, Will felt embarrassed with himself. What an utterly ridiculous idea.