‘Jason, his whole life was here, we can’t lose that,’ she said.
‘I know.’ Was that the reason she wanted to come back: for Jason, his memory, his history, to keep that close? His fingerprints on every door jamb, his laughter in the paint and plaster. Was that all of it? The house a museum, and Andrew – what, a curator? That wasn’t enough for him. He wanted her love, her passion; he needed her to want him just as deeply. Not to cling together because of what they had shared and lost, but to cleave together for what the future held, tomorrow and the next day and the years to come. To grow.
He placed his hand on the crown of her head, felt her silky hair and the heat beneath.
‘I want you, Val,’ he whispered. ‘I want you back here with me.’ He felt her convulse, a sob in her shoulders. Then she raised her face to look at him. Tear-streaked. She edged closer, closed her eyes. Kissed him. A lover’s kiss. Long and sensuous. Leaving them both breathless.
‘Let’s go in,’ he said, blood singing in his veins. He couldn’t take his eyes from her face, her lips.
‘I love you,’ she said, starting to cry again. ‘Oh Andrew, I love you so much.’
He pulled her close, hushing her, kissing and stroking her hair. He drank in the warm night air and the honeyed scent of wallflowers; he stared up at the luminous disc of the moon, climbing higher now, and felt the peace settle inside him.
Across the street, Jason, arms outstretched, walked along the edge of a tall garden fence to the corner. He stood there, wobbling precariously, and beamed at Andrew. That hundred-watt smile. Then he jumped down and set off along the pavement towards town. Andrew watched until he was out of sight.
Then he took Val’s hand and they went in together.
About the Author
Cath Staincliffe is an established novelist, radio playwright and creator of ITV’s hit series, Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis. Cath was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Best First Novel award for her acclaimed Sal Kilkenny series, and for the Dagger in the Library award in 2006. Her latest stand-alone novels all focus on topical moral dilemmas. She was joint winner of the CWA Short Story Dagger award in 2012 for Laptop. She is a founding member of Murder Squad, a group who promote crime fiction.
www.cathstaincliffe.co.uk
