had known about Peter.'
'What? What is it?'
Susan hesitated, took a deep breath then said: 'After an angel has completed its task, it ceases to exist. The angel is, in effect, the task.’
They sat in silence for several minutes. Tess's thought's were in turmoil but she found comfort in the older woman's presence and silence. She radiated calm.
At last Susan said; ‘We’d better be getting back, the tour will be nearly done anyway. I have a feeling that you don’t like to be apart from him for very long.’
‘Is it that obvious?’ said Tess, getting up.
‘I’m afraid so.’
They started to walk back to the Abbey.
‘How long have you been together?’ Susan said.
Tess did a little calculation.
‘I met him a whole eleven days ago.’
‘Only eleven days!’
‘I know!’
‘Peter and I had thirty years together the first time. Then another four months and three days when he was sent back to me.’
Tess smiled and they walked on.’
‘The physical side must be quite frustrating for you,’ said Susan suddenly taking Tess by surprise. This was the last thing that she expected and her shock must have been obvious.
‘Hah!’ laughed Susan, ‘The young always think they invented sex.’
‘I suppose so,’ said Tess, laughing as well, ‘I guess I just didn’t expect you to bring it up.’
‘I remember being young and a couple all too well my dear,’ Susan said, ‘and at least we had had that time. You and Dan haven’t. That must be awful for both of you. I know I missed Peter’s touch terribly.’
‘I’ve tried not to think about it too much but it’s hard not to,’ admitted Tess, ‘and if it’s hard for me it must be terrible for him.’
‘It must be terrible for both of you. The longing for the closeness.’
‘It is.’
Dan was just coming out of the Abbey when they rounded the corner the building. He was looking around, clearly looking for them.
‘I think you have a quite remarkable young man there, Tess,’ murmured Susan.
‘Yes, I think so too.’
Dan saw them and started to walk in their direction.
‘In a way you are both lucky and unlucky.’
‘Blessed and cursed,’ whispered Tess.
‘Blessed and cursed – yes indeed, that is much more apt,’ Dan was about thirty yards from them now. ‘Tess,’ said Susan, her voice low but urgent. ‘Remember what I said; make the most of your time with him. I really believe you are here to do something for him, something big, but, once you have done it, you will go. Make the most of this gift Tess…ah Dan, how was the tour?’ she said, raising her voice to normal levels to greet him.
‘Hi, it was good, though I have to admit I wasn’t paying much attention.’
Susan was looking back at the group who had come out of the abbey. Again the Canadian women were staring at Dan.
‘I expect it would be nice to be somewhere where you were out of sight of all the prying eyes?’ she said, almost to herself. ‘How long do you have before you have to leave for the ferry?’
Dan looked at his watch.
‘About an hour,’ he said.
‘Well would you like to come back to my house and have some tea with me before you go?’
Dan looked at Tess who gave a little nod.
‘Yes, we’d love to, thanks,’ he said, ‘what did you two talk about?’
Before Tess could answer, Susan said, ‘I’ll leave it to Tess to decide whether she wants to tell you. It’s got to be her decision and she may well need to think about it.’
Dan looked at Tess who smiled and nodded.
‘Well, shall we go? It’s not too far.’
Monday evening
It was dark by the time the harbour at Oban came into view. The mirror smooth sea of the morning was now a distant memory. The wind had got up heralding the arrival of the front with its rain clouds. Squally showers swept across the decks driving almost everyone on the ferry under cover. Only Tess and Dan stayed out on the promenade deck braving the elements.
‘You can go inside you know,’ said Tess, ‘You’ll catch your death out here.’
‘Maybe, but then I couldn’t do this,’ he was stood behind her, looking out towards the lights of Oban and put his arms around her.
‘Aren’t I too cold to do this?’
‘Not in this weather!’ he laughed. ‘and I just want to hold you. Oh!’ he said, letting go, ‘Is this uncomfortable for you?’
Tess caught hold of his arms and pulled them round her again.
‘No it’s fine. Very much so in fact.’
They stood like this for