as he did at her.
‘Oh Dan,’ she whispered lightly to his now sleeping form, ‘What is it I have to do for you?’
She prayed silently, praying that, whatever it was, it wouldn’t come too soon.
Chapter Eighteen
Friday, midday
‘Tess darling?’
‘Yes love.’
‘Nothing.’
She sighed.
‘We need to go back home, right?’
Dan nodded.
‘How did you know?’ he said.
‘Oh I think I know you by now, lover. You’ve been trying to break it to me for the last day and a half.’
‘Am I that obvious?’
‘Beautifully so,’ she smiled and hugged him, ‘Don’t ever change, promise?’
‘As long as you don’t.’
‘I don’t think I can!’ she said, ‘It’s Ok though, I knew this would have to end soon. I know you’re worried about money. Job hunting time?’
‘Yes. Back to reality.’
‘I guess it had to happen sometime.’
They were sat on a wall in Aviemore, people watching. Dan kept his voice low to avoid people thinking he was talking to himself.
‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered.
‘Don’t apologise, I’ve loved every minute.’
‘Me too.’
He took a sip of the cappuccino he had bought from a nearby coffee shop.
‘Are you going to tell me what Susan said to you?’
‘You don’t give up do you?’
‘Nope.’
There were interrupted by a double bleep.
‘Aha, a text!’ she said.
‘You’re changing the subject!’
‘Yes. I am. Now is that Jenny again?’
‘Again? She’s only text me twice.’
‘Three times now.’
‘You don’t know that it’s her. I have other friends you know.’
‘Well is it from someone else?’
He pulled out his phone and looked at the screen.
‘No.’
‘Ha!’
‘Stop looking so pleased with yourself!’ he said as he opened the text to read it.
‘How is she?’
‘OK but she’s not going out with that lawyer again. She says he was a bit odd.’
Tess nodded. ‘I’m sure she was only seeing him on the rebound from you. And as for the odd bit, what does she expect? He is a lawyer after all!’
‘But you were one too!’
‘Exactly!’
Dan tried to take this in. ‘Anyway, she also asked me what I was doing.’
‘I hope you’re not going to be too honest.’
‘Why?’
‘Well necrophilia is a serious crime,’ she said in a mock serious tone.
‘Tess!’ he said loudly. This was badly timed as a pair of older ladies were just passing and they jumped and stared at him in alarm. Dan stared at them for a moment then, rather woodenly raised his mobile to his ear. ‘Good to hear from you, Tess,’ he said into it.
Alongside him, Tess was doubled over with laughter.
The ladies walked on, both giving rather worried glances back over their shoulders at Dan before turning and walking inside a gift shop.
‘Oh it’s a good job I love you!’ she said. She was laughing so much that tears were running down her face. Recovering a little, and wiping her eyes, she nodded at the phone. ‘So what are you going to say to the lovely Jenny?’
‘I’m telling her what you told me to tell her,’ he said, texting, ‘That I’m on my own, that I’m still touring the Highlands – on my own – and that I am being good – also on my own.’
‘And talking to yourself, on your own, of course,’ said Tess as the two old ladies walked past again.
Dan looked up and smiled at them. They started to walk much more quickly.
‘It’s a good job I love you too!’ he grumbled, ‘and given that I do and that you know it, why am I sending texts like this to Jenny?’
‘Oh that’s easy.’
‘Is it?’
‘Yes. It’s because I asked you to, of course.’
Dan just stared at her.
‘Harumph,’ he said.
‘You are using that word a lot lately,’ she said.
‘I wonder why…but I still don’t see why I’m doing this.’ He held up the phone.
‘Because she’s a sweet girl and you owe her for what you did to her. Anyway she must have excellent taste if she fancies you. And you should never burn bridges, you never know when you might need to cross them.’
‘But…’ said Dan, mystified.
‘No buts. Just do it.’
‘OK,’ he sighed, ‘I think I could do with a stiff drink.’
‘Distillery tour then?’
‘Good idea.’ He finished writing the text and sent it.
‘Then afterwards home?’
‘Tomorrow yes.’
‘Let’s go then. I’m sure that another part of the Highlands will enjoy the “Dan Jackson talking to himself” tour!’
She darted away from him as he lunged at her.
On the far side of the street the two old ladies had come out of another shop. Seeing him, they froze, then hurried back inside again.
*
@fear_me_now Twitter Account
Tweets: 210
Followers: 627
@fear_me_now: I am back. I am going to kill the unfaithful fat blonde bitch. I will slice her open
@____________: