a knock at the door. I don’t want to answer it but I do anyway and I’m shocked to see blondie standing there, shifting nervously on her feet.
“Hi,” I say as she realises I’m not Nathan and her shoulders sag. “I don’t know where he is.”
“Did he tell you to say that?” Her disbelief is warranted I guess.
I shake my head. “No. I haven’t seen him since yesterday.”
“Oh…” She twists her hands in front of her. “If you see him, please tell him to call me.”
“Sure.” I go to close the door but she calls out once more, stopping me halfway.
“Is he… are you? I mean… is he seeing someone else?”
Is he? “Honestly, I have no idea. I promised him I wouldn’t invade his privacy so I haven’t. I didn’t even know about you until the other day when we first met.” I give her an apologetic smile and look her up and down. She looks cold. Where’s her car? “Where’s your car?”
“I walked.”
“From the village?” Is she crazy? That’s a four mile walk, not including our long driveway.
“Yeah.” She takes a step back. “Thanks… umm…”
“It’s Gwen.”
“Right, I’m Lorna. It was nice to meet you.” She nervously tucks her hair behind her ear and descends the two steps leading from the door. “Take care.”
I close the door, worried for the woman’s welfare but figuring she got herself here so she can get back. I should have offered her a drink and rest but it isn’t my house.
Her relationship with Nathan must be more serious than I thought. Should I have invited her in?
My head hurts.
Oh well, it’s not my business. I just hope she doesn’t think I’m out to steal her man because I’m totally not. I don’t want a reputation as boyfriend stealer.
The village is small; word travels.
I pad into the room and fire up my laptop. There’s nothing much I can think of doing that I’d enjoy, so moments later I switch it off and blow out a breath of air. I hate how grey the skies are up here. I daren’t venture through the trees when the sky is so dark, even though it’s two in the afternoon. I might get lost, even if I do follow the markings I placed on trees.
My geography never was very good and I never could figure out how to work a compass. It points north, that’s great. But even if it points north, I won’t know which direction will take me back to the village. Although I do have GPS on my phone, I’m lucky if I can get a signal long enough to receive a text message, let alone an internet connection.
I miss my friends. I miss being close to people I know.
Part of me even misses my mum, even if I do hate her guts right now.
Picking up my phone, I scroll through my contacts until I find Tommy’s number. It rings a few times before he answers, which brings me joy I haven’t felt in a while.
“Hey you,” he says softly. “It’s been a while.”
“Yeah,” I say and move into the kitchen. Reception is better in here. “I miss you.”
“Miss you too. Maybe I can come out and see you soon.”
“I’d love that.” Seriously I would. “What have you been doing?”
“Not much.” He pauses for a moment. “I passed.”
“Oh my god.” Blink. “Oh my god! Tommy, that’s brilliant. I’m so pleased for you.”
“Thanks, Gwen. University isn’t the same without you though.”
My joy flickers to sorrow. “Yeah. I miss it.”
“You’ll go back one day. Until then, keep making delicious food and send me pictures. When I come down, I’m never leaving your place and you’re never leaving the kitchen. I want a feast fit for a king,” he demands playfully. “Sasha misses you.”
“I miss her too.”
“How are things with Nathan? I bet it’s weird, isn’t it?”
You have no idea. “Just a tad. He mostly stays out of my way though. I don’t even know where he is today.”
“Are you getting on?”
Are we? “Yes. There have been a few disagreements,” understatement of the century, “but we’ve moved past them.”
“Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?”
I just can’t be bothered to go into full details of the tale that is Nathan and Guinevere. It’s too complicated and I wouldn’t even know where to begin. “I’m telling you everything.”
“Okay.” He doesn’t believe me. “I have to go. I’m meeting Zoe in twenty minutes. Keep in touch.” Zoe?