Page 86 of The Path to the Last House Before the Sea

‘Siblings sometimes do when a brother or sister dies.’

‘I felt it should have been me because John was the first child, the first son, the brainy one. He excelled at all subjects, especially science, whereas I had to work at it. And I worked at it so hard after he died.’

‘Studying for the two of you?’

His eyes met hers. ‘Maybe. John wanted to be a research scientist and I followed where his footsteps would have been. But now, after meeting you, I look at this sunset and I see something different from the nuts and bolts of it. I see life in colour.’ He groaned and stood up in one fluid movement. ‘I can’t believe I said that. I see life in colour? I’m a total idiot.’

‘No, no, you’re not.’ Alyssa jumped up and stood in front of him. ‘I know what you mean, and I feel flattered if you think I’ve had any hand in that. But I don’t see how when you think I’m ridiculous.’

‘And you think I’m a nerd.’

‘Only sometimes,’ said Alyssa, grinning. ‘Mostly, I think you’re a lovely man who’s had a lot to cope with.’

She stopped grinning, her heart hammering, when Jack stepped forward until his body was almost touching hers. His face was so close, she could see the tiny lines around his eyes and the dark bands circling each iris.

‘I know that I’m ridiculous,’ he said, hair flopping across his forehead. ‘I recite pi at the most inopportune moments and I find life chaotic and confusing. I’m not always an easy person to be with.’ The muscles in his jaw were working overtime.

‘Three point one four one five nine,’ said Alyssa softly.

‘Ha!’ He let out a gentle chuckle. ‘Have you been practising?’

Alyssa grinned up at him. ‘I read up about it while I was sitting by the sea, before I walked up here. It’s a pretty cool mathematical constant, actually, and if it helps you to cope with life’s challenges without going crazy, then that is all that matters.’

‘And what works for you, Alyssa Jones, or whatever your name is? What keeps the demons at bay?’

Heat flooded Alyssa’s body when Jack brushed his fingers across her cheek.

‘Sunsets, the wind in the trees, white-tipped waves rolling into shore, videos of kittens.’

She was burbling nonsense now, but all coherent thought had fled with Jack’s touch on her skin.

‘Videos of kittens?’ He raised an eyebrow.

‘YouTube,’ she managed, staring into his eyes. ‘You should try it.’

‘I think maybe kittens are a step too far, but you’ve changed me, Alyssa.’ He swallowed. ‘I was sitting here, before you came, looking out to sea and watching the sunset and I can see the wonderment of it. I see the… the…’ The words caught in his throat and he tried again. ‘I see the wonderment of you.’ Then he groaned again. ‘I’ve excelled myself there. That is so cheesy.’

‘Actually’ – Alyssa stood on tiptoes – ‘it’s perfect.’ She leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose. Then his arms were around her and she was pulled hard against him as they kissed, their entwined bodies lit by the glorious rainbow light of the setting sun.

EPILOGUE

It had rained earlier, and a rich peaty smell rose from the earth. It curled around the gravestones and hung in the summer air as a small group of people stood by the open grave.

‘Taken too soon.’ Belinda sniffed and shook her head. ‘Taken far too soon. Life can be very unfair.’

Alyssa nodded and wiped away a tear before putting her arm through Jack’s and pulling herself against him until their hips touched. They seemed almost inseparable these days.

‘Are you all right?’ she asked Magda, who was standing so close to the edge of the yawning grave, she looked as if she might topple in at any moment.

Magda nodded, blinking back tears. ‘I was so moved by the funeral service. It was a real celebration of life.’

‘Life cut short,’ intoned Belinda, who was determined, it seemed, to make a sombre occasion as tear-jerking as possible. She’d certainly dressed for it, from her black hat and dress to her charcoal gloves and shoes. The sun had come out from behind the clouds, the temperature had leaped up, and she was probably quietly boiling.

Jack looked down at Alyssa and squeezed her arm against his side. ‘Are you doing OK?’

She nodded. ‘This was always going to be a sad day.’

‘Sad, but proper,’ said Stan from his wheelchair. ‘Those two deserve a decent burial after lying alone in the darkness for nigh on three hundred years.’He glanced past the churchyard wall to the village green where the Mourning Stone stood, its inscription now updated:

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