Page 34 of Cuts Like An Angel: Part 3

Chapter Fifteen

William

Two minutes of long painful silence, and Mark was gone. William watched as he drove his car out of the carpark and took a left, towards the winding road and the way William knew would take him back to the town. Mark’s absence left an odd silence. One that hadn’t been there before. Like questions hung in the air but were unspoken. Or maybe it was simply what Mark brought with him, a list of memories and moments, of things William had put in the closet of his childish brain.

“Shall we walk?” he asked, holding out his hand to Rosie and trying his best to shake off the unease that had settled into his shoulders.

Rosie laced her delicate fingers in his and he wrapped his hand protectively around hers, encompassing them. Memories aside, there was no place in the world William wanted to be other than right beside Rosie.

William had taken the pack off the back of the bike and slung it over his shoulder so he could carry their lunch and Rosie could focus on walking.

It wasn’t so bad in this area. He’s chosen it mostly with Rosie in mind and the idea of her trying to navigate the spots further along. Some of them were hard even for him, and he’d spent days, weeks, even months here as a teenager. They weren’t going so far today, as this time of year the weather couldn’t decide if it wanted to rain or snow. The land around everything would be nothing but muddy pools for them to trip in.

William led Rosie down a set of stone steps. Manmade blocks meant to look natural, but their placement gave them away. They led down to the edge of the water.

“Wow,” she said when they emerged out from the cover of the trees, taking it all in. She clutched his hand with one of hers, and held his elbow with the other, holding his arm tightly against her body. “I didn’t even know this place existed. Months here, and I realise I’ve never explored.”

He glanced around them, giving himself some time to take it all in, even though he’d seen it so many times, it never failed to make him feel better standing here. A path of rocks dotted the water, leading all the way across to the other side. It really was an island in the middle. The water lapped over the rocks, letting them peek out every so often. In the summer, it was possible to use them to get to the other side. It was better on the other side too, quiet and mostly undisturbed.

“It’s great isn’t it? I found this place by accident years ago. It wasn’t like this back then.” He was referring to the picnic benches and spots with signs that read, no littering, and please extinguish all barbeques before leaving. When he and Mark had found this place, it had been wild, overtaken by nature. Brambles created a natural barrier keeping out casual passers-by.

“It’s amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this. Not here.”

For a few moments, they stood together, and William pulled her to his body so he could feel her there. He kissed the top of her head but kept his mouth against her hair. She snaked her arms around him, nestling into him, her arms under his coat. “We can’t go too far. Not if you have to go to work.”

“I don’t care if we stay here and just watch the water,” Rosie said. “I could easily sit here all day.It’s amazing.”

He had to agree with her. Although, if she’d have said she wanted to go home and sit with the heating on, he’d have happily done that too. He was just happy she chose the outside. Even if she was wrapped up so much.

She wore a big puffer jacket. It was way too big for her, and thick, yet somehow, she managed to shiver. It was fast becoming a running joke between them. How she was always cold, and he was always warm. A sign she had said to him. They were opposites.

The pack already had a small blanket packed into it. William took that out and gave it a shake to untangle it. He lay that down on the ground for them.

The ground was made of rocks and gravel. Someone had been not long before. There were the remnants of a small fire not so far from them. The wood was charred and missing in places where it had burnt away, and the water hadn’t come up and claimed it for itself.

Rosie sat and huddled her legs to her body, wrapping her arms around them and rubbing herself as if she was freezing.

“If you’re too cold, we can go head home and take this to our room.”

“And miss this? Don’t be crazy,” she shivered, teeth chattering. “I’ll warm in a minute.” She breathed into her hands and cupped them around her face. “Is it always this cold?”

William laughed. “This isn’t cold. Wait until we get in the minus numbers.” He plonked himself down beside her and nudged her with his shoulder. “I can keep you warm, though.”

“I bet you could.”

“Yep. I have soup.” He let out an almost hysterical laugh when he saw her face at what he’d said. She was feigning mad and doing it so badly.

“You’ll be sleeping on the sofa if you carry on like that.”

“You’d never do that,” he said, and stole a kiss from her before unscrewing the cap from the flask. This … this was that moment of perfect people wished for, stories spoke about. Just him and Rosie. He didn’t care it was cold. If he had Rosie, nothing else mattered; even as the jagged rocks stuck into him through the blanket. He opened the flask and unpacked the two cups that were screwed to the top. He poured Rosie’s first and handed it to her.

She cupped it in her hands and blew across the top, sending the steam out and away from them. “Mmm, so good,” she said. “I kind of cheated when I made this, though. It’s out of a tin.”

He shrugged before sipping his own. “I thought it tasted nice.”

“Hey …” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re walking a fine line today.”

“I’m just teasing. You could have brought me some of those crappy noodle pots and I’d be happy. Just getting out of that house is enough.”

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