Page 73 of Short Stack 3

He nods at the two figures coming down the drive. “No, but they will. I’ll wait here for you.”

“Will you? Why?” He mimes zipping his mouth, and I grin at him.

“Keep your secrets, then, Nigel.”

Climbing out of the cab, I start to laugh at the sight of Stan’s parents. “I’m sorry. Did I interrupt you on your way to Royal Ascot?”

Rowena rolls her eyes. She’s wearing a long, gold, sequinned dress with a rather large hat that has roses on it. “Stan said we had to dress up. Edward insisted on this get-up. I’m rather distressed that I’ve broken my make-up embargo after all these years.

“Just think green eyeshadow is now back in fashion. Go, you.”

She snorts, and Edward doffs his top hat at me. He’s wearing a morning suit, but I’m amused to see he’s obviously lost hisdress shoes again because he’s wearing the pair of Bart Simpson slippers that Vinnie bought Rowena for Christmas.

“Good afternoon,” he says, grinning. “You’re looking spiffy as usual, Raff.”

“Of course. I always do.” I smirk. “Nice slippers. I doubt you’ll get in the royal enclosure, though.”

He shrugs. “Such is the way of life. I’m not sure I’d want to be in there anyway. Don’t you have to be on your best behaviour all the time?”

“Not judging by the current royal family, no.”

Rowena hugs me, and I grin as she kisses my cheek. I smell Baccarat Rouge, and my heart warms with a thousand memories of hugs like this. Saoirse didn’t do childhood hugs because she said I was usually sticky or filthy or a mixture of the two. She wasn’t wrong.

“What’s all this about?” I say.

She sniffs. “We’re just happy, Raff.”

“Well, I suppose it’s nice that your happiness comes with a grip that a boa constrictor would envy.”

She shoves me, laughing. “I love you, even though you are a very exasperating boy.”

“I love you too.” I look at both of them. “So? I’m here at the start, and Stan is nowhere in sight. What happens now?”

Rowena looks at Edward. He startles. “What?”

“The thingy,” she hisses. “Give him the envelope.”

“Oh.” He grins. “That’s a relief. I thought I’d forgotten something.” He pats his jacket. “It’s in here somewhere.” He pats his trouser pockets. And then does it again and again, each time with more urgency. “Now, where did I put it?”

“Oh god.” His wife sighs. “I knew I should have kept hold of it, but you said you would do it.”

He checks the back pockets in his trousers. “Where on earth did I put it, Rowena?”

“How would I know, darling? It’s as likely to be in the compost bin as it is the airing cupboard. Both are places I’ve found things you put away safely. You’d forget your head if it wasn’t screwed on.”

“Head.” He crows in triumph. “Of course it is.” He takes off his top hat, and there, tucked in the lining, is a familiar envelope. “I think you can say I’m a safe pair of hands,” he says smugly to his wife.

She rolls her eyes. “Only if all the safe pairs of hands had them tied behind their backs.”

I snort and take the envelope. The paper inside is familiar, and the note’s written in braille. I gesture at Edward to turn around. He obliges me by offering his back, and I prop the note on it to run my fingers over the page, frowning in concentration. “This never gets any easier, does it?” I remark. “Hmm, this doesn’t make a jot of sense. ‘Meet me your hunch.’” I look up. “Is he commenting on my posture? Do you think Stan is as good at braille as he thinks he is?”

Rowena laughs and hands me another paper with a typed message on it. I read it and sigh.

This is the place where I realised I was in love with you, but you never knew. When you went to sixth form college, and I went to work in the record shop, I thought I’d lose you. But you never changed. I would walk to meet you for lunch, and we would sit in the sunshine, eating and laughing, and you were as interested in the shop as you were in your new life. And no matter how many new friends you gathered with your sweet nature, you never left me behind. How could I not fall in love with you, Raff? It was as natural as breathing.

“It’s college,” I say, my whole body turning warm at his lovely words. They bring back so many good memories. I trace my fingers over the typed words. “He’s never told me that before.” I shake my head. “I would never have left him behind.” I lookup at Rowena, who has tears in her eyes. “How could I? I’ve always needed him by my side to move forwards.” She sniffs and punches my arm. “Ouch! Is that affection?”

Edward hugs me. “Always, my boy. Always.”

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