Page 43 of Together Again at the Cornish Country Hospital

‘Too late for that.’ His expression was serious for a moment, but then he smiled again. ‘So tell me Miss Spencer, how many rectal exams did you offer to the gutter press today?’

‘Just the one.’ She shrugged, returning his smile, not wanting to talk about the journalists any more. They were supposed to be trying to keep the rest of the world out. ‘Can I do anything to help you with dinner?’

‘No, I’m just about to put it in and I’ve sorted out a couple of films for tonight too, if you’re up for it?’

‘Sounds perfect. What are we watching?’ It was hard to take her eyes off his face and she saw the upturn of his mouth, as he fought to keep a straight face.

‘World War Z, followed byMonsters University, just like the good old days. We don’t want you getting too scared!’

‘You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?’ She pretended to punch him on the arm, and he pulled her towards him.

‘You don’t forget taking your girlfriend to see the latest Brad Pitt movie and finding yourself going straight from that into the other screen, with mostly six-year-olds in the audience.’ They were face to face as he spoke and it was hard not to lose her train of thought, but she’d never forget that day either.

‘Something about the zombies in that film really freaked me out, especially when that guy a few rows behind started making weird noises, like he was turning into one. I had to watchMonsters Universityto make it feel like everything was right with the world again. And don’t pretend you didn’t jump like mad when Brad Pitt was stuck in that lab with the zombies. I reckon you were every bit as keen to watchMonsters Universityafterwards to make everything right in your world again too.’

‘Everything was always right in my world as long as I was with you.’

‘You really aren’t saving any of that cheese for the pasta, are you?’ Her tone was teasing, but it had to be. As much as she wanted things to work out between them, she couldn’t forget that Isla had been right about something else too and sometimes even love wasn’t enough.

24

Lijah had pulled out all the stops to organise the kind of dance Albert had longed to recreate. It had been easy to understand why his new friend wanted to relive those special times from his youth, nights that seemed golden and perfect in a way he might never have appreciated at the time. It was the same way Lijah felt about the years he’d spent with Amy. He’d always known how special she was, but it had taken him seeing a whole other side of life to truly appreciate how genuine, extraordinary and authentically herself Amy truly was. She didn’t spend all her time trying to fit an arbitrary mould of ‘perfection’ like so many people he met. They ended up looking like carbon copies of one another, their personalities seeming to disappear with the last vestiges of originality. Amy wasn’t like that, she never had been, and she’d never expected him to change either. She hadn’t tried to talk him out of going to London, or attempted to curtail his plans in anyway. She loved him for who he was, even when that had torn them apart, and it had taken him a long time to realise just how amazing that made her. People said first love had a power unlike any other, so it was easy for him to understand why Albert wanted to be back in that moment too, even if it was just for one night.

Lijah’s pursuit of his dreams might always have been about the music rather than the money, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t thought about what success might bring him in that respect. It turned out the old cliché about it not buying you happiness was true, but it did make life easier, and it could do a lot of good if you let it. Not having to worry about money certainly made things easier when it came to planning events like this. He’d hired the hall, caterers and a band to recreate as closely as possible the dances of Albert’s youth. Amy had spoken to Aidan and Caroline about inviting other users of the befriending service, as well as some other older residents in the Three Ports area who might enjoy the dance. There was no cost, but any donations they chose to make would be ploughed back into future events. Whatever the dance raised, Lijah planned to make a very big donation, to ensure that this wouldn’t end up being a one-off event. He didn’t know whether he’d still be around for the next one, because the tour promoters and the fans who’d bought tickets couldn’t be held off forever, not if he wanted a career to go back to. All he knew for certain was that he didn’t want to leave Amy behind this time. But any fool could see she was becoming even more reluctant to enter his world, and he understood that too, because a big piece of him didn’t want to be a part of it either. That was a problem he hadn’t found a solution to yet, but he wasn’t going to give up until he got there. In the meantime, being able to do something like this for Albert made it feel like all of the downsides of that life were almost worthwhile.

‘Looks like our boy’s having fun.’ Lijah gestured towards where Albert was dancing with a lady called Glenda, who Caroline had introduced him to.

‘I know, I almost feel like I’m Albie’s mum at the school disco, spying on him through the window.’ Amy grinned. ‘I think I’ll start flagging before he does though, I swear when the band started playing it was like fifty years had been taken off him.’

‘Music can do amazing things.’ Lijah was counting on it. The songs for his next album were finally starting to take shape and almost all of them had been inspired by his return to Port Kara, especially the rekindling of his relationship with Amy. He just hoped that when she eventually heard them, any doubts she might still have would finally disappear and she’d believe how much she meant to him, because words alone didn’t seem to be enough.

‘Oh my goodness it’s Gwen, I’m so pleased she’s made it.’ Amy’s smile lit up her whole face, and Lijah knew just how worried she’d been about her friend. Gwen was one of those people who got under your skin and, even though Lijah hadn’t known her long, he’d been delighted to hear that her health scare hadn’t been as serious as everyone had feared. She looked on good form today and she was accompanied by an elegant-looking woman with ice-blonde hair piled on top of her head, and a regal air that commanded attention. She must have been ten years older than Gwen, but she strode into the room as if she owned it.

‘This is quite the event you two have organised.’ Gwen kissed them both on the cheek when she reached them.

‘It’s more down to Lijah than me.’ Amy’s tone was insistent, but before he could protest, Gwen introduced her friend.

‘This is Camilla, we met when she was a patient at the hospital, but she’s more than ready to go dancing again now.’ Gwen smiled. ‘And this is Amy, one of the nurses in A&E, and Lijah, who volunteers with the befriending service and who organised the dance.’

‘Your outfit is amazing.’ Amy smiled at Camilla, who seemed to stand even taller in response to the praise.

‘Thank you. It’s really nice to have an excuse to dress up. The only one who takes me out these days is my horse.’ Camilla had a cut-glass accent and a surprisingly throaty laugh that hinted at a mischievous nature not far below the surface.

‘Great to meet you, Camilla.’ Lijah loved the fact that Gwen’s introduction had been so simple. He was just Lijah, who volunteered with the befriending service and organised events like this.

‘You too and, please, my friends call me Cami. I keep telling Gwen that, but she insists on introducing me as Camilla, like I’m the queen herself!’

‘Cami it is then.’ Lijah smiled and then suddenly a voice cut through the air.

‘Millie?’ Albert said her name like a question as he crossed the room towards them, but his face displayed certainty as she whirled around to look at him.

‘Albie, is that really you?’ Her expression softened when he nodded and Lijah’s fingers curled around Amy’s as she reached for his hand. Camilla and Albert must have changed so much over the years, but they’d recognised each other instantly.

‘I thought all your friends called you Cami?’ Gwen gave her a questioning look.

‘They do now, but it used to be Millie when I was younger…’ She exchanged a glance with Albert. ‘Someone I loved disappeared and hearing the name Millie made me sad, because he was the one who first shortened my name that way. So, I became Cami instead.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Albert’s apology was so simple and so brief, but it seemed to be enough. Within moments he and Cami were back on the dance floor together, just like they’d been more than six decades earlier. For all Lijah knew, Cami might be married with a hoard of children and grandchildren, but in that moment it didn’t matter, because when she was with Albert, it was clear they were the same young couple who’d been completely besotted with one another all those years before. Lijah found himself hoping there wasn’t anyone waiting for Cami back home, because even if that meant that she and Albert had missed out on something special, at least they might now have a second chance. He didn’t even try to deny that part of the reason he wanted that for them so much, was because he desperately wanted it for him and Amy too. He needed to believe no matter how much time had passed, or how different people’s lives had been in their time apart, none of that was important once they found each other again.

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