Page 88 of Just Like That

‘Can I…?’

‘Can you ever.’ Seth’s face lights up like the Hogmanay fireworks. ‘What are you… doing here? Were you just passing?’ His expression makes it clear he sincerely hopes not.

Alison looks to me and I nod. This is her story to tell.

‘Yesterday evening I got quite the surprise,’ she says in her lovely soft Irish accent. ‘Jess reached out to me via Messenger and invited me for a drink.’

‘I think you mean I begged.’ I pull an exaggerated grimace.

‘Well, yes, but I wasn’t going to mention that.’ She beams at me and Seth is so stunned, he doesn’t know which of us to look at.

I giggle, delighted to see my brother all plucky again.

‘She told me how sorry she was,’ Alison continues. ‘And that the person I’d met was not the sister you know and love. We talked for some time, and as much as I was sceptical at first, I realised that Jess was being genuine. She couldn’t bear that she’d come between us, so here I am – if you’ll have me, of course.’

‘Of course, I’ll bloody… have you,’ Seth declares. ‘And I mean that… in both a relation-ship… and a naughty sense. Get over here.’

‘If I may be excused…’ I cringe and head off for a walk round the park to give them some space.

I want to spare myself the inevitable gag reflex that would come from witnessing my brother getting all slushy (and perhaps slightly frisky) with the woman he’s head over heels for. There’s also the fact that, right now, while my own heart feels shredded from losing Nick, I really don’t need a reminder of what I’ve lost. I’m doing my best not to focus on it and put all my energy into Seth, but it’s like this constant almost unbearable ache in my chest and my mind.

By the time I’ve done a lap, they’re more than reacquainted and Seth’s bursting with curiosity.

‘How did you know… where to find Alison?’ he asks me. ‘I don’t think I… told you much about her.’

‘Probably more that I didn’t invite you to.’ I wrinkle my nose remorsefully and Alison waves this away, helping me feel more at ease. ‘I basically put Jackson through a hard-line interrogation – in the nicest possible way. Got every piece of information he knew about her and the rest I pieced together online.’

‘Is that where he… went when he… “nipped out for some milk”… last night?’

‘Yes, I called him from the street. Asked him to make that excuse and meet me outside the flat. I didn’t want you overhearing a phone conversation in case things didn’t pan out or you got mad at me for interfering. I’d even brought the milk for him.’

‘Ha, that’s brilliant.’ Seth is thoroughly chuffed and entertained by the secret squirrel operation that went down to get his girlfriend back. ‘Sis, you have… more than redeemed… yourself. Thank you. Our next focus will be… on getting you a… kick-ass new job.’

‘Works for me.’ I grin at him and Alison, who, now I can look at them together in a positive light, make quite the cute couple. ‘Now, how about you try that walk you were talking about? We can flank you on either side.’

Alison and I help Seth out of his wheelchair and let go, leaving him in a wavering standing position. All my instincts are screaming at me to reach back out and steady him, but I fight them hard. It’s very clear that Seth wants to do this alone.

He tentatively puts one foot in front of the other, deep concentration etched on his face. It’s an action that most people take for granted. They don’t even need to think about it. But for Seth, who’s re-learning these most basic movements and actions, it’s an exhausting fight to achieve even the simplest of tasks.

‘Ah, you’re doing it!’ I practically squeal with excitement as he manages several more slow and unsteady steps, Alison and I staying close the whole time. ‘This is amazing, Seth.’

‘Jess, with the… greatest respect… will you shut up?’ he says through gritted teeth from the sheer effort of trying to remain upright. ‘You’re… putting me off.’

‘Sorry.’ I wince at being told off and Alison giggles at us.

‘I think I’m going to enjoy the dynamics between you two,’ she says. ‘Seems like great craic.’

‘We’re like ninety per cent… best buds, ten per cent… squabbl-ing toddlers.’ Seth rolls his eyes and Alison laughs harder.

‘Hey, how come she’s allowed to distract you?’ I complain.

‘You really want me… to answer that?’

‘Um, no.’ After his earlier suggestive comment, I most definitely don’t need to hear any more.

Seth takes a few more steps, then stops, panting hard from the effort. Alison and I step forward to hold him steady, and he seems happy enough to take this support while he’s resting.

‘You OK?’ Alison asks him after a couple more goes. ‘You seem like you’re getting tired.’

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