Page 46 of The Life Experiment
‘No, live every day like you’re lucky to be here?’
As Chris mulled over the question, he reached out and touched Fearne’s leaf. ‘Is there any other way to live?’
With that, he spun the leaf, sending it swirling as if it had a life of its own. Watching it, something inside Angus split open, but instead of the pain he expected, something else appeared.
Peace.
Purpose.
Clarity.
Life didn’t have to be a series of mind-numbing events if Angus didn’t want it to be. He had the means to create something amazing. Not only for himself, but for others too. After all, what was the point of having so much money if not to do good with it?
For years, Angus had spent his life in hiding, but maybe it was time to stop being scared. Maybe it was time to stop watching life slip by and actuallydosomething with it.
Turning to the double doors, Angus set off, ready to follow the instinct he’d spent years ignoring.
‘I didn’t mean to upset you,’ Chris called, stopping Angus before he could leave.
‘You didn’t. If anything, you woke me up.’
‘Did I? Well, I’ll make sure I tell Fearne that. Maybe she’ll reply this time.’
A look passed between the men. Angus willed himself to say something meaningful, something that would help, then he realised what he should do. Stepping out of the room, Angus closed the doors and left Chris to sit with thoughts of his wife in peace.
Back at reception, Britta looked up when she heard Angus approaching. ‘Back so soon,’ she said. ‘How can I help?’
‘Actually, Britta,’ he replied. ‘I think I might be able to help you.’
21Layla
‘I smell a little boy… Where is he… Where could my yummy snack be?’
Jayden’s muffled giggles rang out as Layla crawled across the floor of her parents’ living room, sniffing the air as if she were a dinosaur on the prowl. Grunting, she banged into her dad’s empty armchair.
‘I’ll find him soon and when I do, I’ll gobble him up,’ she added for good measure.
Layla could spy the top of Jayden’s back poking out from behind a sofa cushion but pretended otherwise. Even if she was new to the whole ‘being a present aunt’ thing, Layla knew that games had to last longer than thirty seconds.
As she sniffed under the sofa, Jayden’s giggles became hysterical.
‘My lovely lunch, come out, come out, wherever you are,’ she growled.
‘I don’t know where your lovely lunch is, but I know where my son’s is,’ Maya said, sweeping into the room with a swish of her colourful skirt. She set a plate containing a ham sandwich on the coffee table, then pried the sofa cushion from Jayden.
‘Mum, you’re ruining the game,’ Jayden protested. ‘Auntie Layla will eat me now she’s seen me!’
‘No, she won’t. Not now a bigger, tastier snack has entered the forest,’ Layla replied, pretending to bite Maya’s leg to prove her point.
Roaring with laughter, Jayden slid from the sofa. ‘Gobble her up so you’ve no room left for me,’ he instructed before tucking into his sandwich.
Pulling herself up from the floor, Layla flopped onto the sofa beside her sister. ‘I don’t know how you do it, Maya. Keeping up with a four-year-old is intense. I’m sweating harder than after any workout.’
Maya plucked at Layla’s arm. ‘Since when do you work out?’
‘You know what I mean. Raising Jayden and working at the salon? You’re a hero.’
‘I don’t know about that.’
