Page 17 of The Christmas Express
‘I don’t. You’re right. But . . . Please just think about it a little longer.’
‘I can think about it over the next five hours on my flight to Vancouver.’
I glance at the group behind me, and then back at Ember, impatient, but waiting to hear what I have to say, which is a good sign, yes?
I cling to that and throw out the only suggestion that comes to mind. ‘Why don’t you come with us? Travel to Vancouver with us. Turns out we’re going by sleeper train.’
‘How long will that take?’
I consider lying, but don’t. ‘Four days.’
Ember chuckles. ‘Maybe I’ll see you in Vancouver, if I’m still there.’
‘Please?’ I move towards her.
‘Cali . . .’
I ignore Luke trying to get my attention behind me. ‘Just take a pause, come on the train with us. If you still want to see Bryn by the end of the journey, we promise we won’t stand in your way.’ Weird gamble I’ve just made on the situation, but needs must.
Ember looks at us all, which is, frankly, brave. I don’t think I want to know what their faces are all saying right now. ‘Why would I do that? I could go right there and be with Bryn tonight.’
‘I know, but . . .’ I don’t know what to say. She’s right. What’s in it for her? ‘Ember?’
She looks me in the eye and I can tell she knows what I’m thinking by the way her head tilts to the side. ‘Please don’t say anything to Bryn. I only told you so that you wouldn’t go and blab to her that I was on the plane. You know that.’
‘I have to tell her.’ My tummy squirms, but despite everything, Bryn is where my loyalty has to lie. ‘I don’t have a choice. Unless . . .’
Ember narrows her eyes at me, and she has every right to because this is such a dick move I’m about to pull, but it’s the only thing I can think of.
‘If you come with us, I’ll hold off telling her.’
Behind me, the carousel squeaks, suitcases thud to the floor, chatter drifts in and out, Joe’s tummy rumbles. Eventually Ember clarifies through a sigh, ‘You won’t tell her?’
I shrug my shoulders. ‘I can only say I won’t tell her yet. We’ll just have to see how things play out.’
Holding eye contact is so uncomfortable, but I don’t back down, and after what feels like a hundred and fifty years, Ember mutters, ‘When does the train leave?’
‘First thing in the morning. Bryn’s organised it all, including booking the five of us into a hotel for the night here in Toronto. I’m sure we could get you a room too.’
‘We could chip in for your ticket,’ Joe offers.
‘You are still such an idiot.’ Joss kicks him with her foot.
‘I don’t need you to do that, I can sort myself out.’
Ember’s words come out flat, emotionless. She must be so mad at me. The yuck feeling in my stomach is still there, but also, thank gawd for that. ‘You’ll come with us?’
‘Yep.’ Ember waits while I scribble down the details of the train, from what little Bryn has given to us, then says, ‘I have to go and cancel my flight. I’ll see you at the train station in the morning.’
‘Shall I give you details of the hotel we’re going to?’ I call after her.
‘No thanks.’
‘See you tomorrow, then?’
‘I guess so.’
She walks away and I turn back to the others. ‘A night in Toronto,’ I say, for lack of being able to come up with anything more creative. ‘Do we want to do something together?’
