Page 79 of Falling for You
It only took two hours on the train, and as I stared out of the window and watched the world around me slowly get less grey, I felt the chains around my chest loosen too. At one point, I felt so far away from my problems that I nearly let myself message Annie. This time last week, we were about to have our first date together. Well, first if you don’t count the ten minutes of chat at the Halloween ball.
I can’t message her now. I mean, what would I say? Sorry I sent such a weird message; I thought my mom was in danger so I didn’t really have any working brain cells to send you a proper message, and then I spent the rest of the week either yelling at my brother or preparing to sell my organs if it meant I could go back home and make sure she’s okay?
Annie was so fun and carefree last week, and so was I. That Nate was fun. Nobody wants to hang out with this Nate. Even I don’t want to hang out with him.
I sigh, taking another sip of the Guinness.
My train arrived at midday, and I’ve spent the afternoon wandering around the cobbled streets and going into quaint, tiny tea rooms and along paths by flowing rivers.The Cotswolds is not too dissimilar to London, but it’s like a version of London with a layer pulled back. Everyone walks a bit slower and smiles at each other. The bartender at this pub asked how I was and seemed quite happy to chat to me when he picked up my New York accent, and even gave me tips on what to see in the area. By this point, it was only a few hours until my train back to London, but I still lapped it all up. Maybe I’ll come here again, for a proper weekend.
I took a crossword from the bar and set myself up by the fire, being careful not to disturb the black Lab, whose name I learnt was Bessie, and I’ve been sat here ever since. It feels quite easy to hide from all your problems when you’re sitting in a place like this, where the only thing you have to think about is what six down is, nine letters: ARCHETYPE.
I take out my phone and send a picture to Mom, being sure to capture the roaring fire in the background and the framed black and white photo of the local cricket team, all proudly resting on one knee and smiling up at the camera. She’d love it here. I’ll bring her one day.
As I click ‘send’, I notice the weather app on the home screen and I start, quickly getting to my feet.
Shit. I’d forgotten about the snow.
‘Sorry,’ I say to the bartender. ‘It says it’s meant to snow tonight, is that right?’
He blinks at me as we both silently question why I’m asking him, as if he’s the weatherman.
‘Think so,’ he says after a pause. ‘Are you staying here tonight?’
‘No,’ I say. ‘I’m going back to London.’
‘How?’
‘By train.’
He picks up a glass and starts cleaning it with a rag, looking doubtful. ‘Good luck, fella.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Annie
I madly start throwing clothes into my open suitcase, the flurry of white specks taunting me in my peripheral vision from my bedroom window, only visible under the streetlights thanks to the 5 p.m. darkness. I’d got totally caught up in an outfit I was creating. We had another commission come through this week, this time for a toad. I found an incredible green, glittery fabric which looks wet to touch when the light bounces off it, and I spent all afternoon sketching out different silhouettes. Well, up until about five minutes ago, when I looked up and realised that it wasactually snowingand I’d have to leave Londonimmediatelyin order to get a train before they are all inevitably cancelled as our entire civilisation collapses like it does every time we get any more than four specks of snow.
Like, it’s not even December yet! Why is it snowing?
I hear a knock on the door. ‘Yup?’ I call out.
I need to pack a phone charger, laptop and laptop charger just in case I get stuck there because of the snow (seems ridiculous, but entirely possible). In which case, how many jumpers should I bring? Is five excessive?
‘Hey, have you got a minute?’ My head snaps up to seeTanya and Penny perched on my bed. I stare at them. Their heads are slightly low on their shoulders, an identical look of worry painted on both their faces.
‘Yeah?’ I say. ‘What is it?’
‘Maybe sit down,’ Tanya says and I immediately drop into my desk chair, my heart jumping around my body.
‘What’s going on? You’re scaring me. Who’s dying?’ I wait for Penny to laugh and call me a drama queen, and when she doesn’t, I feel like I might be sick. ‘Oh my God, it’s serious, isn’t it? What? Just tell me.’
‘I’m moving in with Mike.’ Penny blurts it out, as if all the words have collected in her mouth and have fallen out in one go.
I pause, a jumble of confused feelings pushing their way through my body. ‘Congratulations!’ I say, getting up and hugging her. ‘That’s great, but … oh, but …’ I trail off as realisation dawns on me. ‘You’re moving in with Mike? So, you’re … you’re moving out?’
Penny nods and out of nowhere I feel a lump in my throat.
Oh my God, I can’t cry. This is a huge deal for Penny. It’s exciting. I need to be excited.
