Page 34 of The Best of Times

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Aron roared with laughter. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“Have you spoken to Dad?”

Aron nodded.

“And?”

“At first he suggested book tokens,” Aron replied. “Then he had the bright idea of an engraved pen.”

Paul nodded. “Not a bad idea. Hang on, he told me he had to wait at your granny’s for a Harrods delivery today. I presumed he meant the hampers.”

“He did,” Aron replied. “He convinced her to have both. He’s finally worked out how to deal with my grandmother.”

“Give her everything?”

“Precisely.”

Paul frowned at him. “Are you okay?”

Aron straightened up. “Yeah why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t know. You seem preoccupied.”

Aron had no intention of disclosing who had contacted him earlier that day. If the tiniest peep found its way to Granny, shewould announce his homecoming and have a house purchased in record time.

“It’s a bit mad, isn’t it? I think I’d rather organise a deep clean of the New York Public Library than this wedding. It would be far less hassle.”

“Are you enjoying it?”

Aron didn’t need to look up to know that Paul would be staring hard at him.

“It was always my dream to work there. Ever since I watchedGhostbusters.”

Paul grinned. “And it’s working out? Sometimes dreams don’t always feel like you’d think they would.”

That sounded like it came from experience.

“I’m perfectly happy, thanks. How about you? Still content to be a rolling stone?”

Paul stretched. “Who knows? I suppose I’ll always be a nomad at heart.”

“Where are you based now?”

“Sydney.”

Of course, Aron knew that already. That being said, he had no intention of dragging up Paul’s fleeing to the farthest city from Queens Crescent he could find without becoming a settler on Mars.

“Never been,” he replied with a sniff.

“You should.”

“Maybe one day. You’ve been there as long as I’ve been in New York. You must like it then?”

Paul glanced at the outside world again. “I suppose I must.”

Why did it feel like a stalemate when they weren’t even arguing? Paul got up and walked over to the window.

“Does the sun ever come out in London these days?”

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