Page 3 of Love Is: Two Bodies One Soul

ChapterOne

Nearly six sears on.London – October 2016

The numbertwenty-four bus approaching Trafalgar Square was crowded with people who didn’t seem to want to move out of the way for Owen. It was like he’d become invisible.

‘Excuse me. Would you mind if I …? Please, I’m getting off at the next stop.’ At last, he reached the exit and hung on to the metal frame, while scrolling the contacts on his phone. He pressed Margaret’s number as the bus stopped and, without looking, jumped out into the pouring rain, his worn-out trainers landing in an oily puddle. Cold water seeped between his toes.

‘Margaret? Are you there?’

‘You’re late, Owen.’

‘I know. That’s why I’m phoning. I’m sorry, I?’

‘I don’t care that you’re sorry. I’ve been waiting ten minutes already?’

‘I’m not far away.’ He searched for a gap in the traffic, wiped the rain from his forehead, and pressed the phone hard to his ear again. ‘Margaret? Are you still there? Did you hear me?’

A grunt confirmed she had.

‘I’m at Trafalgar Square. Only minutes away from you.’ The rumble of a passing brewery lorry filled his ears. ‘Sorry Margaret. Did you say something? It’s hell out here today, what with the rain and the traffic.’

‘I told you—’ The lorry’s brakes squealed, drowning the rest of her words.

Owen transferred the phone to his other ear. ‘Sorry Margaret, I missed that. What did you say?’ He jumped behind the lorry. It moved off, drenching his jeans in spray from the rear wheels.

‘Aw, shit!’ He shook off the water before realising Margaret probably thought he’d sworn at her. He lifted the phone to his ear again. ‘Sorry, Margaret? Are you still there? I wasn’t swearing at you.’ He ran into the road. ‘Margaret? Did you hear me?’

Brakes on a taxi shrieked. A driver yelled, ‘You got a bleeding death wish?’

Margaret said something.

Owen said, ‘Sorry?’ Mouthed an apology at the angry cabbie, and sped to safety on the other side of the road. Margaret’s voice pierced his eardrum as he reached the kerb.

‘I’m leaving now,’ she said

‘No. Please, Margaret, please, don’t go. I’ll be there soon. I promise.’ It was hard to breathe and speak at the same time. His chest seemed on the verge of exploding. ‘I’m only asking you to wait for a few more minutes. Please! For Grist’s sake, Margaret, you’ve got nothing to lose.’

‘Ha!’ Nothing to lose! Is that what you think? My time is precious, Owen.’

‘I know, I know.’

‘Do you? Do you really? You don’t act like you do. I have things to do, people to see even if you haven’t. Besides, this meeting is pointless. I shouldn’t have agreed to it since I’d already decided.’

‘I don’t understand, what have you decided?’

She sighed impatiently. ‘You know, Owen, for someone who’s supposed to be so super-intelligent, you can be remarkably stupid at times.’

He ignored the insult; his ex-wife had said worse in the past. ‘Margaret, just for once, please be reasonable.’

‘I was being reasonable. I agreed to the meeting, didn’t I? It’s you who couldn’t be bothered to get here on time. So now, it’s too late. I am going.’

‘FUCKING NO! You can’t.’

A passing stranger jerked away from him.

‘Don’t you shout at me, Owen Kingsley!’

Owen cupped his hands around the phone, hunching over it, and continued more quietly. ‘Margaret, please, please … listen to me. We’ve got to sort this out once and for all. I’m sorry I shouted, sorry I swore, I’m sorry I’m late but please don’t go. It’s been months since I’ve seen Emi. I miss her.’

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