A Quiet Kind of Thunder(67)

stefstef: i’m sure there’s a way. be positive. it was your idea!

rhysespieces: i’ll have a think.

stefstef: we’ll find a way.

rhysespieces: we will?

stefstef: we will.

Tuesday lunchtime

How about the Easter holidays? Rhys asks. I could go away for a couple of nights if I say I’m staying with my old Ives friends. I’ve done that before.

Possibly, I say, considering. I’m at Mum’s, though. So if I go away it will be more obvious.

That’s true. He makes a face. Damn.

Wednesday evening

stefstef: any more ideas?

rhysespieces: no ?

stefstef: ok, if we don’t think of something by the weekend maybe we can just ask Aled? is he good with stuff like this?

rhysespieces: yeah. but that’s a last resort. i really want to surprise him.

stefstef: MORE THINKING xxx

Friday

Mum calls just as I’m clipping the lead to Rita’s collar. My dog is panting happily, anticipating a long Friday evening walk. ‘Sorry,’ I whisper, kissing the side of her face before dropping the lead and answering the phone. ‘Hi, Mum.’

‘Hello, love,’ she says. ‘How are you?’

‘Fine.’ I sit back against the wall and Rita slumps to the floor with a huff of indignation. ‘How are you? How are Keir and Bell?’

‘That’s what I’m calling about, actually.’

‘What’s wrong?’ My heart is instantly pounding. I sit straight up away from the wall. If something happened to Bell . . . ‘What’s happened?’

‘Oh, nothing,’ Mum says quickly. ‘Nothing to worry about. Nothing immediate, anyway. I took Bell back to the dentist today to check her teeth after her fall at New Year.’

‘Right, OK,’ I say, still not ready to relax yet. ‘And?’

‘When we went last time, the dentist was concerned about one of Bell’s upper incisors and if it had been damaged by the impact. He said there was a possibility it would need to be removed, and now he’s confirmed that.’

‘OK,’ I say again. This doesn’t sound so bad. ‘So she’s having one of her teeth out?’

‘Yes, but as she’s so young it will need to be under general anaesthetic. I thought she might be excited, but the dentist scared her by making a stupid joke about drills. She’s already working herself up into a state about it. Thinks she’s going to wake up with no teeth.’ She laughs a little. ‘Anyway, the surgery is scheduled for March thirty-first. That’s the last Thursday of the Easter holidays.’

I still have no idea where she’s going with this. Rita lets out another loud huff. ‘Right.’

‘What I wanted to ask is if you’d mind reshaping our holiday plans slightly this year? As I said, Bell’s in a state already, so it might be a bit of a strain around here that day. What do you think about you going back to your dad’s slightly earlier? Say, Wednesday? And perhaps coming to stay with us a few days before the beginning of the holidays instead?’

I open my mouth to start complaining, then stop myself. ‘Have you spoken to Dad about it?’

‘Oh no, I thought you could speak to him in person yourself. If it’s not convenient for him – or you – that’s fine. But I thought I should ask.’

A slow grin has spread over my face. ‘No, that sounds fine. Totally fine.’

We talk for a little longer and then hang up. Rita gets to her feet and gives herself a shake, her collar jingling, but I don’t stand up. I open my messages and send a single text to Rhys: Steffi:

Bronze and Gold is a go.



BEST THINGS TO DO IN EDINBURGH (ACCORDING TO O GREAT AND MIGHTY GOOGLE)

CLIMB ARTHUR’S SEAT





VISIT EDINBURGH CASTLE


SHOP ON PRINCES STREET


GO ON A TOUR OF THE EDINBURGH VAULTS (NB: TOO SPOOKY FOR STEFFI?) DRINK TEA AT THE ELEPHANT HOUSE





VISIT THE CAMERA OBSCURA


WALK AROUND GREYFRIARS KIRKYARD


STROLL DOWN THE ROYAL MILE


HAVE A SICKENINGLY ROMANTIC TIME WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND





The plan, which at first had seemed like nothing but a dream, begins to take shape and then solidify over the next few days. Needless to say, I don’t tell Dad about the slight change of living arrangements over Easter. Instead, on the Wednesday, I will leave Mum’s house and go straight to the train station, where Rhys will be waiting. Mum will think I’m at Dad’s; Dad will think I’m at Mum’s. We’ll go to Edinburgh, spend a couple of days together and then surprise Aled on Friday. When we have met up with Aled, I’ll call home to let them know where I am, that I’m fine, that I’ve done something I – and they – never thought I’d be able to do. They’ll be too proud and surprised to be angry with me.

I think.

Cost is an issue, so we decide to get a Megabus from London to Edinburgh instead of flying or taking the train. It’ll take most of the day – over nine hours, in fact – but it’s only about ￡20 so it’s worth it. I know a nine-hour bus trip doesn’t sound great, but I’m so excited my stomach keeps swooping. Nine hours on a bus with Rhys. Him and me together, squashed up close, with no distractions, no other people. We can talk and kiss and cuddle. I can fall asleep on his shoulder. It’ll be unbelievably romantic and perfect.