Second Chance - Jane Green [36]
If she belongs anywhere at all, if Holly has a home anywhere in the world, this is where it is.
‘I thought I saw you at the service, and I had a feeling I might find you up here.’ Will stands in the doorway with a huge grin, then holds out his arms for Holly to run into.
‘Oh Will,’ Holly says, leaning her head on his shoulder as she squeezes him tight. ‘Look how grown-up you’ve become! I can’t believe it! It’s so good to see you, and you look just like Tom! Look at you – you’re a long-haired version of Tom. Oh God, Will,’ she feels her eyes well up, ‘it’s so awful. I’m so, so sorry.’
‘I know,’ Will says, rubbing her back. ‘I still feel a bit numb, really, and it’s so completely bizarre seeing all of Tom’s old friends here, most of whom I haven’t seen for years.’
They disengage and both move towards the window seat, grinning at each other.
‘You look great,’ Will says. ‘You’ve improved with age.’
‘Oh shut up,’ Holly says, blushing ever so slightly. ‘And I don’t look great. Look at this grey hair and these lines.’ She raises her eyebrows to create a series of mounds on her forehead.
‘Well, okay, you don’t look so great when you do that but, seriously, it’s so good to see you. What happened to you? You got married, we all came to the wedding, had a couple of Christmas cards, and then you dropped off the face of the earth.’
‘I know. I can’t believe I lost touch. I suppose life just got in the way. Husband, children, work.’
‘Ah yes. Those things that normal people do. I can’t say I have much experience of them.’
‘No? Why? Are you still the reprobate son? Have you been trapped in time somewhere around 1989?’ Holly laughs.
‘According to my parents the answer would be yes.’ Will smirks. ‘I just don’t think I’m the settling-down type.’
‘What? No devoted wife and six children, then?’
‘Hardly. I’m something of a serial monogamist. Thus far I’ve been accused, several times, of being a commitaphobe, but I think I just haven’t met anyone I’ve wanted to commit to.’
‘So how old are you now? Thirty-five?’
‘Yup. Exactly.’
Holly shrugs. ‘You have plenty of time. I got married in my twenties and frankly I think it was probably too young. Not that it was a mistake or anything, I’m incredibly happy…’ She falters slightly, wondering why she is coming out with a lie such as this and to Will of all people, but she feels safer in the lie. ‘I think it ought to be illegal to be married before thirty.’
‘Because?’
‘Because you change so much in your thirties, how can you possibly predict whether you’ll grow together or apart?’
‘So,’ Will studies her face for a second, ‘have you and… is it Marcus?’ Holly nods. ‘Have you grown together or apart?’
‘Oh God, Will! Isn’t this a bit heavy for Tom’s memorial service?’ Holly won’t answer the question. Can’t answer the question. Doesn’t want to even think about what the answer is going to be.
‘Enough about me,’ she says instead. ‘What about work? Are you hugely successful at something? A millionaire with gorgeous models hanging off his arm?’
Will laughs. ‘Hardly. Well, I have had a few gorgeous models, and I’m relatively good at what I do when I do it.’
‘What is it?’
‘I’m a carpenter, I suppose. Or cabinetmaker. I mean, I do everything, but I basically do it to fund travelling. I try to do six months here to make enough money to spend six months travelling and living abroad.’
‘Wow!’ Holly raises her eyebrows. ‘You really are a commitaphobe.’
‘Oh don’t you start.’ He grins. ‘You mean because I haven’t settled down with a bachelor pad and a pension?’
‘Well, isn’t it opting out of real life a bit?’ Holly can only say this because it’s Will. Anyone else and she’d never dare say these things. ‘I mean, I could understand you doing this at twenty-five, but thirty-five?’
Will laughs. ‘I’m living the life that makes me happy, and wouldn’t you say that’s the most important thing of all? I can honestly say I love my life, and how many people do you know who can say that?’ There’s a pause and he grins again. ‘Can you?’
‘I have wonderful