Least Said (81 page)

Will
had
fallen
asleep,
curled
up
on
a
seat
with
someone’s
coat
over
him,
by
the
time
the
message
came
announcing
that
we
would
be
continuing
our
journey
very
shortly
and,
when
the
train
jerked
forward,
we
all
gave
a
muted
cheer
so
as
not
to
wake
him.

Night
had
fallen
when
we
emerged
from
the
tunnel.
The
only
difference
was
that
the
darkness
there
was
broken
up
by
twinkling
lights
from
the
houses
at
the
side
of
the
track,
where
people
were
busily
getting
on
with
their
lives.
Ours
had
stopped
for
a
brief
period
of
time
that
had
turned
strangers,
who
might
never
have
exchanged
so
much
as
a
word,
if
not
into
friends,
then
confidantes.

I
wanted
Jon
and
me
to
become
like
that
middle-aged
couple,
returning
from
visiting
our
grandchildren,
and
I
was
gripped
with
a
new
determination
to
make
sure
that
it
happened.

Gradually,
my
fellow
passengers
left
the
train
as
we
arrived
at
their
destinations.
We
exchanged
hugs
but,
strangely,
not
names,
because
we
knew
instinctively
we
would
never
meet
again.
As
the
middle-aged
lady
had
said,
‘Often
things
happen
for
reasons
which
at
the
time
make
little
sense.’

It
all
made
sense
to
me,
because
the
wise
words
that
followed
that
remark
had
been
the
final
wake-up
call
I
needed.
I
touched
the
mobile
phone
in
my
pocket,
certain
that
the
signal
would
now
be
restored,
but
accepting
that
leaving
messages
for
Jon
was
never
going
to
work.
To
convince
him
of
my
love
and
commitment
I
was
going
to
have
to
look
into
his
eyes,
and
if
he
was
to
convince
me
that
our
marriage
really
was
over
he
was
going
to
have
to
look
into
mine
when
he
said
the
words.
I
was
as
confident
as
I
could
possibly
be
that
he
wouldn’t
be
able
to
do
it.

Will
woke
just
as
Brankstone
station
loomed,
saving
me
the
problem
of
carrying
him,
along
with
all
the
bags.
The
platform
was
deserted
after
the
train
pulled
out
and
I
was
hoping
there
would
be
a
taxi
waiting
outside,
when
Will
suddenly
pulled
his
hand
from
mine
and
sprinted
away.

‘Will,’
I
shouted,
mindful
of the
edge
of
the
platform
and
the
electrified
rails
that
lay
beyond.
‘Come
back
here
right
now.’

‘It’s
Daddy,’
he
cried
joyfully,
still
running.

My
heart
leapt
almost
out
of
my
chest.
I
looked
ahead
hopefully,
but
there
was
no
one
to
be
seen,
not
even
a
member
of
the
station
staff
was
visible
to
me.
Then
I
noticed
that
Will
was
running
towards
the
steps
leading
up
to
the
high
bridge
that
spanned
the
tracks.

I
looked
up,
and
there
he
was,
a
lone
figure
standing
in
the
centre
looking
down.
I
gazed
up
at
him
for
what
seemed
like
the
longest
time
and
he
looked
back
at
me.
I
couldn’t
see
his
expression
because
his
face
was
in
shadow,
but
he
was
there
and
that
was
all
I
needed
to
know.

He
moved
first,
but
I
was
a
close
second,
he
scooped
Will
up
into
his
arms
as
he
hurried
down
the
steps
towards
me
and
we
met
at
the
bottom.
I
dropped
the
bags
and
coats
onto
the
platform
and
threw
myself
at
him
and
was
immediately
pulled
into
a
one-armed
hug.
Will
in
his
other
arm
made
the
circle
complete
with
his
little
arm
tight
around
my
neck.

We
might
have
stood
like
that
forever
if
Will
hadn’t
suddenly
demanded,
‘Did
you
know
the
train
runned
out
of
petrol,
Daddy?’

‘No,
I
didn’t,
son.
For
quite
a
long
time
no
one
seemed
to
know
what
had
happened
and
I
was
very
worried
about
the
two
of
you.’
Jon
was
talking
to
Will,
but
that
it
was
for
my
benefit
was
proved
when
he
added,
‘I
rang
Tina
for
the
train
time
and
came
to
meet
you
both
to
tell
you
I
can’t
let
you
go,
either
of
you.
I
came
to
tell
you
that
if
you
can’t
have
my
children
we
will
adopt
or
we
will
foster.
I
will
do
anything
you
ask
to
give
you
the
family
you
deserve.