Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Emma

Loosestrife where they'd gone on holiday; the kinds of meals they'd shared. As Emma retrieves these small isolated memories, jigsaw pieces of their life together, she finds comfort in examining the disparate fragments. Taken individually, each tiny part makes sense to her in a way that the huge truth of Will's infidelity doesn't.

She looks at the woman rowing opposite her and thinks about how much she underestimated Betty when they first met. She recalls the interview when she spoke in clichés– and she smiles slightly; perhaps Les picked her for the job.

So, she keeps answering Betty's questions. She doesn't think these enquiries about Will are magically turning a key, but maybe they are oiling a lock.

As they approach the boathouse, Emma leans across to her friend. ‘I don't make you nervous, do I, Betty? Not now, surely?'

‘No,' Betty tells her, ‘I don't think you ever really did, love, but sometimes you can be very reserved, and I'm not always good with silences.'

‘What does Les say?' Emma suddenly wants to know.

‘Oh, you know Les…' Betty pauses for a moment. ‘He says, "still waters run deep".'

They look at each other and both start to laugh until the boat rocks beneath them.