smallhobbit

“I had a message from one of my cousins.  One of my aunts has died, and he’s suggested coming up for the funeral.  He thinks it might be a good way to start healing the rift with my family,” Lucas replied.

“What do you think?”

“I suppose it can’t hurt.  My cousin suggests arriving in time for the funeral and then staying over and leaving sometime the next day.  He’ll sort out somewhere for me to stay.”

“Not with your parents?”

Lucas shrugged.  “Maybe.  Andy will sound them out and if not, he’ll find somewhere for me.  It doesn’t seem a bad idea, it’s just…”

“You don’t want two days of being stuck inside your head.”

“You put it so crudely, but yes.”

“Why don’t I drive you up and drop you off.  You can say a mate was coming that way and gave you a lift.  I’ll book myself into a Premier Inn and spend the time exploring a bit, and then you can call me to pick you up the next day.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Of course.  I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”

***

The day of the funeral, Adam dropped Lucas off as arranged.  He then continued his journey, stopping to enjoy a walk in the autumnal countryside, before checking in at the hotel.  He was just deciding whether to eat in the attached restaurant or find somewhere else when his phone rang.

“Can you come and get me?” Lucas said as soon as he answered.

“Yes, of course.  Where are you?”

“Morecambe.”

“What are you doing there?”

“I walked out and jumped on the first bus I saw.  It took me to Morecambe.”

“Okay, I’ll come and find you.”

Adam hurried back out of the hotel and drove to Morecambe.  He parked and headed for where Lucas had said he’d be.  He soon spotted a huddled figure sitting on a bench overlooking the sea.

“Hi!  How are you?” Adam asked.  Then he saw Lucas was holding one hand in the other.  “What have you done to your hand?”

“I hit a wall.”

“Right.  It’ll need cleaning, or it’ll get infected.  Come back to the car and I’ll wash it and put a dressing on.  Then we can get some fish and chips.”

“Not hungry.”

“I am.  You phoned just as I was about to get something to eat.  And you will be as soon as you smell my chips.”

“Yeah, I suppose so.”  Lucas gave a heartfelt sigh.  “Okay then.  Just don’t ask me anything.”

Later, when they’d eaten their fish and chips, Adam drove them back to the hotel. 

The following morning, once Lucas had had a shower, Adam replaced the dressing on his hand.  “Your hand is no way near as bad as I thought,” he said.  “It’s healing already.”

“At least something is.”

“Do you want to tell me about it yet?”

“I’ll tell you on the way home.”

“That bad?”

“Worse.”