Double Cross by Keith Finney

Author:Keith Finney [Finney, Keith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter twelve

Ghosts

‘Are you still pondering about Alison, or is something else bothering you? I know that look. Come on, what is it?’

Lyn hesitated. ‘No. Believe it or not, I was pondering all the bad habits I’ll have to put up with once we’re married.’

Ant let out a throaty laugh as, for once, the gearbox of the Land Rover did as it was told. ‘I take it you don’t just mean mine, although I can’t think of any.’

His fiance returned a look that could not be mistaken for agreement. ‘Of course, I mean yours. Saying none come to mind rather proves my point. Well, what you see is what you get.’

The exchange fell into a few seconds of silence before both began laughing. Lyn knew the spell of light-heartedness couldn’t put off something she’d been meaning to raise since they’d last seen his parents. To her surprise, Ant pre-empted the subject.

‘Mum and dad gave me a shock when they talked about stepping away from the business side of things. What do you think about their decision?’

She turned her head to the left to take in the glorious sea of yellow swaying gently in a light breeze. The distraction also gave Lyn time to frame her answer. ‘I love your parents too much to have said anything. But I’m not sure I’m ready to give up my teaching career. I worked so hard to get this headship, and—’

‘I get it.’ He glanced across to Lyn, whose eye line remained fixed on the endless carpet of iridescent yellow that stretched to the horizon. Ant pressed on. ‘What are you saying?’

Still, she avoided eye contact. ‘I’m not saying anything, except it was a shock to me, too. Anyway, you’re the one who brought the subject up. One thing’s for sure. Your parent’s thoughts on the matter raise some questions.’

‘You mean about us getting married?’

It’s not fair, him putting me in a corner like this, thought Lyn.

The Land Rover picked up on the mood, as it reverted to type and played up again.

‘Bother’, shouted Ant as he fought with the clutch.

‘What?’ said Lyn as she left the peaceful landscape behind and turned her full attention to her angry companion.

‘No, sorry, I—’

‘Will you please stop saying you’re sorry?’

Ant took his eyes off the narrow road, deep in thought.

‘Watch out. You’ll have us in the ditch. Can’t we discuss this later? We have more important stuff to be getting on with, rather than—’

Straight away, she realised her words were likely to be misunderstood. Confirmation soon came.

‘Than talking about whether we get married.’

Ant’s outburst confused Lyn. Why am I not jumping up and down at him saying that? ‘Don’t be so stupid.’

‘Am I being stupid, or saying it to you?’

Say something before things get out of hand, thought Lyn. Except she couldn’t form the words.

Ant subconsciously slowed the Land Rover as he took in the magnitude of what had just happened. ‘Then you are having second thoughts?’

‘What?’ shouted Lyn, surprised that she felt a mixture of anger and relief.

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