‘Joe’s here, too?’ I shriek. This is so wonderful. I can’t believe it, I really can’t.
I didn’t want to admit it, but I’ve been a bit worried about this part of my journey. America wasn’t that scary, y’know? Because I knew people in LA, and there was an element of familiar,shared culture. I grew up onUStelly – we speak a common tongue, herbs/’erbs aside – and I had Isy if I really needed help. Thailand is so different, so loud, so foreign. I had no one to break in case of emergency. I didn’t want to admit how nervous I was about coming here.
But now Mark’s here and there will be someone to raise the alarm if I disappear without a trace.YAY.
We dancearound the room some more, giggling our heads off, before we finally have a sit down on the end of the bed. ‘So talk to me,’ I say, still struggling to believe it. ‘I don’t understand. I thought you were in Australia?’
‘Well, I was,’ he says,side-eyeing me carefully before continuing. ‘But there’s not much I can do while Steven’s still out of it in hospital. He’s had another couple of minorstrokes since the first major one, so they’re keeping him sedated. I’ve done nothing of use being over there these last few weeks, so Mum told me to get back to my life. I think she was getting sick of me.’ I look down and there is a silence before he continues. ‘But I didn’t want to go all the way back to theUKjust yet. I want to be nearby in case ... in case there isnews. So I thought I’dcome see you for a bit.’
‘So there’s ... the doctors ... they don’t think there’s much hope, then?’ I say slowly, looking away. Mark shakes his head. ‘But Alice, can we ...’
I clear my throat, standing up to interrupt the forthcoming speech about hospitals and Mum and Steven.
‘What about your work?’ I ask quickly. ‘Don’t they need you back by now?’ Mark is ahigh-up badass inthe City. They love him and he makes his company abutt-ton of money.
‘I’ve taken a sabbatical,’ he explains. ‘They said it was fine given ... everything that is going on. They’re keeping my job open for a couple of months, but I can return sooner if I want to. I’m going to see how things go here and how Mum copes. She’s still got Hannah with her, of course, so I think she’s probably fine.Things are just a bit in limbo while he’s still in intensive care. If we just knew either way ... I don’t know. I don’t know what I’ll do next. I might head back to England, or go back to Australia ...’
I give him a small nod, asnon-committal as possible.
‘You could always come with me,’ he drops casually as I stare out the window. ‘I would really like to ...’
I sigh. ‘Mark,don’t start,’ I interrupt again. ‘I just got here, I’m sojet-lagged and I just want to enjoy the fact that you’re actually here. I still can’t believe it. Where are you staying? Are you coming down to the islands with me?’
Mark’s had my itinerary with a list of places I’m going all along – in case the police needed to look for my body, obviously. I guess that’s how he knew where I would betoday. I still can’t believe he’s actually here right now, in my hotel.
He sighs, but leaves the Australia chat alone. I have a feeling he won’t let it be for very long though. I don’t know how many times I have to say that I’m not interested in seeing Mum or speaking to her. Not right now. I am not a cold person but I can’t just get over everything that happened between us.
‘Me and Joeare in a hostel round the corner,’ he says, smiling. ‘Can you believe how polluted this city is?’
‘Mark, that is racist,’ I say, outraged.
He snorts. ‘What are you talking about, Alice? Of course it’s not racist. It’s a fact.’
‘Oh,OK,’ I say, unsure. I suppose it does seem quite smoggy.
‘All I’m saying is,’ he says, still smiling, ‘I don’t think you should spend the whole weekhere. Bangkok is cool for a couple of days, but then you, me and Joe are heading down to the party islands for some full moon,full-tourist craziness. Let’s shake up Asia while we have time.’
I consider this. Maybesoul-searching can wait. ‘OK, I’m in.’
Wehigh-five.
