Ann Cleeves: White Nights

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘The way it all turned out.’

For a moment they just stared. He wondered if this was how it would be in Biddista, that no one would speak to him again.

‘I was just telling Martin,’ Aggie said. ‘I didn’t know what had happened to Lawrence. Not for certain. You know what it’s like here, Jimmy. Sometimes there are things you don’t want to know. It doesn’t stop me blaming myself for what’s gone on since.’

There was a brief pause, then Martin got up to take their order. Suddenly things were ordinary again. Like a freeze-frame film running once more at normal speed. They could have been two tourists who’d dropped in for coffee.

‘Ingirid and her man are going to move back into Skoles,’ Aggie said. ‘Keep Kenny company for a while. She’s expecting a baby, due any time. It’ll be good to have another child in Biddista.’ Perez could tell she was thinking of her new grandchild too.

‘Shame Willy won’t be around to get them out in a boat.’

‘Maybe,’ she said. ‘But those old times weren’t so great.’ She smiled at him. ‘Get off home, Jimmy. A day like this, you’ll have better things to do. We don’t need you here.’

Fran slipped her arm into his. He felt the silky fabric of her sleeve against his bare skin. She turned and smiled at him.

‘Yes, come on home, Jimmy,’ she said. ‘We’ve got much better things to do.’