Candelo (28 page)

I shouldn't have told you
. He stares out at the mountains beyond.
I shouldn't have told you
.

We are silent again. I am trying to find the words. I know what they are. But I cannot find them.

Somewhere, in the distance, we hear the slam of a car door. And I know we do not have much time.

Do you think she knows?
I ask him, jerking my head back in the direction of the road.

He shakes his head, and then leans forward into his hands.
I tried to tell her
, he says.
I tried
, and as he speaks, I know, now, that Bernard is probably right.

I have to somehow let it go.

Across the park, there is a group of young boys. Sleeves rolled up to their elbows, they try to tackle each other, to throw each other to the ground.

I am watching them. They are so far away, I cannot tell whether it is a game or a fight. One breaks free and I watch as he runs, shouting out to the others, circling them, dodging them as they try to catch him and throw him to the ground.

A glint of blond hair. A checked shirt.

I close my eyes and they are no longer there.

Everything is okay
.

And I hear Vi's voice before I see her, making her way towards us, tiny, tottering in her high heels, with Mari right behind her, picnic basket in one hand.

Lunch
, she tells us, and as they spread the rug out, right there on the grass, I turn back for one moment, to the other side of the park, to where they were, the boys.

But there is nothing.

Just the trees and the autumn sky.

They have gone.

Time to eat
, Mari tells us.

And that is what we do.