Текст книги "Ravages"

Автор книги: R.A. Padmos

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

exclusive rights. They can choose whatever photos they want and place them wherever they please.

We’re just asking everyone to donate whatever they can miss to a charity of their choice. We hope that

will be enough. “

“Clever.” Niko frowns in thought. “Pity some people have to make such a fuss about what in

the end is nothing more than two people liking each other enough to say a few words, sign a contract

and celebrate it with family and friends.”

“I hope the two of you get some peace and quiet after that. You sure deserve it. Going on

honeymoon?” Gabrysz asks.

“Gael offered the use of his family’s cottage in Spain, it’s got a private beach and all, but we

decided to get used to our new home. We would have to travel outside Europe to get any real privacy

and in the end, I just want to be with Dan.”

Gabrysz grins. “I bet.”

“Don’t tease the poor guy,” Niko laughs. “He’s getting as red in the face as Levee when he’s

having trouble with the ref. Oh, hi Dan. Your fella just told us about how you’re going to deal with the

press when you get married. Sounds like a sensible solution.”

Dan smiles, ruffles Steve’s hair, takes a seat and joins them. “I hate it that we can’t keep it as

private as we would prefer. But I’m not stupid enough to pretend that it isn’t what it is. At least this

way we have some say in the whole matter. But I would feel dirty getting any money out of it. Or for

anyone else earning even a penny because of what happened to Steve, for that matter. Wouldn’t be fair

on you guys, too.”

“How so?” Gabrysz asks.

“The first months when I was with Steve in the hospital day and night, you had to put up with

everything they were throwing at you. And it wasn’t all nice.”

Steve looks at Daniël, supporting him with a little nod and a smile.

Gabrysz shrugs. “Not all, no.”

“You know how creative the fans can be with their chants when they think a player has done

something they don’t agree with. The club is sacred and they make sure you’ll never forget it. But we

were pleasantly surprised, too,” Niko says, continuing on from Gabrysz’ words. “It took them less

than a week to make the first banner to support the two of you.”

Daniël nods. “I remember having seen the photos on the Internet, yes. Did me good. But still,

you can’t tell me everyone on the stands was being nice and polite about it.”

“But exactly when is there a match where everyone’s nice and polite? I bet it would be a boring

one, too.” Gabrysz gets up. “The gaffer’s getting even less smiley than usual. So I guess he wants us to

get some work done. You’re going to the gym, too, Steve?”

“Yeah, worked on my balance this morning with one of the guys from physio and this

afternoon it’s all about getting my leg muscles stronger.” Steve accepts Dan’s supporting hand as a

matter of fact. The time anyone even looked up because they’re touching each other for whatever

reason has long passed.

“Still no news about the result of the trial? Does it always take this long?” Gabrysz asks while

they walk to the gym.

“Perhaps it has to do with the the media attention?” Daniël shakes his head. “It’s not like I’ll

get what I want, is it? We’re happy as it is Steve didn’t have to testify again.”

“Nasty business that must have been, from what Gael told me. Making an honest man sound

like a liar by putting words in his mouth in the hope some murderous thugs get away with a slap on the

wrist.” Gabrysz shakes his head. “What a sad way to make your money.”

“Criminals have the right to be legally represented too. But I still hope they get locked up with

the keys thrown away,” Niko says, giving his view on the matter.

“I’m sorry, guys, bringing it up again,” Gabrysz apologises while entering the gym.

Steve puts his hand on the goalie’s shoulder. “That’s okay. It’s not going away by pretending it

isn’t there.”

“Still ...” Gabrysz trails off and doesn’t finish the rest of his sentence. “Have fun on the bike.”

“First bike, then a round of treadmill for added fun,” Steve pretends to complain, but he’s

almost okay with it. He’s trying to make peace with the limitations that remind him what he has lost

every single time he’s doing any kind of exercise, while at the same time trying to push his body and

mind a little bit further. He knows he will never be near the same level as any of the others, but it

doesn’t stop him from enjoying his own progress. And he certainly enjoys Daniël’s flirty, admiring

looks when they use two bikes next to each other.

“Going to take a look at our home later? They promised the bathroom would be finished and

some furniture should have been delivered today. Please help me to remember that tomorrow we must

get our suits fitted again to see if they need any final adjustments. I’ve told the caterer we’re happy

with the food she suggested. And I think I forgot to tell you the contract on my apartment expires next

week, so I have to move some of the stuff to our new place and ask a charity to get the rest. I doubt

I’ve been there even half a dozen times in the last couple of months,” Daniël says while working the

pedals.

“I would love to see our home. I can’t wait till we live there.”

“You’re going to be thrilled with the main bathroom,” Daniël promises.

And when he brought him to their home later that day, Steve acknowledges that Daniël was

right.

“See, heated floor, non-slippery too. Handles so you don’t have to be afraid of falling. Double

washbasin of course. Chair. Cabinet. Extra roomy shower with corner bench. There’s a shower head

fitted in the ceiling and it’s huge. And there are adjustable shower-heads left and right, especially for

massage. I thought you might like that when you’re in pain. I’m very happy with the sunken bath. Fits

both of us easily.” He presses his lips against Steve’s, teases his tongue in.

“I’m determined that the first time we make love in this house will be on our wedding night ...”

Suggestion is heavy in every word.

Steve grins. “What about we take a quick look at the rest, make a trip to the take-away pizzeria

and dirty the sheets at my apartment with pizza and sex?”

“I knew there was a reason I wanted to marry you apart from the fact that you’re sexy and

gorgeous and clever and...come on, I’ve already seen the dining room stuff and I couldn’t find

anything wrong with it; same with the couch and the recliner. As far as I’m concerned, we’re done

here and I’m totally ready for pizza and sex.”

Chapter 31

“You’re happy with how the interview turned out?” Steve asks Daniël after his lover has put

away the remote control.

“What interview? I couldn’t keep my eyes away from that good-looking fella. I mean the one

with neat brown hair and gentle brown eyes and the best cheekbones ever and a smile to die for. Who

also happens to be the one who’s going to be my husband in less than a week?”

“So I wasn’t the only one a bit distracted, though in my case it was by a pretty, freckled boy ...”

Steve jokes. “But seriously, did you see what I saw?”

Daniël’s smile is answer enough in itself, but the words don’t hurt exactly either. “We look

like we’re totally doing the right thing. We already know that, of course, but it’s so visible. I mean,

man, we’re going to Holland in a few days. There’s more stuff to do than we have time for, and that’s

without the details that make us not exactly the average marrying couple. And all I see is two guys

being happy. You know what? I know exactly why. No matter what goes wrong on the day, and some

things will go wrong, you’ll be at my side. It’s about you being with me. About you not having been

taken away from me.”

Steve kisses him on the cheek. “We have each other. Family and friends will be with us. Seems

plenty enough for me.”

Daniël takes the remote from the table. “Want to watch again? I want to hear what we were

actually saying.”

They sit on the couch, happily leaning against each other.

They hear the interviewer’s male voice. Love at first sight?

Steve is the first to answer. “No. But I noticed him sure enough. Just took me a bit to notice

something else about the boy except his talent and willingness to work hard and learn. Lightning never

strikes with me in these matters.”

“Love before first sight.” Daniël, looking in Steve’s direction. “Never told you that, did I?

Yeah, I had a bit of a crush on you when I was a kid. I thought you were one of the best defenders in

English football. Good looking guy too. Never could have dreamed ...”

Was it that Steve was already playing for Kinbridge Town the reason you came to this city? Or

one of the reasons?

Daniël burst out laughing. “Of course not. Arnaud Degaré asked me, he offered a decent price

and what young player wouldn’t want to be in a team managed by him? Being on the same pitch with

players like Kirkby, Levee, Lain, Dominguez, Moreschi, Miller, Jaworski? Gavan?”

But still, it couldn’t have been easy to discover you had fallen for a team-mate, the football

world being what it is. What made you decide to act on those feelings? Steve?

“I didn’t act on them. I felt what I felt and that was it. No reason to bother Dan with it.”

So I gather you took the first step, Daniël?

“Well, yeah, someone had to do it.” Daniël grins.

What about the risks?

“What risks? With Steve, the sweetest, most decent man you could ever meet? One of the most

private ones as well. Nah, I knew even if he wouldn’t have felt the same about me, I would still be in

safe hands with him.”

Obviously the feelings were reciprocated. And then the secret truly began?

They both nod in agreement.

You want to share a few words about that time with us?

“I’m not even sure there's much to tell. We never really talked about it. It was all so new and

we hardly understood what was happening to us. We had just fallen in love and simply being together

whenever we had the opportunity was enough. We weren’t ready to talk about serious stuff. And by

the time we started to think about a future that might perhaps include each other, I walked into that

park. We weren’t even aware yet that we both wanted the same thing.” Steve shrugs. “Six months.

That was all. Six months of sweet secrets and innocence. How could we have known?”

Daniël’s hand seeking Steve’s.

“I still can’t walk any distance outside home without crutches, I’m re-learning to read and

write. Some other stuff I won’t bore you with. And you hear how I talk. The thinking part of my brain

is mostly fine, although I need a bit more time with complex situations. Getting the words from my

mind to your ears, now that’s something else.”

You’re remarkably calm about your experiences.

“I’m trying to hang on to the remains of my human dignity, I guess.” Steve smiles ruefully. “I

can’t talk about what happened in that park. I’m willing, but I’m not able to. I’m sorry.”

I’m sure everyone understands. But Daniël was with you when you woke up, wasn’t he? He

never left your side at the hospital?

“He even bribed the hospital to let him stay. And we have nothing but praise for the staff. They

were wonderful, without exception.”

“I wasn’t alone, not even when my parents had to return to Holland. Every single day, at least

one of the boys or Arnaud Degaré visited us. Didn’t matter that I hardly said a word to them, hardly

even looked at them: they were there.”

Do I understand correctly not one of the team, or the manager, actually has any problem with

you two being together? About having gay team-mates?

Daniël shakes his head. “Whoever said that? People still have their opinions, their feelings

about it. And why shouldn’t they? It’s not a popularity contest. There are a bit less than thirty first

team players. You think we’re all best mates?”

Still, some call it the last big taboo in professional football. There are always rumours, some

make bold statements without ever naming names, but you were the first to sit at a press conference,

look straight into the camera and say, “The man, who’s been found nearly beaten to death, is my

lover.” Weren’t you afraid for your career?

“Yeah, Steve was still fighting for his life while I held that press conference, so naturally my

main concern was if I would still be worth a couple of million on the transfer market. Or even better: I

do hope the other guys still like me now they know I’m queer. And please don’t let the fans make

nasty chants about me. Love is a nice bit of extra, but reputation is everything for a real man. Is that

it?”

I can imagine what happened to Steve sets your priorities straight. You expected to return to

active football? And you, Steve, you still had any hope at some point?

Steve shakes his head. “By the time they were done breaking the bones in both my legs, I had

drawn my conclusions. But yes, I never stopped hoping Daniël would be accepted back. Someone with

his talent and work ethic belongs in this sport.”

Daniël says, “I can’t imagine our manager being thrilled about what had happened. But there

was no way around it. Suddenly, Kinbridge Town was the club with the gay couple. Degaré deserves

everyone’s admiration for how he dealt with the pressure. He kept us a team. And a strong one, too, if

you look at the table.”

Continue, please.

“It’s not just about an openly gay guy playing for the Premier League, is it? About what

happens in the dressing room and if you can still celebrate a goal by jumping into another man’s arms,

or about fans singing nasty songs. This, with us, makes everyone nervous, because most people can

deal with closet cases having their dirty little secret and a trophy wife and a couple of kids so no one

asks any questions. If Steve had been beaten to death in the Queen Elizabeth Park, a closeted gay man

cruising for anonymous sex, it would have been easier for a lot of people, I bet. But two men in a

committed relationship, planning to get married? Footballers? Professionals? On this level? And they

didn’t even struggle with their sexuality? How did that ever happen?”

Well, how did that happen?

“I fell in love with this man and now I can’t imagine my life without him. I would have given

up playing football on a professional level for him without a second thought, but it seems I’m a very

lucky guy and I can have both.”

I have to ask this. I’m under strict orders from the missus. Who proposed?

Steve starts to laugh. “I don’t think there even was a proper one. Danny mentioned certain

things, like sharing a life and growing old together, I asked him if he meant what I thought he meant

and before we knew it, we were engaged.”

Then there’s the sound of the interviewer chuckling. It happens to the best of men. But let us

continue. How did the fans react? Not just when they heard about the upcoming wedding, but in

general? You are in the middle of quite a storm. How are you experiencing it all?

“The club’s been great in this too. They even hired two very efficient ladies to deal with the

thousands and thousands of reactions, most of which are very friendly and supportive. To be honest,

during the first few days I was too focused on Steve to be aware of the outside world. But after a

while, I started to listen to the stories the other lads told me when they visited us in the hospital.

Kinbridge Town has fans to be proud of.”

“And not just our own club’s players and fans,” Steve adds.

“So many players, fans and officials took the trouble to send us a few words of encouragement

and support. There were also players and fans who told me they thought it was unwise of me to even

try and continue my career as a professional footballer, but still wanted us to know that what happened

to Steve was unacceptable. It reminded us there are still good people on this earth. And believe me, I

really needed to be reminded of that.”

Steve?

“I was worried for a long time whether Dan would still be welcome, not just with our own

team, but also with our fans, with our opponents and their fans.”

I can imagine the first away game being quite stressful.

“You have no idea. It felt strangely good to hear Dan getting booed because he made a brutal

tackle on their striker and the ref didn’t show him red. I knew then for certain he had been accepted

back. They hated him for he did, not for what he is. They were right, too: it was a nasty foul.”

You two talk shop often? Or is that still too painful?

“It’s coming back slowly. I really enjoy watching the matches again, giving a few tips here and

there, although Dan never listens ...”

“Now, that’s not true. He was so good at what he did, and I’m just beginning to learn.”

“I’m only teasing. I’m so proud of him. He’s a born defender; he belongs on the pitch, playing

matches against strong teams. It would be downright wrong if fans had to miss the beauty of seeing

him play for no other reason than that he loves me.”

“It wouldn’t mean a thing without Steve. Don’t get me wrong, I love this sport and I work my

arse off to earn my place in the first team, but if anyone thinks football’s worth living with regret for

the rest of my life ...”

You sound angry.

“I am angry. The reason Steve walked into that park was perhaps worse than if he actually had

been picking up men. That’s simply doing something stupid for private reasons. And now, tell me,

who am I going to blame for what happened to him? The six men literally trying to kick Steve to

death, and almost succeeding too, appeared in a Crown court and I have enough faith in the system to

believe they’ll get their punishment. But who will name all the others bearing at least part of the

responsibility? Who’s going stand up and say: I am part of this. I allowed it to happen through my

silence and my cowardice and my lack of imagination, or because it was easier to hide behind the

backs of a minority of loud-mouthed bigots than to face my own demons.” Daniël’s lips are a straight

line. “I allowed it to happen.”

A complex matter ...

Daniël is now looking straight at the camera. “In fact, it couldn’t be simpler.” Touching the

part of his arm where he knows his tattoo to be, he says, “Cor aut mors. The heart or death.”

Steve?

“I’m still here, and I know the sole reason why.”

A few more questions about the wedding, the next away game against Wolves and that’s the

end of the interview.

“I think we did pretty well.” Daniël gives his verdict.

“I think so too.” Steve nods happily. He can’t deny the man being interviewed isn’t the man he

was a year ago, but there’s no denying either that he made some real progress since the press

conference at the Graces. Not so much in his ability to speak like he used to, he isn’t blind or deaf to

the facts, but in his ability to look at himself with some sort of kindness and acceptance. Even if he

will never be able to look at himself with Daniël’s unconditional love, it’s still progress.

But there isn’t enough time to contemplate much of anything, because within a week they’ll

getting married and move into their new home. They started to realise how impractical their romantic

idea of moving into their joint home on their wedding night had been, with having to make the journey

from apartment to house over and over again during the past weeks; with stuff that should be in one

place but turned out to be in the other. Even with all of the old furniture given away to charity, clothes,

personal belongings and what seemed to be dozens and dozens of items, including everything Daniël

had taken from his own apartment to Steve’s, still had to be moved.

“I don’t care about practical. Our first night in our real home will be as an official couple, even

if we have to use a private jet to get from one country to the other on the day.” Daniël kisses Steve,

holding him in his arms. “We can sleep and have sex comfortably, eat at a table, take a bath, make tea,

prepare a meal: what more could a man possibly want?”

Steve kisses him back. “Nan and mum would have loved you so much. I know I don’t talk

often about them, but they live in my heart, I know they’re safe there.”

“You miss them? And I’m not really asking a question.”

“I know. And yes, I do miss them terribly. But I also know I’m not without family on my

wedding day, even though none of them are related to me by blood or will be by law until we have

signed the marriage certificate and spoken our vows.”

“Is it strange for me to feel the same?”

“Not strange, just one of the many reasons I love you.” Steve kisses Daniël again, slow and

seductive. “I know we don’t have much time, but ...”

“What do you mean no time? We have all the time in the world.”

Chapter 32

Three days before the wedding, Daniël reads the formal letter to Steve about the sentencing of

the attackers. Nine years is a meaningless number. But any number would be just as meaningless. So

Daniël puts the letter away and scans the papers of that morning without comment.

*

Steve’s apartment is strangely empty of most things that are personal to him and Daniël.

Books, music, movies, photos, almost all their clothes, and the odds and ends: it’s all moved from

where they are to where they are going to be. Their house in Hollycroft looks like it’s actually a place

where real people might live very soon. But they still have a couch to sit on and a bed to sleep in, an

electric kettle to make a cup of tea, so Steve wouldn’t call it uncomfortable. Perhaps it can best be

described as being a guest in your own home. His wedding suit hangs in a nearly empty closet, next to

Daniël’s, two pairs of shoes standing underneath it. It’s one of the few items they will carefully pack

for their trip to Holland. After that, he won’t come back to this place because a home is waiting for

him. A home and a husband.

*

The flight to Rotterdam in the Goldman private jet the day before the wedding is extremely

comfortable. Steve feels a bit awkward about this kind of extravagance until Daniël reminds him it’s

not polite to not enjoy this generous gift. “I can’t imagine anything being too good for you. And we

don’t want you tired from the journey on our big day. After all, if I have any say in this, you’ll never

have to do this again in your life, except for our anniversaries, of course. And we’ll have lots of

anniversaries...just teasing you, love.”

Daniël spends the night at his parents’. It’s silly beyond words, considering that he left his

parental home years ago, but it feels right and proper that he spend his last hours as an official

bachelor in the folds of his family. He insists on Steve also not being alone, and it’s Matthew who

readily volunteers to stay the night at the small apartment that Daniël kept when he moved to

Kinbridge because he saw little benefit in selling the debt free property and it never hurts to have

something to go back to. He hasn’t gone back in more than a year, obviously, and the little Dutch

hideaway never got used.

Just for the fun of it, a bunch of the other guys decide to make a quick, and very loud,

appearance to bemoan Steve’s last night as a free man. No stag night? That’s not an excuse.

They’re all gone now, back to the hotel in Rotterdam to get some sleep before the big day;

Francesco and Dag and Neil and Niko and Gabrysz and the others. Only Matthew and Gael have stayed

behind, and Gael is standing in the doorway to get his coat too. Dallying.

“You might just as well stay the night,” Steve says and he knows he has gone too far as soon as

the words leave his mouth.

But Gael sits down again, without saying anything, being far too intelligent, too insightful to

not understand what Steve is implying.

Matthew doesn’t react at all, not even when Gael takes his mobile and calls Doncia to tell her

he will spend the night at Daniël’s apartment. “She’s fine with it; the girls are having a chick flick

night anyway. I’ll have to get up early, to get to the hotel and change.”

“That’s okay, lad.” Matthew sounds like he has said those exact words dozens of times.

For a long moment, the three of them are sitting rigidly, separated by more than actual space.

In silence. Matthew and Gael are next to each other on the two seater couch, stiffened in their socially

acceptable distance.

Then, suddenly, Gael smiles and stretches his hand out to Matthew to touch his arm.

Steve can’t help but notice how fragile they look.

“You’ve known for a long time, haven’t you?” Matthew asks.

Steve nods. “When I started to recognise human voices again, even before I understood what

was actually being said. But it was never about what you said anyway. I would never have guessed if

...”

“No one knows. Not even she does.” Gael moves his fingers a few millimetres over Matthew’s

arm. “She knows everything about me, but not this. And so she knows nothing.”

“On some days, the silence weighed so heavily it felt like it would kill all love,” Steve says. “I

didn’t even get it on a rational level at that time. I thought it was how it was supposed to be. That love

doesn’t need to be recognised by others to stay alive. That it was all between Danny and me and no

one else.”

“And now you know the truth.” Gael shrugs.

“We were afraid to express our true feelings and thoughts in words, not only to the outside

world, but also to each other. To face the truth about what was happening between us. As long as we

didn’t talk about it, it wasn’t there. And still he sat with me and waited and never left me …” Steve’s

voice trails off. “You want me to ask you how long? The two of you, I mean.”

Matthew frowns, and then a smile breaks through. “Right from the start. I had no idea, of

course. Didn’t want to know either. One day, after months, he asked me a question. One single

question.”

“You do realise we are in love with each other?” Gael says softly, his hand now finally

touching Matthew’s. “And then you said ...”

“Fuck, we’re in deep shit.”

“And you gave me our first kiss.”

It’s as if there’s a veil being lifted from their faces. A mask has been taken down. He has just

as few illusions as them about tomorrow, about their near future, but at least this can’t be taken away

from them. Their love has been witnessed.

Matthew sighs deeply. “So, that’s it. You’ve seen it. Now you know, and Daniël, of course. No

secrets between you the two of you, I understand.”

“I didn’t tell him, he discovered it on his own.”

Matthew frowns. “We’re not getting obvious, are we?”

“I doubt it. No, Daniël became very aware of the people around him because of what happened

with Steve,” Gael reassures him.

“It must be hard for you, tomorrow.” Steve almost regrets saying the words.

“It’s not about us, but about you and Dan,” Matthew reacts a bit too fast. “You think this

started the night you were brought into the hospital? Or when the gaffer introduced me to Gael? I’ve

known about that part of myself since I was a boy. I simply thought it didn’t matter because only

football mattered. And girls were okay, too, in a way. She’s a good girl, can’t blame her for doing

anything wrong. I just never reckoned with love.” He shrugs helplessly. “During some games I hope

and pray some big defender, compensating for his lack of talent with brute force, stomps on my ankle

and it’s over and done with. And this sport and this club mean so much to me ...”

Thus far no mentioning of his family...

“I won’t ever stop being a father, that’s what I’ll always be. My marriage? It couldn’t be saved

on the wedding day itself; it won’t ever be more than it is, even if I stayed with her until the day one

of us dies. Even if Gael moved to another club and we never saw see each other again. Because Gael

cannot be undone.”

Gael’s hand is now fully resting into Matthew’s. “I guess I can repeat Matthew’s words about

always being a father and no longer being a true partner to the mother of my son. If I ever was. And

yes, it will be hard tomorrow, but also wonderful and about hope and love. Without you and Dan, I’m

not even sure there would still be an us.”

Matthew continues. “But now, no matter how hard it gets on some days, we remember what the

two of you went through and we know we can deal with whatever we have to deal with. I just wish it

could be done without hurting the people we care about. But they’re going to be hurt anyway. Doesn’t

matter what choice we make in the end.”

We, Steve hears, not I, we.

“I know we’re not ready yet to follow you guys’ footsteps but yeah, it means a lot to us, you

and Dan. We’re happy to be there, tomorrow.” Matthew smile is sad, but genuine. “Dan told me to

make sure you got to bed early and I don’t want that boy to get angry at me. He’s a bit protective of

you.”

Gael laughs. “I bet his mum had to take away his mobile to make sure he’s not going to text

you every five minutes. But we’ll keep you from having contact until you see each other before the

registrar.”

“What about I make you guys a last cup of tea? A small snack perhaps? Could one of you walk

with me to the kitchen to carry the tray? I’m afraid I’ll need some help tomorrow with shaving and the

buttons of my shirt. Those tiny things take me ages. Oh, and the tie as well. Complicated stuff is still,

well, complicated.”

“You’re okay with me shaving and buttoning up this handsome guy?” Matthew jokes to Gael.

“I’m not worried one bit. That man is blind to every bloke except one.”

“And there’s only one for me.” Matthew’s lips curve upwards. “We get you dressed up in time

so your fella can be all proud on the big day. And no, I won’t forget the ring.”

They drink tea, talking about everything and nothing. Matthew leans against Gael, smiling and

looking very relaxed, like for a moment he has let his guard down. Gael looks so happy it has to hurt.

They make a striking couple, Steve can’t help but notice.

“Thank you, for this. For telling me to stay,” Gael says.

“You could have limited the contact with Dan and me to the bare minimum. I would have

understood it, and even now I think it would have been the sensible thing to do, but you proved to be

true friends. You guys would be wise to avoid our home for the next two weeks or so, but after that,

you’re more than welcome. And I know I speak for Danny as well.” Steve gets up. “The alarm is set at

half past six. Is that early enough for you, Gael? The wedding starts at half past ten.”

“No problem.”

“You get to choose, but I’m afraid the beds in both bedrooms are a bit narrow ...”