Page 73 of Seven Days

Kevin’s girlfriend – his fiancée – was the spitting image of Maggie. It was as though she was in the pub with them.

James pushed himself upright.

‘I have to go,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry.’

3

He sat on a bench around the corner from the pub and lit a cigarette.

He could not get the image out of his head. For a moment – until he realized it was not actually her – he had thought Maggie was back. Kevin’s fiancée – Jenny – was taller and had a thinner face, but the resemblance was unmistakable.

His hand shook as he lifted the cigarette to his mouth.

God, he wished it was Maggie. The moment he had thought it was her had been brief, but even so it was enough for a feeling of utter euphoria to engulf him. She was there! Maggie was there! Everything was restored, back to normal. Life was OK again.

And then, the despair. It wasn’t Maggie. It was like losing her again, and all the grief and pain was right there, stabbing him in the heart.

He took a drag on the cigarette, then exhaled. He watched the smoke move and swirl. He was never going to get over it. Never. It would always be with him.

‘You OK?’

He looked up. Vicki was standing by the bench, her arms folded. She was wearing a green rucksack.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘No.’

‘What happened? In the pub?’

‘It was that girl. Jenny. The guy she was with – Kevin – was my sister’s boyfriend. A few years back.’

‘Must have been quite a break-up.’

‘You could say that.’

‘Do you want to talk about it?’

James realized that he did. Even though he barely knew Vicki, he did want to talk about it. He might as well; after all, it was the only thing in his life he could think about.

‘Do you remember Maggie Cooper?’ he said.

Vicki frowned. ‘The name’s familiar.’

‘She went missing.’

‘Right. I remember now.’ She caught his eye. ‘I’ve got a horrible feeling about what you’re going to say next.’

He nodded. ‘She was – is – my sister.’

There was a long pause, then Vicki puffed out her cheeks. ‘Holy shit.’ She gestured at the cigarette. ‘Got a spare?’

He handed her the packet.

She took one and lit it. ‘Did seeing that guy bring it back?’

‘Yes, but there’s more. Jenny – his fiancée – looks exactly like Maggie. I mean, the spitting image.’ James dropped his cigarette and crushed it under his toes. ‘For a moment I thought it was her.’

‘Fuck. I’m sorry.’

He shook his head. ‘I thought my sister was back.’