“I’m here,” November says severely, “because I asked you to meet with me, and because I rudely inveigled myself onto your trip. And I’m not taking no for an answer. Plus, it’s already done. Ask the check-in lady.”
“It’s true,” the woman behind the desk says with a smile, delighted at being a part of this benevolent conspiracy. “It’s all paid for.”
“November!” Hannah says, but helplessly, with a laugh, and November gives her a droll little wink that is so purely April that Hannah’s heart tugs inside her.
“One person, is that right?” the check-in woman says, and Hannah nods, while at the same time wishing Will could have been here. A suite! It might be practically their last chance to live it up before the baby arrives.
Up in the room she stands, taking it all in, while the nice porter shows her how to work the lights and open and close the balcony doors. After he’s gone she lies down on the bed for a moment, luxuriating, and then sends Will a series of WhatsApp pictures, with the message Wish you were here!
She’s just considering what to do next when there’s a knock at the door. When Hannah opens it, November is standing outside, looking, if possible, even more beautiful than earlier.
“Hi,” she says with a broad smile. “I thought I’d come up and talk about plans. It’s…” She glances at her phone. “Almost four. We’re meeting Emily for dinner, is that right?”
“That’s right.” Hannah nods. “Seven p.m. At her flat.”
“Then we’re going on the Pelham tour tomorrow afternoon?”
“Yes, then tea with Dr. Myers afterwards.”
November nods. Her face is sober.
“So what—” she starts, but Hannah’s phone buzzes in her hand, and glancing at it, she sees it’s Will.
Jealous! he’s written.
“Sorry,” Hannah says. She’s trying not to smile. “You were saying?”
“I was just going to ask, what time should we set out? I assume you probably want to slump on the bed for a bit beforehand?”
“I kind of do,” Hannah says, surprising herself. She’s not normally one for just lying in a hotel room, but she’s tired, in spite of having done nothing apart from sit on a train. Her back is aching and there’s a twinge deep in her pelvis that feels distinctly odd, probably from sitting in the same position on hard train seats all day.
“Okay, well I’ll come and knock about six thirty then? I looked it up on maps, I don’t think it’ll take us more than half an hour to walk.”
“If that,” Hannah says. “Oxford’s not very big. See you later?”
“See you later,” November says, and then, to Hannah’s surprise, she leans forward and kisses Hannah gently on the cheek.
“Thank you for this, Hannah.”
“Don’t be silly,” Hannah says awkwardly. “This is hardly fun for either of us.”
“I know, but it’s not that—it’s just—I spent the whole time April was in Oxford begging her to let me stay, and then after she was dead, wondering what her life here had been like. And I never dared to come and find out for myself. I know this can’t be easy for you but I just—I’m glad I’m here. I’m glad I’m with one of April’s friends. This feels right, do you know what I mean?”
“Yes, I know,” Hannah says. Her heart is tight inside her. She wants to take November’s hand and squeeze it, but she’s not sure if they know each other well enough yet. “I’m glad you’re here too. I—I miss April. A lot. And with you here—”
With you here, it’s like having a little bit of April with me is what she wants to say, but she isn’t sure how November will take it, whether she will bristle at being treated like April’s ghost or standin. But she is like a piece of April—not a shadow or a cheap imitation; November is quite clearly too much her own person for that. But she is also so obviously April’s sister that it’s impossible not to feel April’s presence hovering around them, especially now they are here, back in Oxford after so long.
“I don’t know. I feel like she’s here too. I hope that doesn’t sound strange,” she says at last. But November only smiles sadly and shakes her head.
“It doesn’t sound strange. I’ve spent most of my adult life being haunted by April’s ghost. It’s sort of comforting to know that you have too.”