The Dark Shadow of Thursday

by H P Steven

  Drew just laughed and called me, a dick again.

  “Wow, you’re not allowed to meet anymore ladies I work with,” Hannah insisted, shaking her head at me.

  “Yeah fair enough,” I agreed.

  “So where’s the memorial being held?” Hannah asked.

  “Yeah I was thinking the same thing,” Drew replied.

  “Oh a place called Freud,” I declared.

  “Ah cool, I know that bar,” Hannah remarked.

  “Do you both want another drink before we head there?” I asked.

  “Yeah sounds good bro, I’ll get them, another wine Hannah?” Drew asked.

  “Yeah sounds good, thanks Drew,” Hannah insisted.

  “Oh nice thanks man,” I remarked. Drew headed over to the bar to order the drinks, I turned to Hannah. “Hey are you going to be okay with everything happening this weekend?” I asked.

  “Yeah I should be okay,” Hannah replied.

  “Well, if you need anything or just want to talk. I’ll have my phone with me,” I insisted.

  “Yeah thanks Phil,” Hannah replied just as Drew got back, handing us our drinks.

  “Hey do you guys think I should put on a bar tab?” Drew asked.

  “Um, I can take care of that bro,” I insisted. “Although I didn’t hear anything like that from Anna so no idea,” I added.

  “Play it by ear then?” Drew commented.

  “Yeah sounds like the best thing to do,” Hannah replied.

  It doesn’t take us long to get to the bar, luckily we’re the first to turn up.

  “Hey guys let’s get hammered.” I laughed.

  “Yeah, I’ll take it easy I’m still driving tomorrow night,” Hannah remarked.

  “Good call Hannah, let’s do some shots Phil,” Drew insisted.

  “Yeah mate right behind you and a wine for Hannah?” I asked.

  “Yeah sounds good, thanks Phil,” Hannah replied.

  Four shots in I knew I had made an awful mistake and probably should have gone home then, luckily a couple of lemonades helped a little, either way. Anna didn’t find it as funny as Drew.

  “What are you doing?” Anna asked.

  “Oh, we thought we’d have one then Drew came back with 10 shots for us both,” I replied. He did just lose his brother I thought about saying but luckily don’t. Unfortunately, Anna must have thought it and laughed it off.

  “I’ll give you a get out of jail free card just for tonight cause Drew’s here,” Anna insisted.

  “Thanks, I’ll probably just stick to the lemonades from now on, Hannah’s driving us tomorrow night so don’t want to be to hungover for that,” I laughed.

  “Well, good luck with that,” Hannah joked as Drew walked, over to see how I’m going.

  “Ha, sorry mate, should have known better,” Drew commented.

  “No worries bro, I’m just gonna have a few lemonades aye, have you been around and spoken to a few people?” I asked.

  “Um, not really hey,” Drew said.

  “Well, if you want I could take you around and at least introduce you to the team your brother worked with,” Anna replied.

  “Yeah that’ll be really good, thanks Anna,” Drew insisted.

  “Will you be all right here?” Anna asked.

  “Yeah I’ll be okay after this lemonade thanks Anna,” I replied just as they walked away Hannah grabbed the seat next to me and hands me another lemonade. “Wow, you’re an idiot, but thanks.” Hannah laughed.

  “Yeah no worries Hannah, what time do you pick up the car tomorrow?” I asked.

  “Um, after work so I’ll be home around six-ish,” Hannah replied.

  “When’s the meeting, Audrey asked me to remind you,” Hannah added.

  “Oh yeah, Villandry at eleven-ish, I think,” I replied looking blankly.

  “Well, you should be fine so, we can go whenever you’re ready,” Hannah commented.

  “Um, let’s wait for Drew and see what’s happening,” I said.

  The whole night was a massive blur thanks to Drew, luckily I kept my clothes on but got a lot of funny looks from Anna, I didn’t say a speech but Drew thanked me later, it really helped him to break the ice with his brothers work mates. How, he never told me. Hannah just laughed. Later I’d have flash backs of that night for a while even mentioning it in a speech.

  Luckily the next morning I woke and made sure Hannah wasn’t in my bed. Luckily Anna was and snoring into my ear.

  “Morning Phil, how you feeling?” Drew asked.

  “Yeah really good surprisingly, how’d we get home last night?” I asked Drew.

  “Ha, taxi bro but we carried you a bit, well I helped you in,” Drew laughed.

  “What the hell was in those shots?” I asked.

  “Well, mine were tequila, yours had a little chartreuse in them,” Drew joked.

  “Ah that explains a lot. Feel pretty good now though,” I added.

  Looking around the floor for spew.

  “Ha, you were all good considering. You did cry for a while though last night, well we all did, it wasn’t pretty,” Drew declared.

  “Hey man, go get ready we need to head into the city by eleven or so,” I insisted.

  “What now, its six in the morning,” Drew remarked.

  “Ha still battling jet lag?” I asked.

  “Yeah man its terrible,” Drew insisted. “I’ve made some more pikelets and there’s some fruit here,” Drew added.

  “Ah nice, I’ll have this coffee then go print some stuff off,” I mentioned.

  Getting up and somehow not waking up Anna I walked off to my room and printed off a couple of chapters from my new book to show Audrey.

  Heading back out as finally Anna popped her head into my room.

  “Hey how you feeling this morning?” Anna asked.

  “Hey come in,” I replied. As Anna gets closer I hugged her and apologised for my drunken debauchery last night. “But I think it helped Drew,” I said.

  “Yeah, so do I,” Anna whispered smiling leaning back in so we can kiss.

  “So stoked you could spend the night, what are you up to today?” I asked.

  “Well, I need to go home and get sorted for tomorrow so I’ll be back around later,” Anna replied. “What time will you be back after your meeting?” Anna asked.

  “Do you want me to text when we’re heading back,” I replied.

  “Yeah that’ll work,” Anna joked.

  “Cool, I’ll be paying for dinner tonight so we don’t need to worry about me doing something stupid again,” I insisted.

  “Ha, yeah but you could if you guys want to go out for a couple,” Anna laughed.

  “Well, we can sort it out later,” I whispered. Returning to kissing Anna.

  Finally, the pages are ready and I took a second away from Anna to put them into a folder and my bag so their ready for later. “Let’s go have some breakfast,” I insisted, to Anna.

  Returning out into the lounge I see that Hannah and Drew are sitting around the table having something to eat and we join them.

  “Hey how are you feeling this morning?” Hannah asked. “We should have stopped you after the first two,” Hannah joked.

  “Wow, you two are really bad.” Anna laughed.

  “Yeah well, I’m starving let me enjoy my breakfast and coffee thanks,” I muttered, trying to sound angry.

  “Hey calm down Phil, Cam would have found it funny,” Drew remarked.

  It’s not that long after that I kiss Anna good bye and Hannah tried to lean in.

  “Ha, well played Hannah” I laughed. “I’ll see you both later on, I’ll pay for dinner tonight,” I insisted.

  “Ah awesome,” Hannah replied.

  Walking out talking to Anna about how awesome I am at cooking. Heading back inside to see Drew cleaning up so I tidy up the couch bed and put a load of washing on. Grab my little suitcase and put it in my room for later. By which time I’ve wasted a few hours and think bugger it time to head into town.


  “Hey bro, are you ready, let’s get going,” I suggested.

  “Yeah man just let me put some shoes on and I’m ready to go,” Drew replied.

  Heading down to the tube stop, I realise we’ll be going through past Edgware Road again. Also, realising I’d left my bag at home with my latest book. Trying to decide what to do I think stuff it. I had to put myself there again at some stage. So, thinking bugger it we head there knowing what we’ll see, thinking I should have gotten some flowers again to place at the memorial.

  We don’t hang around there to long but we take another moment before changing over to circle line and getting off a Great Portland Street tube station. Which was a relief, an even bigger one was seeing Audrey already sitting in the bar waiting for us.

  “Hi Audrey,” I commented as we walked into Villandry, looking around and she’s even got us a beer each. “Hey thanks Audrey,” I commented. Sitting down, and taking a sip of beer. Just as Audrey takes a folder out of her bag and places it on the table.

  “Yeah, thank you Audrey,” Drew insisted sitting next to us quietly not knowing what to say.

  “So, Phil here is where we are at, this is a copy of what the final Manuscript will look like, a contract they’ve sent over for you to look at. You don’t have to sign anything until you get back. How’s the advance holding up?” Audrey asked.

  “Um, yeah really good thanks Audrey,” I replied.

  “All right, so have a quick look at these and I’ll take care of this till you’re back. We can meet up finalise everything then wait till we get the publishing date then no doubt party,” Audrey announced. “There is another reason why I thought we should meet here,” Audrey added.

  Just as we see a few people sitting around the bar get up and head outside. More shockingly the bar and wait staff head outside as well.

  “What’s going on here?” I asked Audrey.

  “Ah, the other reason why I thought you both should join me here for this,” Audrey replied. “So get up and let’s go outside,” Audrey added.

  “Yeah all right, Drew lets head outside bro,” I shrugged.

  Heading out to the street I guess I wasn’t expecting so many people let alone the thousands of people there must have been, just standing on the street. I noticed an old guy walking in the front of cars coming down the street to stop them— which they did.

  The drivers just looked confused when they stopped their cars and got out of them. Before the old guy must have explained what was happening. You could have heard a pin drop, just the faint sound of bells ringing cut through the air, it was the most surreal moment I’d ever experienced. It wasn’t till the bells stopped that something I wasn’t expecting happened. The yelling, I could hear the sound of a million plus voices screaming and yelling through the air, goose bumps were standing up on the back of my neck. The screams cut through the streets and made them stronger, it wasn’t till Audrey put her hand on my shoulder that I realised I was one of those people yelling. I was yelling for Cam and Susan, even for Devin. I was yelling with my eyes closed and a tear falling down my face and I was yelling with everyone else that didn’t want to be caught up in this act of violence ever again. I was yelling for the end of it all. It wasn’t till I opened my eyes, I saw the old guy in front of me, moving closer to me to hug me and told me.

  “We are strong as a city and we won’t let these bastards win, you look like someone who was effected by these wankers, be stronger than all of this,” the old guy whispered just as Drew put his hand on my other shoulder I turned to him and saw his face full of tears for the first time.

  “Thanks,” I told the old guy as Audrey took his place and hugged me. “Thanks again Audrey for making us meet you here,” I whispered.

  “Yeah I thought you guys needed this,” Audrey replied. “Let’s go back inside and have some lunch,” Audrey added.

  “Yeah sounds good,” I replied. “Oh man, I needed that, especially with tomorrow,” I whispered to Drew as we both followed Audrey back inside and sat down and ordered lunch.

  “Sorry I can’t make it tomorrow but unfortunately I actually have some other authors I need to take care of,” Audrey declared.

  “Oh and here was me thinking I was the only one,” I joked.

  “Yeah well, we are all sorted for when you get back and get this book on the launching pad and fired up into space,” Audrey announced.

  Lunch lasted for ages, was so good to get out and catch up with Audrey in a place that was an escape from the house. From everyone for that quick two hours I was well, I didn’t have the weight of the world on my shoulders.

  “Oh that reminds me I’m dropping you guys off at the airport on Friday,” Audrey mentioned.

  “Yeah what time do we have to be there?” I asked Audrey.

  “Your useless, you do realise that don’t you,” Audrey joked, which catches a laugh from Drew.

  “Oh hey bro forgot you were there,” I laughed.

  “I’ll be at your place at six in the morning,” Audrey replied.

  “Oh right cool, we should be sober.”

  “Yeah, what time are you back from Susan’s Funeral?” Audrey asked.

  “Um, Thursday night at the latest, heading down to the Bed and Breakfast later tonight,” I replied.

  “Oh right, I’ll need to give you some flowers to take, before you guys head off,” Audrey insisted.

  “Okay if you want to write in a card I can put it in with ours,” I mentioned.

  “Saves you carrying a bunch of fluffy looking flowers around town in other words,” Audrey joked.

  “Yes, exactly, that is what I was thinking.”

  “Fair enough,” Audrey remarked.

  “Cool well at least let me give you guys a ride home,” Audrey added.

  “Well, in that case, should we get some flowers now?” Drew asked

  “Yeah what the hell, I might get some for Anna and Hannah as well. Hopefully they’ll make dinner Thursday?” I remarked.

  “Ha, sounds like a plan,” Drew laughed.

  “All right let’s get out of here,” Audrey insisted after having a great lunch.

  As we left and walked down the road we luckily come across a flower cart, picking up a few bunches. Paying the lady, we headed back to Audrey’s car and finally home. Funnily met by Hannah who was just getting home with the rental car. It wasn’t till we stepped inside to make Audrey a coffee and put the contracts in my room, that I came out and gave Hannah the flowers.

  “Hey Hannah, we got Susan a bunch of flowers for tomorrow do you want to sign the card?” I asked.

  “Yeah that’ll be good, who are the other bunches for?” Hannah asked signing the card and leaving a little message.

  “Oh, one of the bunches is for you and the other’s for Anna,” I replied.

  “Wow, thanks Phil,” Hannah commented smiling.

  “Yeah for everything we’ve been going through I just wanted you to know how much I’ve really appreciated having you to lean on,” I remarked.

  “Well, I didn’t get you anything so I won’t punch you in the arm for a while,” Hannah joked smiling.

  “Ha yeah deal, thanks Hannah.”

  Just as I go into the kitchen to make everyone a coffee there’s a knock on the door. Hannah gets up to answer it as I hand out the coffees.

  “Hey Drew, are you all packed bro?” I asked.

  “Yeah bro I’ve noticed that you haven’t gotten packed yet though,” Drew remarked.

  “Yeah shouldn’t take too long,” I explained.

  “All right Phil thanks for the coffee, pass on my best wishes and the flowers to Susan’s family, I apologised to Margaret last time I saw her,” Audrey responded. “But I’ve got to be going and pick up Rupert,” Audrey added.

  Standing up and giving me a big hug,

  “See you on Friday morning,” Audrey whispered.

  Before leaving and walking back out and saying a few words to Hannah and Anna as she left. Just as Anna walked in with a small suitcase, me and
Hannah just laughed at each other.

  “Argh we have to pack, Hannah how long?” I asked.

  “Not long, you?” Hannah asked.

  “Ten minutes, I reckon, race?” I asked.

  “Yeah you’re on!” Hannah yelled.

  As I get up and kiss Anna hello, “I got something for you but I’ve put them in water,” I remarked.As I took her into the kitchen and show her the flowers.

  “Thanks for everything you’ve done,” I insisted.

  “Wow, thanks Phil,” Anna whispered hugging me and giving me a kiss.

  “You are too sweet,” Anna laughed.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “Hannah asked me to keep you occupied for a while so she could get a head start packing,” Anna replied with a tight vice like hug on me. Trying not to laugh we both start making out, I was thinking why not.

  “Ha, go pack, I’ll be in here waiting,” Anna joked. Just as I got to my room I could hear Anna sitting down to talk to Drew.

  “So who’s got shot gun?” Anna asked.

  “Um, not sure you can have it if you want Anna,” Drew replied.

  19

  I Shouldn’t Have Sung

  “Hey Phil, are you packed yet?” Anna asked.

  “Yeah I’ll be two minutes,” I replied.

  “Well, Hannah’s putting her bag in the car and laughing,” Anna remarked.

  “Oh crap that can’t be good.”

  Just as I zipped up my bag and went to leave my room I noticed a photo of me, Susan and Cam. Thinking I should have written something cool for Susan’s memorial instead of going off the cuff. But, I planned to sing Ava Maria and thought I’d just download the words on the way.

  “Hey all packed we all ready?” I asked, as I run into Anna on the way out to the car.

  “Yeah Drew’s just getting the flowers but I think we’re all packed,” Anna replied.

  “Cool, it’s gonna be a massive drive if we wait any longer,” I insisted. As I go to put my bag in the boot of the car.

  “Hey Hannah I’ll just pop inside and get Drew,” I remarked.

  “Yeah no worries, do we want to stop for something to eat or drink along the way?” Hannah asked.

  “No idea lets sort it on the way down,” I replied. Just as Drew came out I go to check everything’s locked up then head back to the car, “Hey Drew grab the front seat man,” I insisted.