Taking the Plunge
Page 30
He shrugged. “Hiking to the summit of The Remarkables on a clear winter’s day, looking at the world spreading out beneath your feet, it’s hard not to believe in God. It’s just… I can’t reconcile the God of snow and rock and sky with the God of locust plagues and slaughtered firstborns.”
“Wow.” Kate raised her eyebrows. “Locust plagues and slaughtered firstborns — I’m impressed.”
“Yeah, it was always fun times at Sunday School.”
They were silent for a while, her thoughts returning to her last encounter with what might have been God, on her knees in front of the stage at church. It seemed an age ago, but not even a fortnight had passed. Something had moved inside her there, broken through the chains around her heart, and for a little while at least, it seemed like her prayers had been answered. But it had all turned out to be a lie — too cruel, she thought, to be the act of a loving God. Perhaps, rather than God, it was the work of the Devil, the goat-headed bogeyman of her childhood. Was Evan possessed by the Devil?
She looked at him. He was staring intently at the floor, lost in his own thoughts, a stray curl hanging over one eye. Lucifer was said to have been a beautiful angel before his fall, and Evan was certainly beautiful. But he wasn’t evil. Stupid, naive, cowardly even, but not evil. What about Lawrence? Was his soul under the command of Satan? More likely, perhaps, but she doubted it. He didn’t need any help to be an arsehole.
“Anyway,” she said with a sigh, “I’d better head home. It’s getting late.” She gathered her handbag, sliding it over the counter and onto her shoulder. As she did so, a small stack of papers fell from beneath it onto the floor. She stooped to pick them up, stretching to claim a stray piece of paper. Her fingers brushed against Evan’s. She pulled back and straightened, returning the collected papers to the counter.
“What’s that?” she asked, nodding to the piece of paper Evan held in his hand.
It took a moment for him to answer. “Tickets,” he murmured.
“For what?”
“To go bungy jumping. A mate of mine gave them to me.” He scratched his chin thoughtfully. “D’you wanna go?”
“Me?” she queried, frowning. “I… ahh…” She’d never been bungy jumping. She’d stopped by the bungy bridge to watch often enough on her travels between Cromwell and Queenstown — Corbin thought it was fascinating — but had never plucked up the courage to go herself. Just thinking of it now made her feel a little bit sick.
“It’s no problem if you don’t want to. I can always ask someone else. It’s just that they expire in a couple of weeks. But if you’re too chicken…”
She looked into his eyes. The drunken glaze was gone, replaced by warmth and the light from a smile that was mischief incarnate. “I told you,” she said slowly, “nobody calls me chicken.”
The smile broadened. “Is that a yes?”
She nodded. “Sure. But now I really am leaving.”
“Okay.” Evan opened the door for her and she stepped out into the night. “Thank you, Kate. For everything,” he said, standing on the threshold, hands extended, suggesting an embrace.
She hesitated, but then leaned in, feeling his strong arms around her back. She laced hers around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder. Breathing deep, she luxuriated in the moment, then pulled her head back and looked into his eyes. All she caught was a glimpse of blue before he pressed his curving smile against hers in a gentle kiss. An involuntary tingle wound up her spine, spinning over her skin and out through her fingertips.
Too soon, he drew his mouth away and released his arms, dropping them to his side.
“Goodbye, Kate. Drive safe.”
She stepped backwards, cheeks glowing. “Goodbye, Evan.”
Despite the dark and cold, she bounced up the path to her car. When she looked over her shoulder she saw Evan standing on the doorstep, half-shadowed by the light spilling from inside, watching her go.
FREE BOOK ALERT!
A gritty and engaging story of human faults, fears, and frailty, What Friends Are For is the prequel short story to Taking the Plunge.
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ALSO BY J.B. REYNOLDS
Crossing the Divide Short Story Series
The Golden Cockroach
Riding Shotgun
Square Pegs
What Friends Are For
Standalone Short Stories
The Art of Cigarette Smoking
Find out more at jbreynolds.net
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Firstly, I’d like to thank my long-suffering wife, who is a light sleeper and has had to put up with me waking her every morning at 4.30 for the last three years when I get up to begin my daily writing ritual. It’s certainly taken longer than I expected but this novel is a result of that ritual, so I’m hoping she doesn’t hold it against me.
Next, I must thank my wonderful editor, Lesley Marshall, whose suggestions and corrections have improved the final story by some orders of magnitude.
A special mention must go to fellow author and Northland resident, Michael Botur, for his inspiration and the tireless work he does in support of writers ‘up north’.
Last but not least, I want to thank my beta-readers and the members of my launch team, The Tsubaki Samurais. Your kind words and constructive feedback on Taking the Plunge were invaluable, both in terms of improving the story and in giving me the confidence to continue with bringing it to publication.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.B. Reynolds lives in rural Northland, New Zealand, where he raises children and chickens. He writes humorous fiction in which tragedy meets comedy and character reigns supreme. His first short story was published while he was a university student, and in between that and a return to serious writing in 2016 he has worked as a graphic designer, landscaper, ski and snowboard technician, film critic, librarian, apple picker, and baker of muffins and teacakes. Taking the Plunge is his first novel.
Nowadays, when not writing, he’s a husband, father, and high school teacher (not necessarily in that order). He enjoys sailing, cycling, and playing music, really loud, when his wife and kids aren’t at home. He has a big garden where he likes to get his fingernails dirty, and he loves to eat the things that grow in it.
Find out more at jbreynolds.net
Taking the Plunge published by Tsubaki Press 2019
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Copyright © J.B. Reynolds 2019
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover and pirate images © Fotosearch.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is purely coincidental.
ISBN 978-0-473-49150-5 (Mobi)
jbreynolds.net