Chapter 23

“I get my life sorted out and everything, and then he comes along and…”

I gave him a hug. Part of me wished Roy had stayed gone. I hated seeing Mark so agitated.

“I said I’d ring him again next week. He said he doesn’t go out much these days.”

“Yes.”

“He said he doesn’t want to be tempted by going into a pub. He said something about his sponsor at Alcoholics Anonymous taking him in a pub and them having an orange juice. He said that was really difficult.”

“I can imagine,” I said, not feeling much sympathy for Roy’s plight. 6

“Charlotte’s in bed. So unless you hear anything from her, you should have an easy time of it,” Helen said after welcoming us inside their house Friday evening.

“Mark’s brought some college work, and I’ve got a book to read, so we shouldn’t disturb her,” I said.

“You can watch the telly or listen to the radio if you like,” Paul added.

“We might listen to a bit of music in the background then,” Mark said.