I’d expected it to be dark inside, but the sunlight was pouring through the skylights. But I waited for him to say: “If you like, Kath, I’ll show you.” He led the way into the goosehouse, hopping over the jaggy ground. It was by then over two months since the Norfolk trip, but I realised as soon as I saw the notebook what this was about.

“I was, you know, drawing…” He laughed, and held up a little black notebook similar to the ones Keffers always went around with. Aside from his bare feet, he was dressed in his usual thick jumper and jeans. “What happened to your Wellies, Tommy?” I asked. I turned to see him in his bare feet, perched awkwardly on a bit of dry ground surrounded by huge puddles, one hand on the side of the barn to keep his balance. Past the goosehouse, when I heard Tommy calling me. I’m sorry, Kathy, but it wouldn’t be right not to have Tommy doesn’t like girls who’ve been with… well, you know, with this person and that. “What do you mean?” “You must know what I mean. But I know he doesn’t see you like, you know, a proper girlfriend. He really, really likes you, he thinks you’re really great. Well, Kathy, what you have to realise is that Tommy doesn’t see you like that. But I’d think it was completely normal if you at least wondered about it. We’re not about to split, don’t get me wrong. It’d be completely natural if you’d thought about, you know, what would happen if me and Tommy decided we shouldn’t be together any more. Okay, look, what I wanted to say, Kathy, is this. And now there’s all this talk, about couples getting deferrals if they can prove, you know, that they’re really right. Whether we always will be, that’s anyone’s guess. You’re no fool, and you can see that maybe me and Tommy, we might not be a couple forever. I wouldn’t forgive myself if I kept quiet much longer.” “Okay, what is it?” “Kathy, I’ve been thinking this for some time.

Never let me go novel