Wilom waited for Vanda, for once, when they met for tea to talk through their next meeting with the Heads. He had brought a book to read, and sat at the tea shop, periodically telling the waitresses to give him “just another few minutes until my friend gets here” until Vanda arrived. Continue reading
When Wilom eventually got back to Marc’s house, Cathlin was already there, but Jilli was not. Wilom had been far too preoccupied that morning to remember whether Marc had had anything planned with her, or whether she was at Sarit’s that afternoon, but he put it out of his mind. Continue reading
Cathlin had declared herself “having a day off” that morning, so Wilom decided that he would have been rostered for an afternoon shift that day and met her at the breakfast table. He brought their coffees, and they said goodbye to Jilli as she headed out the door with Sarit and her father for their day at school. Cathlin waved to Jilli from the breakfast table, and Jilli made two excuses to give Cathlin and Wilom extra hugs before heading out the door. Continue reading
Wilom slept in the next morning, late enough that Marc had already left for work, and when he finally emerged for breakfast, he found Cathlin sitting at a table with the morning mail, Jilli’s empty toast plate still sitting beside her. Continue reading
The Heads’ meeting was held in a moderately well-kept warehouse on the other side of the city. Wilom was starting to suspect that nobody he knew actually did business in sensible places, like offices, and realised just how much that said about his life choices. Vanda left him outside the door, and went in to make her case to them. Continue reading
Vanda took Wilom immediately to the little run-down shack where the people from the tunnels were currently living. It was larger than Wilom had expected – he had expected a decrepit farm house, but this actually seemed to be an old barn or storehouse. Through the window, he could see fluttering fabric. A makeshift curtain. Continue reading
When Wilom woke up the next morning, Jilli and Marc were playing with toys in the living room. He poured coffee from the pot Marc had left out and watched them for a moment, until Marc looked up. Continue reading
As Wilom ate dinner with Cathlin, Jilli and Marc, their soup was interrupted by a knock on the door. Wilom immediately went over, in his mind, where he’d put his documents. Continue reading
Wilom took the long way home. So, Peggy wanted in, huh? Part of him realised that if everything Vanda had said was true, then they probably needed all the help they could get. But he should talk to her before he said yes to Peggy. Continue reading
Wilom was rereading ledgers when Cathlin and Jilli came home. He was knocked out of his distracted reverie by the shutting door and the sound of their argument. Continue reading
