Someone else special, obviously. Not him. Even though just the thought of Hallie with another man made his chest tighten with envy.
Luke picked up the wine glass she’d drunk out of and tipped the last dregs down the sink. And if she did find someone, he would have to pretend to be happy for her . . .
God, I must be some kind of masochist.
Chapter 17
When you make the discovery that someone you like has never seen your all-time favourite film, there’s only one thing to do. And that is to force them to sit down with you and watch it.
‘Are you serious? How can you never have seen The Shawshank Redemption? It’s a classic!’
‘Man gets life in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. I don’t know.’ Luke shrugged. ‘I suppose it just didn’t sound that cheery.’
‘But it’s so amazing. Tim Robbins is brilliant. Morgan Freeman’s brilliant too. Come on.’ Hallie pointed to the other end of the sofa. ‘I’ve downloaded it now. You’re going to love it, I promise.’
And really, was there any better way to spend a Saturday evening? She was feeling better today, still under the weather, but fully rested and not nearly as grim and feverish as yesterday. She had texted her mum and told her she was having a wonderful time being pushed along the Champs-Élysées in her wheelchair. In reality, Luke had made pancakes for lunch and this evening they were going to be ordering a pizza delivery from the new Italian restaurant in Stow-on-the-Wold.
Outside, it was dark and icy cold. Inside, the cottage was toasty warm and comfortable, a bright fire crackling in the grate and the scent of lemons from the pancakes still lingering in the air. As they watched the film together, Hallie kept a covert eye on Luke. It was truly one of life’s pleasures, introducing someone to something you knew they were going to love.
And really, how could he not? Luke had kindness, strength and compassion; he was as perfect as the film itself. It couldn’t fail to touch his soul.
‘Can you pass me a tissue?’ she murmured as, on screen, Andy Dufresne found himself alone in the Governor’s office overlooking the exercise yard.
Luke reached across for the box on the table in front of him. ‘Are you OK?’
Oh, the glamour: he thought she needed a good old chest-clearing cough.
‘I’m fine.’ Hallie braced herself; this part of the film always made her cry. She couldn’t wait to see if it had the same effect on Luke.
Andy Dufresne had found the record and taken it out of its dusty sleeve. He carefully placed it on the record player and listened as the first glorious bars of the Letter Duet from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro began to play. Then he plugged the record player into the main speakers that broadcast throughout the prison and sat back with his hands clasped behind his head, transported along with the rest of the incredulous inmates by the beauty of the aria.
And when the warden hammered furiously on the door, yelling at him to stop it, Andy turned the music up. For those few magical minutes he was no longer a prisoner . . .
Under cover of wiping her eyes, Hallie glanced sideways at Luke and saw that he was breathing in that juddery way people do when they’re struggling to control their emotions. His jaw was rigid and his own eyes were glistening . . . oh yes, it had got to him too.
Unable to resist it, she reached across, gave his arm a gentle nudge and whispered, ‘You OK?’
‘Great, thanks. Absolutely fine.’ As he murmured his reply, Luke kept his gaze fixed on the screen. ‘Not remotely affected.’
She grinned. ‘Don’t worry, it gets better. This is just the start.’
DDDDDRRRINNNGGGGG.
The shrill of the doorbell shattered the moment. They both jumped a mile.
‘What should I do?’ Hallie looked at him. ‘Hide?’ They weren’t doing anything wrong, but she was supposed to be in Paris.
‘Let me go and see who it is. It’s OK, I won’t let anyone in.’ Already on his feet, Luke went to answer the front door. Reaching over for the remote control, Hallie pressed Pause and listened. Hopefully he’d get rid of whoever it was and they could carry on watching the rest of the film. If he was loving it so far, just wait till he got to the bit at the end where—
‘Oh.’ She heard Luke sounding genuinely startled. ‘Hello . . .’
What if it’s Christina?
Then she heard the visitor say, ‘Hello, Luke, can I come in?’ and the shock caused the remote control to slip out of Hallie’s hand. It clattered on to the glass-topped coffee table, then bounced on to the carpet at her feet.
‘You may as well let me in,’ the visitor continued. ‘I know she’s here.’