That’s enough. It’s enough for her and enough for me. If we can keep it light, then that’ll surely reduce our suffering.
A few weeks pass before she texts me.
Annie: Tamsin told me Sammy’s living with you. How do the sheep feel about it?
Me: Weirdly, they seem to like him.
Annie: Well, there’s no accounting for taste ;)
In March she texts again.
Annie: I got a part-time job at a kids’ shoe shop.
Me: Congrats. Hope your new boss isn’t a sleazy fuck like the last one.
Annie: So far she’s been well-behaved.
Me: :)
In April I text her.
Me: Did you know your mum sold the house? She bought that little cottage behind the mechanics.
Annie: Oh. She take Banjo with her?
Me: Yeah. Saw him in the yard when I passed yesterday.
Annie: He hates fences :(
It’s well into May when I hear from her again.
Annie: Any idea where Charlie ended up? Bridget’s been asking about him.
Me: Did you tell her he won’t fit on the terrace?
Annie: *eye roll*
Me: He was sold to the Wilkons.
I actually showed up at their house when I found out, offering to buy the horse they had just purchased for their daughter. Needless to say, the door was politely closed in my face.
Annie: The Wilkons are a nice family. Thanks x
I stare at that x on my phone for an embarrassing amount of time. It’s the most intimate thing to have taken place between us in months. I go to text her back, then delete everything I’ve written and put the phone down.
Four years and six months.