Stupid! How could she be so stupid! What was she doing out here in the middle of the night? She had driven, in her pyjamas, to the old house just because David had gotten on her nerves. God, she was so hot-headed! Now here she was, wondering through the forest behind the house. Walking through spider webs, tripping over stones. What the hell was she doing here?
" Hello, Laurel."
Her thoughts of self-scolding vanished and she whipped around to find Tamani leaning casually against a tree, grinning as if she'd said those things aloud.
"God Tamani, you scared the bejeezus out of me!"
"Sorry, you know I don't mean to."
"Yeah, I know. But you could at least put up an effort to make some more noise in future."
"Fine. But what's really got you so wound up?"
"Isn't it fairly obvious?" she gestured towards her pyjamas. Instantly turning a deep shade of pink.
"Well, you've turned up in the middle of the night wearing sleep attire. Skulking through the forest, making an awful lot of noise and obviously looking for me. No shoes, no keys to the house, not even a sweater." He took off his and wrapped it around her shoulders, making Laurel's blush progress to tomato-red. "No, the reason for such behaviour does not jump out at me."
Laurel suppressed giggle, the situation really was laughable. Nevertheless she drew herself up to her full height (just over 5ft) and stated matter of factly, "Firstly, what makes you think I was looking for you? And second, the reason is pretty obvious;" she deflated slowly, sitting on the rock behind her, "I'm having David problems."
Tamani put on an evil grin. "What, the ever-perfect David? Never!"
Laurel laughed, moving over to make space for him. Then her face grew serious. "He wants to go to college somewhere else. I can't tell him not to go make a life for himself. But at the same time, I can't let him go."
"Laurel, it looks to me like he wants to go and explore places and live his life. Perhaps it's time that you do too." He touched her cheek lightly. She caught his hand and gently pushed it away. "He loves me, Tamani. If that really is what he wants," she paused and took a deep breath, "then I'll go with him."
Tamani lowered his eyes slowly. "It looks like your mind's made up already."
In that moment he looked so sad and lonely that Laurel almost wanted to take back what she had said. Tell him that it was okay, that she would never leave him. But as long as David was around she knew that couldn't be true.
"Tamani I'm sorry-"
But he cut her off, "What did you really come for Laurel? To ask me for advice or to tell me goodbye." He read the answer of her face.
His looked even sadder for just a moment and then became completely expressionless. "Goodbye, Laurel."
