'Are you sure about this Harry?'
'Have Wes stay with us for a few days yes of course we are , so take the break and the time you need to decide if you really want to step up, because not only are you more than capable, but sitting behind what was my desk will give you a far better chance to stay in one piece than running around in the field. Besides from what I understand Ros only applied to make up the numbers, which was fine until after the first couple of questions she said who wants to sit behind a desk when you can kick arse as a field officer without anyone noticing. A statement which I believe caused quite a stir and one from which I hope Dolby may never recover, now go before we change our minds Adam.'
'In which case and with my thanks Wes has a list of things that he would like to do as in seeing the lions - the ones in Trafalgar Square, go on a train because in my newly acquired roll of being honest with my son I told him that you and Ruth live in France and the best way to get there was through a tunnel under the Thames, go on the London Eye and stay up later than I let him.'
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'It's fine, we'll just have to stay on longer than we planned to do and see in the New Year here,' is Ruth's pragmatic response when Harry explains that Adam is taking a few days off, as Wes demolish another slice of toast as soon as she puts it on his plate. Something which makes Harry think how it feels strange but at the same time right that Adam who had turned to Ruth for support after Fiona had been killed, should be doing the same thing now when he is at another turning point in his life. In the same way that he himself owes Adam more than he will ever be able to repay by insisting that he go with him to France, which means that the four of them are bound together in a way that makes them feel like the family he has always wanted but never achieved. Literally in Ruth's case because if anything were to happen to him, not only does he want Ruth to be financially secure but to be his wife, providing of course she says yes when he asks her which he intends to do on their night out at the theatre.
For the second time in as many days they leave the car where it is, but rather than wait for a taxi they head for the nearest underground station on foot. Where another memory of the day Harry had stopped the trains to allow Adam to escape Mace's watchers briefly comes to mind. More so when Wes who is holding tight to both their hands when they reach what is a crowded platform assumes that the first train which appears has come from France. Until they finally emerge after two changes and several escalators later into Trafalgar Square where he sees the fountains, the Christmas Tree and Nelson's Column, combined with an expression to suggest that he won't be disappointed whatever they do. Enough to turn any heart had the other tourists who are surrounding them known the circumstances which have brought the three of them together.
In the same way that when it comes to lunchtime, Harry spots what he considers to be a child friendly café, if only because on the hoarding outside the door it says chips with everything and because it is a long time since he himself has eaten anything that included chips on the plate and with a look in Ruth's direction to suggest that if Wes doesn't eat something in the next ten minutes he will fade away, they push open the door and find a table by the window. Where the food when it arrives, fish for him and Ruth and sausages for Wes is extremely good, as are the chips which are crisp rather than soggy.
A description which also applies to Harry state of mind because Wes might be their priority, but he is more than capable of manipulating the time left on what is day one of a week which will go all too quickly, by suggesting that after eating, a ride on the London Eye should be postponed in favour of a walk in St. James's Park. Where amongst the crowd he and Ruth retrace their footsteps with the same familiarity as they do now on their morning walks along the canal. And although is not inconceivable that at some time in the future they will visit London again, the memories of stolen moments and whispered conversations contrive to produce an emotion that dismisses the losses to be replaced by gains.
That it was Fiona who read to Wes at bedtime seems likely when he finally runs out of steam and accepts Harry's suggestion that he has a shower before going to bed and that as he himself has some paperwork he needs to attend to that Ruth will read to him. The question as to what to read, given that Harry's books no longer include anything a child would understand is solved when Wes turns to Ruth and says, 'where's France and what's it like?'
A question which changes Harry's decision to dig out the paperwork containing his past life plan that he needs to discuss with his solicitor in favour of eaves dropping. Making himself a cup of coffee and heading back to the sitting room with no idea as to the the length of time it will take Ruth to supervise Wes having a shower, he settles himself on the sofa and relaxes until he hears voices on the landing, or more precisely when he hears Ruth say, 'come on let's tuck you in,' in favour of listening to what is a very simple and easily understood by a child version of how Ruth views the country where they have chosen to live. The vast coastline, the mountains, the wide-open spaces, the friendly people who live in their village, all would he concedes have sold it to him at Wes's age, as well as setting it up nicely for a visit with Adam at some time in the future.
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That they are about to be the subject of a conversation on the grid which to Ros's delight includes Malcolm who having dropped Martin off at Paddington Station has joined them, is in this case because she needs his input to solve not only the when but the where to hold what they want to be a goodbye party appropriate given the years of service which Harry has given and the reason for his resignation which is of course Ruth.
'Not until Adam is back,' she says which is obvious but nobody says so at the risk of being told to stand in the corner. Or do they ask whether the arrangements will have to be altered if there is a National Emergency on the evening in question, because Ros in this mood simply won't let that happen, with or without having sent a memo to potential terrorists in advance.
'And not on the twenty third,' chips in Malcolm who knows that Harry has booked seats at the Barbican, which is why they settle on the twenty ninth.
The where, after a lengthy discussion and a phone call to confirm that what is described as a small private venue in hotel in Pimlico where there will be no chance of being disturbed by the other guests is available and Ros closes the meeting.
But not until Zaf and Jo have disappeared through the pods does the other Ros turn to Malcolm and say, 'despite you having spent some time with them recently I'm sure it won't make them leaving any easier, so if you want to spend some time with them between now and then, you have my blessing.'