Counting down to publication day.

Counting down to publication day with a few snippets from the first two chapters of Ursula Moller’s List of Regrets.

Chapter 1, Ursula gets a call from her old friend Andi:

‘It’s Pablo. He’s gone. Left me.’ Andi must have included that last bit to make it clear that gone didn’t mean dead. It was always best to clarify. Especially with Pablo.

‘Are you sure?’ Ursula stopped herself from saying, this time. Are you sure this time?

‘It’s not like before. We didn’t have a fight.’

‘Okay. Is there anything I can do?’

Silence, finally interrupted by a sigh. ‘You haven’t seen him then?’

‘Me? Why would I see him? Did he say he was coming to Birmingham?’

‘No. I guess I’m clutching at straws. You’ll let me know if he turns up though, won’t you?’

‘Absolutely. Have you spoken to the kids?’

‘They haven’t heard from him. He’s not in his usual haunts either. Sorry, Urs. I just had to check.’

‘If you need me…’ Ursula left the sentence hanging, not ready to say what she would do if Andi did actually need her.

‘I’ve got to go. I’ll call later. Or tomorrow.’

‘Anytime. You know that. Anytime.’

‘Yeah. Sorry, I’m not myself right now. Bye, Urs.’

Ursula still had the phone to her ear even though Andi had cut the call. She was looking out of the window at the sky. She’d missed the sunset but that wasn’t what was troubling her. It was the air. It had changed again. She went outside to get closer to it. The rain was coming, that was all it was. A storm maybe. She should go home before it started, but she knew she wouldn’t.