Casey went back down to the courtyard and over to the bench outside Tony\u2019s flat and underneath Emma and Daniel\u2019s balcony. It was hard to remember that Emma had died just a metre from where she was sitting. It was incongruous, didn\u2019t seem to make sense. What had happened?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rob came down quietly and sat at the other end of the bench with his phone face up in his hand. At that moment the cat appeared between them and they both jumped
\u201cChrist\u201d muttered Rob \u201clike a Nepalese Gurkha\u201d Casey looked confused and Rob explained \u201cthey fought with the British army and were so stealthy that the first, and last, thing you saw was the knife that killed you.\u201d An awkward silence followed as they both stared at the spot Emma had died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRob did something happen between you and Emma?\u201d
Rob shifted uneasily and glanced at his phone and up at the balcony of his flat.
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\u201cAt the Christmas barbeque.\u201d Casey was glad it was dark as it made it easier to ask uncomfortable questions. She stroked the cat who was still sitting between them and watched Rob\u2019s growing distress. He stared at his phone and then dropped his head into his other hand, rubbing his head. Casey forced herself to stay silent and could feel Robs inner turmoil as he shifted around on the bench, rubbed his eyes and kept glancing up to his flat. Finally, Casey cracked. What had he done?
\u201cRob, it can\u2019t have been that bad, surely?\u201d
Rob groaned and took a breath.
\u201cIt was nothing. I mean it was something and I have regretted it every day since. I was very drunk. We had just moved here because when we found out about Yuki\u2019s cancer, we knew money was going to be tight, so we downsized. Yuki had just started chemo and she was so sick, and so brave. I was trying to negotiate time off work so I could look after the kids as well as Yuki. And then at the barbeque I got drunk and I made a stupid, embarrassing, clumsy pass at Emma. She just pushed me away, but I hate myself for it.\u201d
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Casey went back down to the courtyard and over to the bench outside Tony\u2019s flat and underneath Emma and Daniel\u2019s balcony. It was hard to remember that Emma had died just a metre from where she was sitting. It was … Continue reading