24
George’s fingers gently traversed the porcelain-smooth length of Cissie’s back. He could tell she wasn’t sleeping. Lying too still. No gentle snoring. The night air brushed over them like a warm blanket and they lay together covered only by a thin summer sheet.
‘You awake?’ he whispered.
She shifted a little. ‘Mm.’
‘Everything all right?’
Cissie rolled over and swept her dishevelled hair from her face to look up at him. ‘No. Everything is not all right. I’m wondering what I’m going to do without you for such a long time,’ she said, indignant.
George leaned down to kiss her but she turned her cheek away with defiance.
‘I won’t be gone long, I hope only a few weeks.’ He tucked his thumb under her chin and coaxed her face back towards his own.
‘I just wish you weren’t going for Chr
