THE MIDNIGHT RIDE
Her heels clicked briskly against the empty pavement as she hurried along. Above, the moon leered down with a smug, Cheshire grin. The city melted into the hazy night, its buildings flashing cold, aloof glances under the moonlight. Streetlamps fought valiantly against the darkness, reclaiming patches of road here and there. Windows glinted like spectacles perched on the faces of the terraced houses.
Up ahead, a tram blazed like a Christmas tree, rattled round the bend, and vanished into the gloomgone like a ghost. The click of her heels quickened, echoing off the walls. Too late. Shed missed the last tram. The moon cackled overhead.
Shed stayed too long at her friends, then stubbornly refused an escort, certain the tram would wait. Now the tapping of her shoes slowed, then stopped altogether. Defeated, she slumped onto a bench and wiped away frustrated tears.
Suddenly, brakes screeched. A cheerful voicehalf-sung, half-drawledcalled out, «Fancy a lift?» She shrank into the bench, wishing she could disappear. Adventures were the last thing she wanted; home was the dream. A man leaned out. «Dont be scaredIll get you there in a jiffy.» The passenger door swung open, and she hesitantly slipped inside.
The leather seats were soft, smelling of comfort and something faintly pleasant. On the backseat, a child dozed against the side of an enormous dog. The beast exhaled warm breaths that ruffled the curls at her neck. She froze.
«Dont worry,» the man said with a quick smile. «Almas gentle as a lamb. Wont hurt a fly.» He thrust out a hand. «Henry.»
«Eleanor Whitmore,» she mumbled.
Henry burst out laughing. «Whitmore? Bit grand for someone your age.» She caught sight of herself in the rearview mirrormascara smudged, eyes wideand barely recognised the reflection. Huffily, she muttered, «Thats a matter of opinion.»
«Teacher, then?» Henry guessed. She stayed silent, lost in thought. «Were out late too,» he ventured.
Her fear dissolved. Something about him felt familiar, as if theyd known each other for years. They slipped easily into first-name terms. The night took on a cosy, almost homely air. Henry handed her a handkerchief. She dabbed at the smudges and offered a grateful smile.
«Youre quite pretty, you know,» he remarked. The compliment lifted her spirits. They joked and laughed, while Alma gave the occasional admonishing woof»Quiet now, youll wake the baby.»
Then the car turned down a dark alley. Her heart lurched. «Just popping into the all-night chemist,» Henry explained, noticing her tension. «Promised Mum her tablets. Wont take a tick.»
It was well past midnight, tomorrowor rather, todaywas Saturday. No one was waiting for Eleanor except a towering stack of schoolbooks, so they drove on, the car slicing through the night like a phantom.
Eventually, Henry invited her back to his. She wasnt even surprised.
His flat was on the seventh floor. He carried his sleeping son gently, and in the elevators ghostly glow, they stole glances at each other before bursting into laughter like mischievous schoolchildren. Henry was tall, broad-shouldered, tanned, with sun-bleached hair that set off his complexion perfectly. Eleanor, even in heels, barely reached his shoulder.
The flat was immaculateeverything in its place, the mark of a careful man. Henry tucked his son into bed; Alma flopped down beside it. They drank tea, listened to classical music, their tastes perfectly aligned. Strangely, Eleanor felt no unease in this strangers home so late at night. That odd familiarity returnedas though theyd always been a family, and little Alfie was hers.
Over wine in the kitchen, Henry grew wistful. His wife had left them… died three years ago in childbirth. Shed insisted the doctors save the babytheir long-awaited firstborn. His mother helped with Alfie now, stepping in when work swallowed Henry whole.
He asked Eleanor to stay till morning. She agreedwhether from the wine or some deeper pull, she couldnt say.
Dawn found her in Henrys bed, roused by a tiny whisper. «Mummy,» Alfie lisped, patting her cheeks. Alma sprawled at her feet. Tears welled as Eleanor hugged him close, murmuring, «Mine, mine.»
Henry squeezed into the room, balancing a steaming breakfast tray. «Getting on well, then?» he grinned. «Marry me.» The proposal was abrupt, absurdit caught her off guard.
«You dont even know me,» she said weakly.
«I know enough. Lifes longwell learn the rest. Alfie likes you. Alma approves. Youll be a brilliant mum.»
Outside, the first pink rays of morning crept in. Eleanor lay with closed eyes, replaying the strange dream: a city that tried to swallow her, a man whod saved her, a family shed never expected.
She stirred. Henry slept peacefully beside her, Alfie snuggled between them. Almas weight pinned her feet. The dog cracked one eye, yawned, and went back to sleep. The alarm wouldnt ring for ages. Eleanor began planning her next lessonthen drifted off.
The sun chased the last shadows away. From the sky, the moon winked at her dreams.
