Page 11 of The Wish

T he sun reflects off the glass surrounding them, casting shadows over the sketches and photos on the desk.

Jesse feels a burst of happiness, and of hope.

Together, it seems, she and Alex are going to make something special, she believes it.

She begins pulling pages from the book, sorting the sketches into two piles.

‘The definites and the hopefuls,’ she says with a cheeky grin.

Alex writes down the names of the parks, gardens, beaches, restaurants and cafés Jesse puts into the definite pile.

Once completed, they spread the sketches out on the table, adding photos where they were taken.

Jesse places Sam’s drawing on top of a photo.

Lost in their studies of the places that will make up Jesse’s experience, they don’t hear Sandy until she stands beside them.

‘Someone said I might find you two here. How’s it going?’ she asks.

‘It’s going,’ Alex replies smiling at Jesse.

‘It’s just the beginning, Sandy, but Alex can do it, can’t you, Alex?’ Jesse challenges.

‘ We are doing this. The two of us.’

Jesse grins. ‘Yep, we’re doing it.’

‘That’s wonderful, Jesse, however, I hate to break this meeting up, but . . .’

‘Can I come back tomorrow?’ Alex asks.

‘Tomorrow?’ Jesse says.

‘I’d like to, if you let me.’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Jesse says teasingly. Inside she’s bursting with gratitude and excitement. ‘I think we can let you, just this time. What do you think, Sandy?’

‘Oh, I’m sure something can be arranged,’ Sandy replies with a wink. ‘But not too long – we don’t want to wear you out.’

Jesse and Alex stand up, Alex gathering up the papers from the table.

Before she knows what she’s doing, before she can stop herself, Jesse gives him a quick, fierce hug.

She’s surprised him, she knows, because when she lets go of him, he looks as if he doesn’t know quite what to do or where to look.

For someone almost twice her age, it’s like he’s never been hugged before.

Adults never fail to surprise her – it’s like they’re never as certain or as straightforward as they pretend to be, even to themselves.

Jesse follows Sandy, pushing her IV as she goes.

She turns round to give Alex one last wave and sees him sitting back down on the bench, face turned up to the sunshine.

She doesn’t know what he’s thinking, but in her mind she’s certain: he’s the one for the job.

Alex is going to make her wish come true.