Three Men On Tour: 46

I watched George chatting excitedly with Harry as they examined the small plinth marking the spot where the first work began on Clifton Suspension bridge. It was funny, I thought. Three days of chaos and arguments, and all made up over a small piece of rock.

“They seem happy,“ said Alicia, coming up from behind me and taking my arm.

“They should be,“ I said. “This was the point of the whole bloody trip. All this for a bridge.“

“A very pretty bridge,“ Alicia pointed out. “If you know how to look at it.“

“Are you?“ I asked her. “Happy, I mean.” She smiled.

“Yes,“ she said. “For a long time I wasn’t but now I am.“

“And you don’t mind that I’ve been an idiot?“

“You get there in the end. That’s all that matters.“

“I’ll be different from now on,“ I promised her. “No more taking you for granted. No more chasing after other women. No more getting walked over at work. Fitter, happier, more productive.“

“You’re an idiot,“ said Alicia, “but you’re my idiot.“

I smiled and let her lean into me. I had an article to write.