Free The Last Winter of Dani Lancing: A Novel by P. D. Viner

hell. And then there was her mouth. Full, soft—perfect. He fell in love with that mouth there and then. He may even have drooled a little. He was immediately drawn into her orbit like a love-struck moon. She was the editor, in her second year reading politics, and by all accounts had turned an unloved, barely read monthly into a must-read weekly and was advising other universities on what to do with their crumbling old titles. As he watched her advising and guiding the cub reporter through his story, he was immediately struck by how she took charge with such a deft touch, getting the best out of him not by domineering but by persuading and suggesting. Jim had already fallen a little in love with her that first night, before he even got to her desk and offered his services as cartoonist.

    He flicks on the overhead light, which seems too bright somehow. He hears some thumping music from somewhere close, maybe two doors down. The sounds of the party make him feel even more alone. He wishes he could have a drink but there’s no alcohol in the house. He indulged a little too much in the months after Dani’s death and cut himself off. Maybe for New Year’s Eve … but he doesn’t want to go out in case Patty calls. So the best he can do for a treat is a squashed Quality Street from the back of the sofa.
    He turns on the TV but keeps the sound off. The cameras keep flipping between countries where fresh-faced young people smile and dance and look so hopeful. 1990 really is going to be a new world for them all to live in. But how will he live in a world without Dani?

    At five minutes to 1990 he switches on the sound and watches while the world calls in to show what an amazing decade the nineties will be. It can’t be worse than the eighties, surely.
    Finally it’s time to countdown from Trafalgar Square as Big Ben winds up for the momentous dongs.
    The crowd begins its chant.
    Ten
    The phone rings. Jim grabs it.
    “Patty?”
    Nine
    “Jim,” she sobs.
    Eight
    “Where are you?”
    Seven
    “I thought I had him, Jim. Thought I’d found him.”
    Six
    “Who, Patty?”
    Five
    “The killer, Dani’s killer.”
    Four
    “But it wasn’t him?”
    Three
    “I can’t find him, Jim. I can’t find him.”
    Two
    “Let’s just let … I love you, Patty.”
    One
    The crowd roars. Otherwise there is only silence.

INTERMISSION TWO
    Monday, June 14, 1982
    He cannot take his eyes off her, this lovesick, pale boy. For about another minute that will be fine, watching her is acceptable while she runs. But soon she’ll finish the race, and then he’ll have to stop, peel his eyes off her skin and look elsewhere. She’s coming into the final stretch, miles ahead of the competition, she runs fluidly, seemingly with little effort.
    He’s watched her for a long time—years—since they started school together at five years old. His first real recollection of her was as Mary, mother of our Lord. She was chosen to lead the nativity and for a glorious day and a half he was to be her husband, Joseph. Mr. Chinns explained the story to them, and Tom tried to imagine what living with Dani and their child would be like. On the run on a donkey: romance, tragedy and adventure. This was the first time his creative imagination had swung into gear and it flipped a switch in him. They were bonded, and it was strong; a desire to protect and love Danielle Lancing was etched on Thomas Bevans’s young heart.
    It was only a day and a half of married bliss. There wasn’t even a rehearsal, so they never got to stand next to each other as husband and wife. Instead, he began to itch, and broke out in red welts that were diagnosed as chicken pox. He missed three weeks of school, had a pretty miserable Christmas, and it was all over. He was lucky—there wasn’t a single scar from the pox. At least, none on the outside. Inside, it felt like there was a tiny little arrow embedded that cut every time he thought about or saw Danielle Lancing.
    Despite the