She laughed and punched him, and he ditched the spade and grabbed hold of her. Peg, he said, I bloody missed you, and you start giving me grief—I know, I know, she said—I got back when loads didn’t—I know, I know, she said—and stuff helped me, he said. And I learned things and I met people and I’m proud of what I got to know—I know, I know, she said—and he started to dance with her, and she laughed more, and he’d forgotten that it was the best thing in the world to make her laugh. They stopped their dance and caught their breath. Peg looked warmer; she had color in her cheeks.
