A Straight Line to My Heart Read Online Free

of his seat when the vampires are fighting.
    â€˜This isn’t too bad at all,’ he says. ‘I reckon I could be a fan.’
    But when the movie goes quiet, apart from squelchy kissing noises and heavy breathing, he gets up to go to the toilet. ‘No, no, don’t pause it for me – I’ll survive’. And when he comes back and there’s more kissing, he goes to sleep with his mouth open, and dribbles.
    â€˜I’m not asleep,’ he insists when he catches me looking at him, ‘just restin’ me eyes, that’s all.’
    Wolfie joins us, too. She prefers the commercials to movies, but if someone’s there to rub her belly, she’ll watch anything. Wolfie is very much like Reggie. She sleeps a lot, she’s lovable, and she’s desperate for company.
    The credits start to roll. And Reggie wakes up, coughing. I’ve listened to his cough first thing every morning for years. Usually he hacks away for a minute or so and then there’s quiet again. This isn’t like that. He sits up, holding his throat, coughing and coughing.
    â€˜Are you okay?’
    â€˜Can I get you some water?’
    â€˜Reggie?’
    His fingers dig into the sides of the chair, his eyes wide and scared. The coughing rips through him, flings him forward and back. Zoe has her mobile in her hand ready to press triple-0.
    â€˜Reggie – I’ll get help.’
    â€˜No. No.’ He gasps it, a hanky to his mouth. ‘I’m all right.’
    Gradually the coughing eases and my heart stops pounding. He manages to get to his feet. Bull and Zoe hang on to him but he pulls away.
    â€˜Don’t fuss. It’s nothin’ to worry over. I just need a glass of water. I swallowed the wrong way, that’s all. Let me catch me breath. I’ll be right.’
    Then I see the blood on his lips.

Bull insists he’s going to call a doctor. Reggie insists right back at him.
    â€˜No you bloody will not. I don’t need no doctor.’ He retreats into his room and slams the door behind him. ‘Let a man have some peace, will yer?’
    Bull: ‘Stubborn bugger. I oughta just drag him into the car and make him see Anna.’
    Zoe: ‘No, we should back off; let him settle down for a while.’
    Me: ‘Reggie. I’m coming in.’
    When there’s no reply, I twist the doorknob . . .
    â€˜Before yer start on me, Tiffy, don’t waste yer breath. I’m not seein’ a doctor.’
    â€˜Can I at least sit on the bed? I won’t say anything. I just want to be here with you.’
    It’s so dark with the curtains drawn I could believe I was in a cave, if not for a clock banging out the seconds.
    Reggie finally answers, his voice caught somewhere between sad and strong.
    â€˜A man doesn’t deserve a girl like you.’
    â€˜Does that mean I can sit down?’
    â€˜I could never say no to you, Tiffy, you know that. Twirled me around yer finger from when you were a little kid. Yeah, go ahead.’
    He taps the side of the bed and I take his hand in mine.
    â€˜Don’t know what all that coughin’ was about, but it knocked the stuffin’ out of me. I’m worn out now.’
    â€˜Then go with it, Reggie. Close your eyes.’
    â€˜Don’t think I can sleep. I feel a bit rattled. A smoke might settle me down but I don’t want one. Can’t remember the last time I felt like that.’
    â€˜How about I read to you?’
    â€˜Nah. I think I’m past bedtime stories.’
    â€˜No you’re not.’
    I switch on the light so I can see his bookshelf. I know exactly which one to choose.
    â€˜Your favourite poet, Reggie?’
    He looks at the cover and nods.
    â€˜Banjo Paterson, eh?’
    â€˜So I can read to you?’
    â€˜I wouldn’t say no. But I can tell yer now, I won’t be able to sleep.’
    Reggie used to read these poems to me when I was little.
    I start: