CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Rory stepped out of the solicitor’s office onto the busy London street and loosened his tie. It was another thing he never thought he’d find himself doing, and certainly not at this point in his life but he’d got through it.
The turn of events had knocked him for six.
Kate, George’s daughter, stepped out behind him and shut the heavy door behind her with a sigh of relief.
She smiled at him. “Thank goodness that’s done.”
It was a relief that she found it stressful too. Perhaps these kind of things always were. Rory had no clue.
She put her arm around his shoulder. “Come on, let’s go and get a nice big glass of wine and have a chat.”
It was scarcely midday, but a drink sounded good. Rory was pretty much in shock after the reading of George’s instructions.
Kate nodded across the street. “There’s always a good wine bar near a solicitor’s office.”
A few minutes later they were sat in a quiet booth with a bottle of Australian Chardonnay in an ice bucket and two big glasses. Rory didn’t think he’d ever drank Chardonnay but when she ordered a bottle he didn’t argue. It actually had quite a pleasant taste, and it did make him feel a bit more relaxed.
Kate was chatty, seemingly relieved now all the business was done. What she wanted was to get home to Australia to her family that was clear.
Rory nodded as she talked about her flight back home. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done this past couple of weeks. You’ve helped things go smoothly with the arrangements.”
“I’ve only done what anyone would do in the circumstances, glad to help. I’ve never done anything like this before, but your dad’s friends were willing to give me advice, and your dad had set things up pretty well.”
“He did, didn’t he?” She smiled wistfully. “Well, you’ve made it a heck of a lot easier for me. I didn’t have to deal with undertakers from across the world.”
Rory took off his tie, folded it and put it in his pocket. “I’m not sure about the will though.”
Kate gave a sad smile. “You made that obvious in the lawyer’s office. Don’t knock it, as far as I’m concerned it works out perfectly. You should have his workshop. It works out much better if you keep it going, and look at it this way, you’ll make a profit and I get a share. That couldn’t be better for me, all I ask is you keep doing what you were doing. He told me you were the best apprentice he ever had, the only one who he could really rely on. If you carry things on the way he set them up, that would be great tribute to him.”
“It just feels wrong. I don’t deserve it.”
“No it isn’t. She smiled. Her eyes were sad, but she smiled. “My dad loved you. We used to talk on Skype once a week and all he talked about was you. I couldn’t believe you’d talked him round about stuff like servicing electric bikes and motocross models.”
Rory laughed. “People were always asking, it was the sensible thing to do, it didn’t have to change the classic core of the business or its trademark look.”
“He was delighted you were able to expand the business, take on those customers.”
Rory knew that. “He liked to joke about it, he called me a turncoat.”
“I can imagine.”
“Why send the customers away? I was willing to learn and I promised I’d take care of it.”
“It was one of the things he respected about you, your willingness to take responsibility. He wanted you to have what he left you.”
“But what about you?”
“The money, the stocks and shares, that’s all good. I’ll keep it invested for my kids. Rory, my husband has his own company, and to be honest with you it’d be a royal pain in the ass for me to have to deal with the workshop and all that stuff. I’m happy for you to take it over in his name.”
Rory swigged his wine.
“There’s something else I need to run by you.”
Rory lifted his eyebrows. It was already a lot to take in.
Kate laughed. “Why don’t we order lunch and another drink?”
“Sounds good.”
* * * *
That evening Sky lay in her bed with her sheets twisted between her arms and legs, thinking about Rory. Sleeping wasn’t easy, because the longing she felt for him, the man who made her feel whole, had long since become overwhelming.
“Rory, what the hell have you done to me?”
That day at work she tried to focus on her plans for her art—her one and only love, before she found Rory again—but it didn’t work either. Usually it helped her get through the day, planning what she’d work on next. And now, lying alone on her futon, it was driving her slowly insane. Being in love was a painful thing.
Her phone finally bleeped into life.
Sky leaped up and snatched the phone off the shelf.
It was his name she saw on the screen.
“Hey you,” she said, smiling as she answered his call. “No texts then a phone call, what have I done to deserve such a treat?”
“There’s been a lot to deal with, but it doesn’t mean I stopped thinking about you.” His voice. It made her melt. “I didn’t wake you did I?”
“Nope. I can’t sleep. Thinking about you.”
He gave a soft growl. “Good.”
“I’m going crazy without you.”
“I’m sorry. I just got used to being alone, and when that happened to George I felt I had to handle it alone.”
“But I’m the same, I’ve been alone for a while now and yet you helped me when I had to go to Wales with Nan, and after…” She took a deep breath, acknowledging what he’d done for her when she’d had flashbacks about the dark days with her mother. “You wouldn’t let me do the same for you and help you with some of the stuff you’ve had to deal with.”
“I will, soon. …the truth is if you’d been here with me, I would’ve just wanted to be with you. I felt guilty, still do, about the physical attack on George.”
“The woman from the tea bar opposite told me what happened and what you had to deal with.”
“Yeah…” He fell silent for a moment. “I’m heading up to see Sean tomorrow, got a visitor’s pass.”
“Is he okay? That’s twice you’ve been recently?”
“Just making plans for when he comes out. I want him to feel he’s got something to come out to, you know, it’s been tough on him. The way we see it, he took the fall for all three of us.”
“You’re a good brother, better than mine is to me.”
“Draco really cares about you, otherwise he wouldn’t have kicked off the way he did.”
“I suppose you’re right, but he’s got an odd way of showing it.”
“We’re through the worst now. As soon as I get back from seeing Sean, I’ll be in touch, okay?”
Relief hit her.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. I couldn’t let George down. He put a lot of faith in me, and it’s been a huge wake up call.”
“How do you mean?”
“That someone valued me that much, cared about my future, and trusted me.”
She wanted to bellow into the phone she valued him that much and more, but she held back, letting him get his thoughts out. Besides, he was revealing a side of himself she hadn’t seen before.
“There were a lot of things to do, and I had his pets to look after.”
“Tell me about them.”
“Aside from Oscar, the wolfhound, three resident cats and a feral colony at the bottom of the garden. George lived on the edge of a park, so there are a few scavengers around. George fed them and kept a watch on them.”
“Send me a photo, will you?”
“Okay.” He sounded surprised. “I can do that. Oscar knew me, which was a mercy. I wouldn’t have fancied coming in here to feed them and have him thinking I was a burglar. George used to bring him to the workshop on the days his dog walker wasn’t available. We’d spent a lot of time together before.”
He chatted on, then his tone altered. “Before I go, tell me what are you wearing?”
The question took her by surprise. “One of your old T-shirts.”
“Ah, yes I was going to confront you about it. I saw it under the futon the day we had to leave for Wales.”
“You left it behind. Of course I was going to grab it.” She chuckled.
“If you’d asked I’d have given it to you.”
“The band was that bad?”
He laughed. “No, but I’d have given you anything you wanted.”
“I wanted you.”
“Is that why you stared?”
“Making eyes. My Mum used to tell me off every time she caught me looking at you. Stop making eyes at him, she’d say.”
A deep sigh issued from the other end of the phone. “Al I wanted to do then—and now—is put my hands on you, to be inside you. To hold you.”
His tone had a low intensity about it that melted her. His words set loose a yearning like she’d never felt before. She bit her lip, her head dropping back. “Are you winding me up?”
“No! I’m being straight with you, you crazy girl.” Again he sighed. “I wish I was there.”
She laughed breathlessly. “So do I, believe me. I’m going to dream of you tonight.”
After the end of the phone call, Sky found it much easier to snuggle down in bed, having spoken to him. She lay on her side and imagined Rory was at her back, holding her. The things he’d said on the phone ran through her mind, making her smile. The treasured intimacy was back again. In fact it seemed stronger, as if they didn’t have to be cautious and on guard with each other. Relieved and hopeful, she closed her eyes. She was drifting into a doze when her phone bleeped.
Lifting up onto one elbow, she reached for it and opened up the message.
There was a picture of a big shaggy wolfhound looking at her, a real close up, and he had a red ball in his mouth, as if he’d brought it to her and wanted to play.
Tears prickled at the back of her eyes.
A moment later the phone bleeped again.
She swiped to the next message. The photograph she saw there featured a bookshelf stacked with ornaments and books, and what looked like bike parts and bits of old radio. It was taken from quite a distance away, around ten feet or so, she supposed, and she wondered what she was looking at.
Then she saw it, and gasped aloud.
In various places amongst all the paraphernalia on the shelves she caught sight of a black moggy peering out from between a clock and a radio, hidden at the back of the shelf, safe and secure. She touched its nose with her fingertip. “Hello cutie pie.”
Scanning the rest of the shelves she found a fluffy ginger and white, and a wide-eyed tabby, hidden in various places. The tabby even seemed to be sitting on a cushion, which made her chuckle. George must have put it back there for the cat to sit on.
No wonder Rory had felt the need to go and be with them, they would be missing George terribly, just as she was missing Rory. And he was missing his boss and friend. It struck her then, how much Rory would be missing George. Like a network of grief, it was eventually followed by love and consolation from those left behind, to heal the gaps.
I’m part of that.
For the first time, she knew how much she wanted it. To really be part of something, to be needed. Reassured, and filled with love, she knew then Rory wouldn’t break from her. She would see him again, and as soon as he could.
She wanted to pour her heart out in response to the lovely photos, to tell him how happy it made her feel. She would tell him when they were together. She sent him a heart emoji, and took a selfie showing his T-shirt and sent it as well.
Then she snuggled down in bed, clutching her phone to her heart.