Jane walked through the flat slowly, eyes trailing over the bare walls and empty shelves. "It looks good," she said, her voice carrying that calm reassurance of someone who had seen many tenants come and go. "You've kept it well."
Rune smiled faintly. "Thank you. And... goodbye, Jane."
London had never been a place for relationships that ran deep. Rune had passed her neighbours in the corridor maybe a handful of times, but the connections had never gone further than polite nods. Soon, it would all be behind her.
Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her reverie.
Eli.
Would you like to meet up?
She blinked at the message, hesitating. Was this Dorian's doing? A request passed down the chain? Another one of his mind games? Before she could talk herself out of it, Eli followed with –There's a coffee shop. Seed Café, not far from London Euston. Fancy meeting there?
She agreed. Even if he was there at Dorian's behest, it didn't matter. Her path was set. He couldn't hurt her anymore. Her bag was already packed. She was planning to take the six o'clock train from London Euston to Blaenau Ffestiniog. It was going to be a long trip, but she felt lighter than she had in years, like she'd shed a burden that had been crushing her shoulders for far too long.
Six years ago, she'd thought Dorian would move from sex to caring, maybe even love. She had thought she would be the one to melt his cold, cold heart. Instead, her life had slid from sex to callousness to indifference. Yesterday, she'd finally realised she had spent most of her adult life chasing a dream that was never meant for her. Her child deserved more than that. A father like the men in her family, maybe someone like the bashful boys from school she'd once known and never thought of as more. Because there was always the unattainable Dorian. No one could compare. Now it was time to shelve her childish dream. It was time to be practical. She would find someone steady, dependable, someone who could at least try to love her. Or, she would be fine on her own.
There was a nip in the air. She buttoned her peacoat and pulled her knit scarf tighter around her neck, the chilly wind nibbling at her fingertips and nose. Her beanie was pulled low over her ears. Home was home, but it meant colder mornings, feeding and milking before the sun was up. And she was looking forward to it.
Eli was already at Seed Café when she arrived. Pushing forty and divorced, Eli had a seven-year-old daughter whose dog-eared photograph he carried in his wallet. Rune had seen him whip it out at the smallest excuse. That was the kind of father she wanted for her child, someone who proudly showed his daughter off like she was all that mattered.
She ordered a ginger tea. The smell of coffee was tempting. Pregnancy hadn't put her off it, no nausea or sprint for the toilet. But with Dorian, any sudden change in habits would have caught Dorian's eye. He was a shark, always looking for the slip, the kill. So she had nursed many a coffee over the last weeks without tasting a sip.
They chatted. His brown eyes were kind, laugh lines fanning from their corners, speaking of years spent outdoors. He had his daughter half the week, his mam stepping in when he was working.
Eventually, Eli leaned forward. "Why are you leaving, love?"
"You know. I've been fired."
His brow furrowed. "But why? You are amazing."
Rune looked down into her tea even as her cheeks coloured at the compliment. "I guess I don't fit Dorian's needs anymore."
"That daft sod," Eli muttered. "Letting a gem like you go. He regrets it already, you know. "
A humourless laugh escaped her as her eyes clouded with a mixture of resignation and shame. "He's like a child with a toy. He doesn't want it anymore, but no one else can have it. I can’t even blame him. It's all on me. He never hid who he was."
"That's not it," Eli said, shaking his head. "Dorian does nothing without planning. I think he reacted to something, and now he can't take it back without looking weak, the little prat, prancing in his stupid fishbowl office. So now he's got that flossy one to push you to come back. He's even jealous of me. Did you see him in the back seat the other day? Like a thundercloud he was!"
Rune's gaze flicked up.
He smiled faintly. "Maybe I want to give him a reason, to be jealous I mean. What do you think, Rune?"
"Eli," she said gently but firmly, "I think you're a better man than I deserve. But I need my family, and I'm going home.”
She hesitated before adding, “Also... I'm pregnant."
Eli gave a low whistle. "Does Dorian know?"
"How do you know it is his?" Rune said simply.
Eli raised a brow as he sat back on his chair, "Rune, you have not had eyes for anyone else. It couldn't be anyone else's."
Her eyes filled before she could stop them. She looked up to stop the tears from escaping. "Let's just say he doesn't want my baby or me. And I know he'll make it difficult for me to work here. So I'm leaving. Going somewhere he can't hurt me or my baby. And you... you can't follow me there. You have your daughter, your mum, your responsibilities."
They sat together in silence for a moment, each in their own world.
"Wrong place, wrong time, Rune. Will you let me know," he asked quietly, "if I can help in any way?"
