‘If you love me then be honest with me. Does part of you hope it’s yours?’
Lewis shuffled awkwardly.
‘I knew it.’ She looked up to try and stop her tears.
‘I’m so sorry, how can I make this better?’ Lewis groaned.
‘Ring her and find out.’
‘I don’t have her number.’
Gracie reached for her phone. ‘Here!’
‘This is so bloody awful. What am I supposed to say?’ Lewis screwed up his face.
‘Be a man, Lewis, for once. Go on. But don’t ring her from my number; she’ll never pick up.’
‘I’m not going to ask her outright on the phone. I’ll arrange to meet her.’ The words flew out before Lewis had a chance to stop them.
Gracie put her hand to her forehead and sighed. ‘Whatever, Lewis. Whatever.’
Lewis’s hand shook as he dialled the number. He was praying inside that she wouldn’t pick up. Gracie had asked him to put it on speaker so she could hear exactly what was said.
‘Margaret Good speaking.’
‘Oh, hello… I was after Annalize.’
‘I’m her mother. Who’s speaking, please?’
‘It’s Lewis Blair. I’m a…’ He looked to an agitated Gracie. ‘… a friend of hers.’
‘Lewis, you say? I’ve never heard her mention you.’ A nosy mother wasn’t what he needed right now.
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘What do you want?’
‘Just a chat with Annalize.’
‘Well, she’s not here, I’m sorry.’
Lewis sighed with relief. ‘When can I talk to her?’
‘It’s a really bad time actually, Lewis. She’s not too well at the moment. I’ll tell her you called.’ And with that she hung up.
‘She always was a bloody hypochondriac,’ Gracie ranted. ‘And as for getting her mother to answer her phone, what’s that all about? Stupid bitch!’
‘Well, we’ve tried. As soon as she calls back I’ll arrange to meet her.’
Gracie drained her coffee. ‘And so the nightmare continues.’
Lewis stood up to hug her but she pushed him away.
‘Try not think about it too much, Gracie.’
Gracie huffed, ‘And that comment shows why we are no longer together, Lewis.’
She walked through to the hallway and pushed open the door to the nursery. Just as they had left it: two empty little Moses baskets. The eerie silence of what could have been.
