“Have you ever…”
A knock at the door interrupted the rest of my sentence and Jack’s mum appeared, carrying mugs of tea.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you might want a drink.”
“And you wanted to know what the police said?” Jack shook his head, amused. He got along well with his parents. They were nice people.
“Of course.” She sat down in the chair under the bay window. “Bring me up to speed.”
* * *
My house wasdifferent from what I remembered. When I first moved in, after Ava Callaghan had finished painting and furnishing it, it felt like a something from a home décor magazine, as if it had been styled for photos rather than to live in. Today was the first time it felt like something more than rooms filled with props and pretty colours.
I’d envied Max and Victoria’s house when they’d first moved in. The period features had been restored and highlighted, the house felt comfortable and a place to live rather than a place to look at. But that, as Ava had explained, was something the person dwelling there had to create by actually living there, as opposed to just using it as a place to sleep between shifts.
Today my house was filled with people. Pretty cushions were squashed by the bodies of the large Callaghan men and Killian and Owen, Payton’s fiancée. I was almost out of everyday coffee, with Seph eyeing up my supply of Blue Mountain.
The house had a buzz to it, a vibe of people actually being there. Lauren was sitting on cushions in a corner with her friend Lily, looking at something on their phones and giggling.
“If it’s too noisy, tell me and I’ll get rid of them.” Jack whispered in my ear, his hand on my lower back.
I’d become used to his constant touch and now sought it, especially since getting out of hospital. The amount of machines I’d had monitoring me when I’d first woken up had acted like bodyguards, stopping anyone from getting too close. The me from four months ago would’ve been fine with that, living in my bubble of simply work, but I’d wanted reassurance that I was still alive.
I’d wanted Jack.
“It’s fine. I could do with something to eat.”
He looked pleased.
I hadn’t recovered much of an appetite in the last few days, which was to be expected. My weight had dropped and I was aware I looked on the skinny side. Chefs shouldn’t look too thin; my dad had always said that. Bad advertisement.
“I can make you anything. I can also tell this lot to piss off whenever you want.”
Claire and Killian were curled up in the corner with their daughter, Eliza. Jackson was playing with Teddy on a baby thing on the floor, his son giggling.
I can make you anything.
“Sim?”
“Hmmm?” I looked up at him,
He shook his head and smiled. “At this moment I can make you anything food wise. Anything else and we need more privacy.”
Heat filled my cheeks. “Grilled cheese. With onion.”
“On it.” He leaned over and kissed me, disappearing to the kitchen.
Vanessa sat down next to me and stretched back into the sofa. “You look a lot better than when we saw you in hospital.”
“I feel a lot better. Trina’s been arrested too.”
She pushed her hair back from her face. “Trust me, I may have known before you. Word got round quick.”
“Messages?” The Callaghans were notorious for their group texts.
“Oh yes. The best was last night from Killian. He sent a message to the full group instead of just Claire. I’m half surprised that Jackson and Max haven’t killed him.” She sighed, looking at her brother-in-law.
“Go on…”
