‘Yeah… It’s a friend from Kinshore, and it’s weird that she would call me.’ Cherry stared blankly at the handset.
‘Answer it.’ Pam lifted the phone and held it out to her daughter.
Cherry took it and fumbled her finger to the green button whilst attempting to smile at her mum.
‘Thanks.’
But when Summer’s voice came through the line with the news from Kinshore, Cherry’s smile plummeted through the caravan floor.
Chapter 37
Cherry
Cherry arrived back in Kinshore late. The call from Summer about Sean’s accident came at 4 p.m., and now it was gone midnight. She slowed the hire car as she passed his house. There was a dim light on in the lounge. He might still be up, but he could have forgotten to switch off the lamp, and she wouldn’t disturb him if he was already in bed, recovering. She hadn’t told him she was coming because seeing him in person was the only way to do this.
She took a big-girl breath and drove on to Summer’s house.
Summer was padding around in bright green pyjamas with lambs on them. A cat was following her around, rubbing against her ankles and purring.
‘Love the PJs,’ Cherry said.
‘Thank you. I’ve made up the spare room for you. There’s a towel on the bed. Bathroom is at the end of the hall. You might have a sleeping companion; I hope you don’t mind.’ She motioned to the cat at her ankles. ‘Butterscotch likes to sleep in there sometimes.’
‘Not a problem at all.’ Cherry had to ask the question that was niggling at her mind. ‘How is Sean? Do you know?’
‘I think he’s okay. Bruised and stuff, but still talking about finishing the race. That’s Sean. His foot could be hanging off, and he’d still be climbing Kilimanjaro.’
And that was her man. It was a comfort knowing he was near again, but she ached to see him. To spend the night with him, in that bed that she’d never been in.
Never slept in the same bed as her husband,’ she considered, as she snuggled under the duvet a short time later. ‘How was that? So symbolic of their relationship. Fucking everywhere but his bedroom. She’d give anything to be in Sean’s bed right now. Next to him.
God, she was torturing herself, although it made a difference from pleasuring herself on the small bank of memories and a backup generator of fantasies.
Ugh. She groaned quietly and rolled over in bed, leaning to turn off the lamp. At that moment, her phone lit up. She grabbed it so fast it nearly fell to the floor.
SEAN: You come to Kinshore but you don’t come to see your injured husband? Rude.
Tears stung Cherry’s eyes as a small laugh choked out. Oh my God! She fumbled across the keys, tapping out a response.
CHERRY: You still think of yourself as my husband?
SEAN: Have done since the moment I met you. Don’t make me come over there and get you, wife.
A huge, goofy grin spread across her face. He wanted to see her. He’d pushed her away, but now he was asking her back. And calling her his wife.
CHERRY: Are you okay to have after-dark visitors?
SEAN: It’s not a booty call, you wee minx. I just want to see you. But I am going to bed if you’re not here in ten minutes.
She shot out from under the duvet. Joggers and a tee would do. Summer was still in the kitchen, making a herbal tea, when Cherry practically fell down the stairs.
‘Sorry,’ Summer said. ‘I might have told Nate, who might have told Sean, that you’re back.’
‘No need to apologise.’ Cherry panted, grabbing her bag and pulling on her trainers. ‘I’m popping over there for a bit. I’ll be back soon.’
Summer beamed. ‘Take as long as you guys need. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.’
It was strange to knock at the door of Sean’s house, where she’d come and gone so freely for two months.
