Chapter Forty-Four
True to his word, when I woke up at six, Rob had already packed away his sleeping bag and there was no evidence he’d slept on the sofa. After our heart-to-heart the night before, I’d softened towards him and come to the compromise that we’d take turns with who got the bed.
Bertie hadn’t spoken a word since we arrived at the house, eating his dinner in silence, hiding up in his room with the door closed. We’d agreed to let his rudeness slide for a couple of days while he came to terms with our drastic change in circumstances.
I found Rob making coffee in the kitchen. ‘Want one?’ he asked.
‘Yes, please.’ I took the offered cup and leaned against the kitchen counter. ‘What are your plans today?’
‘Dad’s rented me a new office, so I’m going to see about finding some new clients. It will be the first test of how far news of my downfall spread. I know he pulled all the strings at his disposal to keep the bankruptcy hush-hush, but these things have a habit of getting out. How about you?’
‘I’m heading to the job centre first thing, then I thought I’d call in on Cass. The one silver lining to moving back here is I’m closer to her and Dad.’
‘A positive attitude, I like it.’
I smiled, putting on my best pretence of optimism when inside I felt like I was drowning.
‘Liv, this is a bit awkward, but I wanted to run something by you.’
‘Go on.’
‘Would you mind if I had lunch with Nicola? If you do, I’ll honour your wishes and stay clear of her.’
‘No, I have no problem with you meeting her. The one rule I’d like to impose is that you don’t bring her back here to the house.’
‘That’s fair enough. And if you want to meet up with your bloke, that’s fine with me.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, knowing I wouldn’t even attempt to contact Seb. I’d dreamed about him the previous night, waking up to a pillow soaked with tears and a feeling of longing mixed with despair.
We ate our breakfast in companionable silence. The unexpected friendship developing between us was a blessing. At least I wouldn’t need to find ways to avoid him in our new shoebox house.
‘I’d better wake up Bertie. We’ve got used to a short walk to school. It will be a shock having to get him ready so early.’
I left Rob reading the paper and climbed the stairs. ‘Bertie?’ I said, knocking on his door. ‘Bertie, are you awake?’
‘Go away.’
‘Bertie, you have to get up for school. I’m coming in.’ I pushed against the door, but it wouldn’t open. ‘Bertie, have you locked this door?’
‘It doesn’t have a lock.’
‘OK, so why can’t I get it open?’
‘I don’t want you to come in.’
‘Right, well, I’m afraid I have to.’
‘No.’
‘Let me in this minute or you won’t have your iPad back until Monday.’
I heard a creak as Bertie climbed off his bed and walked across to the door. Next came the sound of something heavy being pushed across his carpet. The door opened a crack, Bertie’s scowling face poking through the gap. ‘What do you want?’
‘You need to get ready for school. Let me in.’
‘No. I can get ready by myself.’
‘What don’t you want me to see?’
