Absolutely. Is it working?
She sends a grumpy face emoji in return:
Can I bring you a coffee?
And banana chocolate loaf?
You don’t even need to ask. See you soon.
I smile as I zip through the shower, wrap a towel around my waist, and head back to the bedroom. I get that she was embarrassed this morning; it’s a new thing for both of us, and we’ve got a lot of things to navigate, including work. But for the moment, I want to savor this, enjoy feeling like myself for the first time in a long-ass time. I pick up my phone again and tap out a text to Des:
Thanks for persuading Sadie to live here. She’s a gem.
My phone rings in my hand.
“Jimmy-boy!” Des says in my ear.
“Hey, Des. What time is it in Korea?”
“Nine p.m. I’ve just finished dinner. What’s with the message about Sadie?”
“She’s a great person to share a place with. She’s good company.”
I can’t tell him any more than that now, can I? I should have known I’d get the Spanish Inquisition. I step into my boxers and pull out a shirt and a pair of pants from the closet.
“Good. I’m pleased to hear it. Alex was worried about her.”
My hands still. “Really? Why?”
“He just thought she was too quiet. And she had that bruise on her cheek.”
God, I promised Sadie I wouldn’t tell anyone about her stepdad. “Well, she’s been great.”
He hums in my ear like he’s thinking about whether to push for more information, and I hold my breath. The air shimmers with all the things we’ve left unsaid.
“I’m glad it’s working out” is all he says.
Better than he knows.I grab my laptop. “Tell me what’s been happening this week out there,” I say as I head out into the hallway and press the button for the elevator, and he starts talking to me about Alex and some of the staff that have just started. When I get to the street, the sun is filtering down between the buildings and New York is almost vibrating in the heat. I’m even looking forward to my team meeting, which is a first. After he hangs up, I’m just settling into my desk when my phone rings again.
“James.” Jane’s breathless voice reaches me from the other end of the line, and I look up from the software on my screen across the sea of bent heads in the office.
“James. You need to come and … oh … oh …”
“Are you okay?” Cath’s head pops up and her eyes meet mine.
“No. I’ve fallen off my bike and … oh …” A gust of air rattles through the microphone. “I don’t know what I’ve done.” There’s a long pause, a shuffling sound as she goes muffled. “Christ,” she gasps. Then she hiccups and her breath hitches.
Shit.
“Jane, what’s happened? Where are you?”
“Brighton Beach.” She gulps out through what sounds like tears.
Brighton Beach. It was our favorite early-morning ride on the weekend. I thought of taking Sadie there one day.
“Why aren’t you at work?”
“I’m working from home today. I went for a spin to let off some steam, and … ohhhhh. I don’t think I can move.”
