There was a pause. Had he called by accident? She held the phone away from her to check he was still on the line. That she had a signal. That she hadn’t muted herself. “Dan, are you there?”
“I’m here,” he said.
“Oh thank fuck for that.” Tears stung her eyes and she didn’t bother wiping them away. No matter how many times she’d told herself that she knew he was okay, one email wasn’t enough to really prove it. Now, hearing his voice on the other end of the phone, Daisy realized that she hadn’t necessarily believed he was safe. She just had to keep telling herself it was the truth because any alternative was too difficult to swallow. “Where have you been? What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry,” he replied. It was him. It was definitely him, except... he always sounded so light. So full of joy. This Dan sounded very much the opposite. His voice matched her mood. “I’ve had a lot to deal with, but I’m okay.”
“What do you mean? Are you safe? Dan, please...”
“I’m safe. I’m going to come home and I’ll explain it all then. I just had some big realizations and I needed some time, Daise. I needed to deal with it.”
She frowned. None of this sounded like Dan. Dan didn’t have anything he ever needed to deal with. He was the onewho was always smiling. Who made everything light and easy. Who never complained.
“What kind of stuff?” she asked and she heard him breathe out into the phone.
“You know what stuff, Daisy. If you really think about it, I know that you know.”
A horn blasted from outside the window on the street below. Daisy sat down on the sofa, a chill racing down her spine. She wouldn’t let herself go there. She couldn’t. She was at work and had a job to do, but also it might not be what she thought. It might not be what her brain first jumped to.
“Let’s talk when you get home,” she said. “When do you think it’ll be?”
“Before Christmas. I’ll come for Christmas.”
“Okay. I’ll get you from the airport.” She didn’t want Dan to feel like she’d dismissed him. She needed to think of something else to say. “Can you just tell me you’re alright?”
“I’m good,” he said, breathing out. “Or, I’m... changed, I think?”
“He goes away travelingonetime,” she said before switching tone. “Sorry. I’m happy for you. I mean I love you for you already so I hope you haven’t changed too much, but...”
“Daise... more to the point, areyouokay? You sound a bit fucking unhinged. You sound like you’re mid some sort of breakdown. I go awayonetime...”
Daisy laughed. She’d missed him. The easy way he picked up on her jokes and joined in on them. How well he knew her, even over a phone call.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she blurted out. He was used to it.
“I’ve missed you too. But seriously, are you alright?”
“I think so. I don’t know,” she added, honestly. “A lot’s been going on.”
A voice shouted Dan’s name in the background. A voice shedidn’t recognize. Which she wouldn’t, because he was in America with other people, all of which she didn’t know.
“I’ll be there. Give me a week and I’ll be there. Okay?”
Daisy bit down hard on her bottom lip, tears filling her eyes. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed him until right that moment.
“Promise me,” Daisy said. “Please promise you’ll come back?” She looked up to see Clara approaching the doorway at those words.
“I promise,” he said. “I wouldn’t miss your wedding, Daise. Mum would do a terrible job of walking you down that aisle.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but the call had already cut off. He was gone.
Daisy threw her phone onto the sofa and dropped her head into her hands, relief flooding through her. She couldn’t believe it. Right when she needed him most, her little brother was coming home. She was happy so long as she didn’t think about what it was he was bringing back with him.
An arm wrapped its way around Daisy’s shoulders as another familiar, once-distant voice filled her ears.
“It’s okay,” Clara whispered, taking a strand of Daisy’s hair and pushing it behind her ear. “I’m so sorry I haven’t been there for you,” she said, as Daisy froze, staring into her palms. “Leisha’s had a real go at me, I was just hurting from what you said and I needed a bit of time. And the other stuff I said... It’s only because I care so much. It’s because I love you.”
Daisy lifted her head, ears ringing with all the different events of the day. Mostly the relief of it all, that flowed through her body, calming her.
