“Well,” Dad says suddenly, clapping his hands together as he glances around my bedroom, “if you feel like a break from work, then let me know.”
“I will,” I say, clicking on a spreadsheet for no reason at all, just to have something I can pretend to examine. “Thanks, Dad.”
“I did actually come up here for a reason.”
“You’ve already delivered me the walnuts.”
“Another reason,” he says, forcing me to swivel round to face him again. “As Adrian has to fly back to New York tomorrow morning, I wondered if you might want to invite Leo and Ruby over. You know, for some company.”
“I really don’t want to see anyone.”
“I think it would be a good idea.”
“I have you for company,” I point out.
He smiles modestly. “I’m hardly good fun. You need people to help lift those spirits.”
“My spirits are perfectly lifted.”
He sighs and gives me a pointed look. “Freya, I know you put on a front—” He holds up his hands as I open my mouth to protest. “Please. I know what you’re like. You take after your old man, pretending everything’s fine when it isn’t. Not talking about stuff.” His eyes fall to the floor and his voice softens. “It’s all very well, but trust me, it’s important to… to let things out once in a while. I understand you don’t want to dwell on it, but don’t sweep over it. Not something like this. You’re allowed to lean on people. What else are we good for if not to be there in times of trouble?”
I take a deep breath. “All right, Dad. I’ll ask Ruby and Leo to come for the weekend. Things must be bad if you’re talking about being there in times of trouble.”
“Thought I’d take a stab at being sincere.”
“You pulled it off nicely.”
“Don’t expect it to happen again.”
“I’m pleased to hear it.”
“So, you’ll invite Ruby and Leo?” he prompts.
“I’ll message them now.”
“Good stuff. I’ll let you get back to work.” He heads to thedoor and then hovers there, glancing back at me. “Oh, your mum called again. She said you haven’t been answering her calls to your mobile.”
“She’s not really the person I want to speak to at the moment.”
“I understand, but she’s your mum. She’s worried. She wants to be there for you.”
“That’s new for her,” I say breezily.
“I know she can be a bit… well—” He searches for the word and gives up. “—you know. But she really regrets how things are with you and Adrian, and she’s trying her best to make it better. Just because you’re all grown up now, doesn’t mean she doesn’t worry. You should have heard her when I phoned her to let her know that… you know… things weren’t going ahead—” He frowns at having to even allude to it. “She was in bits for you. She really wanted to extend her stay for a couple of weeks, so she could be in the area, near to you. It took a lot of persuading to get her to head home. I think she just wants to make sure you’re okay. Even just a message would suffice.”
I take a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll send her a text.”
“Good.” He smiles warmly at me. “You just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
I blink at him. “What?”
“In life,” he says, as though that clears everything up. “One foot in front of the other. You’ll get there. I know you will.”
Reasons NOT to call Matthew:
He destroyed the life we’d built together in one fell swoop
He dumped me in a broom cupboard
