“But he blames me for all of it.”
“All of what?”
Libby didn’t answer because any explanation would involve mentioning Dylan’s name.
“I’m sure he’ll calm down tomorrow,” Simon said when Libby hadn’t replied. “No one can stay mad at you, Libs.”
“He said he never wanted to see me again.” Her voice wobbled, and she took a deep breath.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve this.”
His tone was so gentle, and before Libby realized what was happening, her tears had started to flow. This time she didn’t fight them, and for several minutes, she allowed herself to sob in the dark. She cried for Frank, who would now have to move into a care home, and for Dylan, who could be out there in the city right now hurt or worse. And she cried for herself: alone, pregnant, and scared.
The whole time she cried, Simon whispered softly into her ear. “It’s going to be okay... Everything’s going to be all right.”
“I’m sorry,” Libby hiccupped when the tears had finally stopped. She felt utterly exhausted, and she allowed her eyes to drift closed.
“Don’t apologize. I’m so glad I could be here for you tonight.”
“Thank you.”
“I want to be here for you when the baby arrives too, Libs.”
“Not now, Simon, please. I really need some sleep.”
“Let me help look after you, Libby. You need someone to support you.”
“Good night, Simon.”
Libby moved the phone away from her ear to end the call. As she did, the last words she heard were “You don’t have to do this on your own.”
CHAPTER
41
Libby was woken by the sound of her phone ringing. She was about to roll over and ignore it when she remembered Dylan and sat up with a start, scrambling blindly for her phone on the bedside table.
“Dylan?”
“It’s Esme.”
“Any news on him?”
“I’ve found him,” Esme said.
“Oh, thank god! Where is he?”
“He’s in UCH hospital.”
Libby felt the blood draining from her face. “Is he okay?”
“I knew he wouldn’t disappear, Libby. So I made Mum help me ring all the hospitals.”
“What’s happened to him?”
“I don’t know; they wouldn’t say.”
“Can we visit him?”
