Tim turned and checked his phone on his bedside table.
“Oh my God, it’s three thirty. I guess we’re going to rugbytonight.”
I blinked, shocked I wasn’t exhausted. Our time had flashed by, and I didn’t even want to think about how I was going to get through a busy workday tomorrow, then train it up to the Cotswolds for the game. But even that didn’t eat into this bliss I was feeling.
“I’ve only got two hours before I have to get up and drive back.” He traced the line of my profile—forehead, nose, and lips. “And you’ve got work today too. We’d better get some sleep.” He bopped me on the nose. “Did you bring one of those flowery tent-sized nightgowns to snuggle into?”
“That’s only at my parents’ house. Normally, I sleep like this.”
He sucked in a breath. “Mmm, I like the sound of that, Tabitha. Gives me some motivation to get through today.”
But what would happen when we were around other people? Would this bubble burst? Should we talk about that here? Tim yawned and sank into his pillows. We were both exhausted, needing sleep, and anyway, he’d said what I needed to hear at the beginning of the night, downstairs in the restaurant. He’d show up. And he’d stay. I wanted to take him at his word and have faith.
As I fell asleep, I gave myself a good talking-to.This is the best night of your life, Tabitha Balfour. Don’t make it weird by overthinking this and second-guessing his motivation.He’d told me how he’d felt and followed it up with all this spectacular sweaty stuff between the sheets.
Let it be.
39
Tim
Iwoke to aringtone that was scarily familiar. My heart slammed against my rib cage.
Macy.
My nerves on fire, I pulled my arm from under Tabitha and swung for my phone. The hotel clock showed 4:30 a.m. Oh my God. Why was Macy ringing so early?
I grabbed my phone, rolled out of bed, tiptoed to the bathroom, and pressed answer.
“Macy,” I said in a hushed tone. “What’s going on?”
“Your mother’s gone.” Her shaking voice was high and tight.
Oh fuck.What if she’d gotten hit by a car or had fallen in a ravine or the river?
“When?”
“I don’t know. I went to bed at midnight, and I had the house keys in my bag, which was stashed in a drawer in my bedside table. I just went to check on her and found her gone and the door open. Your mother must have snuck in after I went to sleep. I’m in my car now, searching the streets. Shall I call the police? I know you’re in London, and it’s going to take you two hours to get back.”
I pulled a hand through my hair, sweat coursing down my back now, panic tearing through my body, picturing the worst-case scenario. Mum lying somewhere—dead—and I should have prevented it. This was where we were. Police had to be involved.
“Yes, call them right away. Give them my phone number too. I’m leaving now.” My brain trawled through the places Mum would go first. “Look for her first in the water hole and then the public pool. I’ll call you as soon as I’m in my truck.”
Back in the bedroom, Tabitha was snuffling softly, burrowed under the covers. My heart pounding, I tugged a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt from my gym bag, pulled them on, and packed last night’s clothes. I’d text Tabs from the car. She needed her sleep, and I had to get going.
After the door snicked shut, I sprinted to my truck in the car park, and after climbing in, I texted Tabs.
Me:
Sorry. I had to go. I’ll explain later.
I tried not to speed as I headed west out of Kensington. Thankfully, the roads were relatively empty for London, but it was hard to focus on the turns and lights when my mind was racing and frantic with worry about Mum.Please don’t let us be too late.“Call Macy,” I heard my strangled voice cry.
“Tim, I called the police,” Macy said in a quavery tone. “I’m waiting for them at the riverbank, but there’s no sign of her.”
“Will they look for her in the water?”
“Yeah, someone’s bringing a wet suit and going in, but honestly, there’s no sign of her in the water. And she hasn’t left anything on the riverbank, not even shoes.”
