“Sir, is that your future plan for her?”
Did we have to go into this now? This was a one-off incident.
“Sir, have you toured the local residential facility that caters to dementia?” the young policeman persisted.
“She has a place in a memory care facility in one month.”
He nodded. “Maybe this incident indicates a sooner date is needed?”
“Look, this has never happened before. I promise you this won’t happen again. We just need to always remain in possession of the house keys. It’s only a matter of weeks now.”
His face creased with worry and pity. “Sir, we’re here to help. We have people you can speak to.” He ducked back into his car and returned holding pamphlets from health professionals.
I accepted them with gritted teeth, trying to hide my annoyance. He only wanted to help, but I’d consulted scores ofspecialists and therapists. Still, I was all too aware how I might have come off. As someone who didn’t care about their mother, who didn’t have adequate support in place, who’d scarpered off to London for the night. Maybe he wasn’t all wrong. “Thank you, and I have spoken extensively to doctors.”
He tipped his head. “You don’t recognize me, but we played against you last week.”
That reminded me of tonight’s game.Shit.Amy was going to be here. How would I explain how Mum had been hurt?
Blearily, I tried to take him in. I remembered his lankiness and red hair now, and that he’d dominated in the game. “Oh yes. Look, I’m sorry to keep you out so late.”
“It’s my job. This is my shift, so no worries. Taking care of parents is hard, and a parent with dementia so young, well, that’s even more difficult.”
I do take care of her, I wanted to add.I just can’t seem to keep up.
40
Tabitha
Ijolted awake tomy phone alarm and opened my eyes to an unfamiliar room. My limbs felt heavy with a wonderful ache. I blinked and sank back blissfully into the pillows. That was right; I’d spent the night in this hotel room with Tim. My body heated with thoughts of what we’d done. Yet, the air next to me felt cold and empty.
I turned. No Tim. His head had left a dent in the pillow. He was probably in the bathroom, so I called out his name and shifted to his side of the bed to scan the bedside table.
Clear except for the hotel clock.
I looked down. The floor was empty where his gym bag had been. He was gone. Had he left for work? Maybe he’d woken up and was worried about traffic and making his 8:30 a.m. meeting? I checked my phone. He’d texted an hour ago.
Tim
Sorry. I had to go. I’ll explain later.
I flinched as his words crashed through me. My old feelings from him ghosting me seven years ago hurtled back with a searing clarity and twisting pain.
How could I have been such a fool, getting myself into this again, believing him? Clearly, he’d realized last night was a mistake, and he was going to tell me we should both move on. Yes, he’d sent a text, so it wasn’t the total ghosting it was last time, but the sting felt similar. Was he thinking it wasn’t going to work again?
I took a breath. Got up and started moving, packing up. And looked at the text again.
What had happened in the last two hours since we’d gone to sleep that he’d changed his mind so radically that he had to leave without saying goodbye? Had he left straight after I went to sleep?Surely not.I’d sensed him there beside me. And that had felt amazing.
Whatever the reason, I had to get up, go to work, and face him at the rugby game. And work with him all weekend.
IfI had completely misjudged his intentions last night and he’d just been using me, I’d just have to bear it. The unquestionable plus side was that I’d had more orgasms last night and into the morning than I’d had in any single week, so I refused to let his departure get me down. But I wasn’t giving up hope. I’d believed Tim had changed, and I wasn’t ready to think the worst of him yet.
At work, I worried Isla would notice something had happened last night. Tease me about being a dirty stop out. About doing the walk of shame, even though I’d showered and changed. As it was, I was sure she’d see I was tense and on edge.
My worries weren’t unfounded.
After only ten minutes, Isla rolled her chair closer to me and adjusted her striped pink suit, which she wore with a floral shirt.
