Page 62 of Crying in the Rain

“Let him sleep, I guess. Bye!”

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Ade

The light inthe room wasn’t right. Ade could tell, even with his eyes closed. It was coming from the wrong direction, and it was too bright. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d crashed out upside-down on top of the duvet, and he did feel kind of hungover. Then a dog barked, and Ade fully came to, opening one eye to observe his surroundings and catching sight of the clock.

“Eight-thirty—shit!” He rolled over and grappled for his phone, panicking as it rang out, trying to come up with a plausible reason—that wasn’t the real one—to offer his boss. If he’d checked his messages first, he’d have already known it wasn’t necessary, as Pip had stuck her oar in. Accordingly, Ade had food poisoning.

“Take as long as you need,” his boss said. “You lost last year’s annual leave. I doubt you’ll take this year’s if you don’t do it now, so let’s assume a fortnight.”

And that was the end of the discussion.

Ade flopped back into the pillows and sighed. Something about his boss’s tone suggested he knew more than he’d let on, to the point that he might as well have said,Sure. Take as long as you need. You lost your mind eleven years ago. Now you’ve found it again, why don’t the two of you take a couple of weeks to get reacquainted?

Because that was the truth of the matter, Ade was beginning to realise. The people close to him had known all along, hadn’t for a second believed his lies about why he was limping or couldn’t stand the pain of clicking the computer mouse, why he didn’t go on nights out, why he was often so desperate that he couldn’t stop the tears. He could see it now, clear as bloody day, and he didn’t know whether to be angry with them or send them thank-youcards for being there, in the background, ready to catch him when he fell.

“So…” He pulled himself up the bed and looked around the room, tinted sepia by the autumn daylight shining through the pale-yellow curtains. He’d been too stressed the previous morning to pay proper attention, but today he was feeling…better? Safer, certainly, and resolute.

I wonder if Julia’s up for a house guest for a few days…He hadn’t seen his sister in months, either because Fergus was around or because he’d been and gone but left his mark. But for once, Ade could tell Julia truthfully that it was the last time. So that was a plan; he’d drive up to Julia’s…

“The car…” Ade groaned and banged his head back, a self-harm habit that failed, as Kris’s headboard was soft, plush velvet, not iron bars. He had no idea why the MG had broken down, but he’d need to deal with that first, and then go back to the apartment to collect a few things. He didn’t think Fergus would be hanging around, but he’d never understood how Ferg’s mind worked and wasn’t sure Ferg knew either, so it was entirely possible he’d turn up. He might even be there right now, banging on the door, or he’d broken the door down and changed the locks. Then what?

I’ll call Mary, get her to scope the place out. No, car first. Or should I check with Julia before I make plans?

Too many things to organise, too much that could go wrong.

“You don’t need a checklist,” Ade told himself yet unlocked his phone and began making one anyway.

1. MG

As well cared for as it was, the car was older than him. Had it finally reached the end of its serviceable life? He couldn’t even handle the thought of watching it being loaded onto a truck, off to the scrapyard, another death to grieve.Come on, Ade. Keep it in perspective.It’s just a car.Except it wasn’t ‘just’ a car, and his emotions were getting the better of him again, but right atthe point where he completely fell apart for something like the fiftieth time in less than a week, the bedroom door opened, and Kris backed into the room.

“Casper!” he shouted as the dog tore past and leap right into the middle of the bed, planting a huge, slobbery, licky kiss on Ade’s cheek.

“Morning, Caspy,” Ade greeted, accepting the unconditional, very wet and boisterous affection he’d been afforded. Meltdown temporarily averted.

22: Murder

Kris

Kris set downthe tray of tea, coffee and toast and clicked his fingers at Casper. “Come on, move it.” The dog didn’t take a blind bit of notice.

“I don’t mind if you don’t,” Ade said, laughing at the dog, who was wearing a groove into the duvet with his nose. Ade glanced up and met Kris’s gaze. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” Kris leaned in to deliver a kiss of his own. “How do you look and smell so good when you’ve just woken up?”

“Oh, I really don’t.” Ade ducked his head bashfully and tickled Casper’s ears. “Nobody looks or smells good first thing in the morning, do they, Caspy?” He glanced up at Kris again. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I didn’t want to disturb you. You were in such a deep sleep.” Ade had been tossing and turning most of the night and had checked his phone several times. Kris had kept his eyes shut so Ade wouldn’t feel bad about disturbing him, but he decided to come clean. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my decision to make, but I know you had a rough night.”

“It’s fine,” Ade assured him with a smile. “I hope I didn’t keep you awake.”

“Not at all. I pretty much went straight back to sleep. How are you feeling this morning?”

“OK-ish, I think. I called my boss to let him know I wouldn’t be in, but Pip beat me to it. He told me to take some time off.”

“That’s probably a wise move.”

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