Page 144 of No Safe Place
Field gently slapped Lily’s cheek, and the girl shrank away from her hand, but didn’t regain consciousness.
Field could hear heavy boots on the stairs.
‘Help is coming, Lily, okay? Hold on for me, darling.’
Field waited for the paramedic to take over, and then backed away.
Another medic pushed the bedding out of the way, and as it fell to the floor, Field noticed the swipes of blood on the duvet, where Ruby must have cleaned the knife.
Chapter 106
P:I’m tired.
Pause
D:Yes.
Pause
P:It’s not my fault.
D:No. None of this is your fault.
Blackout
Chapter 107
Monday | Early hours
Field
When Field got home, she was ready to sleep for a hundred years.
Toby was in his usual spot on the sofa, reading a book with two fans trained on him. He looked up and smiled. ‘I thought I’d give it a reread.’
The purple cover ofDarlings, Obsessedcaught the fading light. Field dropped into an armchair and closed her eyes. If she never saw the book again it would be too soon.
Her head was pounding, and she couldn’t breathe through her nose. The epicentre of her headache was behind her left eye, which was already a glorious purple.
Field sat down. ‘I’m sorry, Tobes.’
‘It’s okay,’ he said.
‘No.’ She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, trying not to let the tears fall – but making her eye hurt even more. ‘I handled it badly then, when you were ill, and I’m doing the same again now, aren’t I?’
He didn’t say anything.
She opened her eyes. Drank him in. He covered her hand with his.
Field took a breath. ‘Ever since you got better, I’ve just been terrified you’ll get ill again. And I know it’s stupid – believe me, I know. You’re a grown man, you have a gorgeous partner, you’re training for a job you’re bloody good at.’ She brushed her tears away with her index finger. ‘You’re doing better than I ever could have hoped.’
A tear curved across Toby’s cheek.
‘You’re not fragile,’ she said, emphatically. ‘You’re one of the strongest people I know.’
‘I take after you,’ he said, with a smile.
She laughed, and it turned into a sob.
