Page 96 of What's the time, Mr. Wolfe
His reply was quick.
Have your bath, baby, I’ll order some food to arrive in about an hour for you. I’ve also arranged to have some groceries delivered. They’ll be there by nine, if that’s not too late. I miss you, too. And yes, I’m sure I can organise a DNA test, but is that a route you want to go down? I’m here for you, baby. I understand your need to be alone, I don’t like it, but... well, I’m here. I can be there in ten minutes if you need me. Sleep well, baby. Seb xxx
I placed my phone down and walked to the bath. I turned it on and found some bubbles to add. The room started to smell of lavender which I found very calming. I stripped and slipped under the water.
I lay thinking. Did I want to get a DNA test? What if it turned out she wasn’t my grandma? I shook my head. She’d always be my grandma, regardless of whether we were related or not. I then started to think about my mother. She hadn’t wanted me to call her mother, I’d assumed that was just her hippy shit. I’d called her by her real name. I tried to think about conversations, anything that had been said that would give me an idea of who she really was. Then Iremembered. I sat up abruptly and reached for my phone. I dialled.
“I’m sorry. God, I just remembered something. When my mum was dying, she said she was so sorry for what she’d done. I thought she meant about being a shit mum, drunk all the time, that kind of thing. She said she’d pay in hell, and so would he. I didn’t really understand what she meant at the time. What if she was part of what he did? It would be easier for a woman to steal a child than a man, wouldn’t it? She never let me call her mum.”
“Ruby, slow down,” Sebastian said.
“What if they kidnapped me, Sebastian?”
I’d wanted a DNA test to see if I was related to him, until I thought about that conversation.
“I guess, if you want to know if that’s the case, there must be a way. But I repeat, baby, is that a route you want to go down?”
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “I’m sorry, I just thought of it and wanted to talk to you.”
I heard his sigh as well. “I can be there, if you want me to.” His voice had quietened.
I closed my eyes. “I’m fine. I chose a book and I’ll read. I’m going to sleep in your bed, and I’ll call you in the morning.” He sighed again. I guessed it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “Just give me tonight, please?”
“Of course, baby,” he replied.
“I love you, Sebastian. I don’t expect you to say it back, not yet. And it’s still early days and all. But I just wanted you to know.”
“I wish I were with you,” he whispered.
“I know you do. And I’m grateful that you’ve given me this time here.”
“I’ll have my phone by my side, okay?”
“Okay. Good night, Sebastian.”
I settled back in the water and closed my eyes. Had my whole life been a lie?
When I couldn’t sit any longer, I climbed out and wrapped a large towel around myself and padded to the bedroom. I desperately wanted to change my mind, to call him and have him come and sit with me, but I didn’t think it was wise. I’d push for information, something I didn’t want. He possibly wouldn’t give me that information, I’d get shitty about it. I knew how I was, which was why I hoped he understood my need for distance.
Once dressed, I walked down and grabbed a bottle of water. I checked the time and then waited. The first knock on the door was groceries. I was grateful because I really wanted a cup of tea. I unpacked milk, bread, jam, butter, croissants, and eggs. It was a breakfast bag, I assumed. The second knock was a delivery driver with a Japanese takeaway. I plated up what I wanted and took it into the living room. I turned on some lamps and settled down to eat. I enjoyed my own company; I’dbeen in it for years. I also enjoyed the silence. The television had been on constantly at home for Grandma. Just to sit and hear nothing was calming.
I ate, I drank my water, and then made a cup of tea. Only then did I settled back to read.
The book onlyjustheld my attention. It had nothing to do with the plot or style of writing, it was the battle in my mind between the fiction and the fact.
I placed the book on the side and took my mug up to bed. I peeled off the joggers and sweatshirt, and naked, climbed under the duvet.
I didn’t remember being there for long before I drifted off to sleep.
At some point I felt a dip in the bed. Arms wrapped around me. I wasn’t fully awake but knew Sebastian was there. I snuggled into his side, placed my hand on his chest and inhaled his scent. He kissed my forehead.
When I woke, I was alone. I frowned as I sat up. Then I smiled. As before, his shirt was over a chair in the corner. He had been with me. He’d held me, and I silently thanked him for that. In addition, he’d brought me some clothes for work the following day.
Chapter Sixteen
“Morning, you don’t need to be here, you know that?” Mike said, as I walked into the office.
“I know, but I don’t know what else to do. I need to stay busy.”
