Page 87 of The Secret We Keep
She shakes her head, eyes filled with tears once more. “I…” She swallows before continuing, “I think you did the right thing taking time off work.”
I raise a small smile to myself. “They actually suspended me on medical grounds.”
Her head drops. “I should have known you’d never walk away.” She glances towards the patio window, our reflections looking back at us in the tall glass. “When does that end?”
“I met with Tom when I went home—back to London—” I quickly correct myself. “I asked for a few hours to keep me busy, which he seemed happy about, but it isn’t his decision to make. There’s another investigation before my return-to-work meeting. I’ll have to wait.”
“Another investigation? Are you in trouble?” she asks, worry lining her words as she swings her head in my direction.
“It was an accident,” I let out, for the first time ever, trying to reassure her. Aaron and I both messed up that night. Not just one of us. I’ve never fully seen it this way, but after tonight, even though terror still claws at my throat, something in me has settled.
Like I’ve finally stopped drowning.
“Please don’t worry. I’m not in trouble with the law. Tom assures me they’re just checking their procedures and policies more than anything.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” she says, trying to sound bright. “I know how hard you work. It can’t be easy.”
Having to wait isn’t what I wanted to hear, but I can’t dwell on it. “Only thing is, I’ll have to commute.”
She jerks back like she’s been stung. “Why? What happened to your flat?”
“Hannah’s moving in with her brother’s children.”
My mother shakes her head aggressively. “I bet she told you she wanted you back as well?”
She must have the same superpower as Fi. She doesn’t even know Hannah. Has only met her on a few occasions. “How did you know?”
Settling in her chair, she calms her breathing, cheeks still a little flamed. “Because, as well as being your mother, I’m also a woman. I can bet the poor girl’s scared. You said once before that the kids’ mother isn’t around?”
I nod and pick up my mug off the table. “That’s right.”
“So the girl has a lot of responsibility all of a sudden. She wants a roof over her head. You know, security.”
I contemplate her words, already seeing the similarities between their situation and Evie’s. A child in need of a home and loving family. “Don’t we all.”
She breathes heavily. “And what will you do?”
While the rhythm of my heart slowly returns to normal, the fact still remains that my plan doesn’t sound like much of a plan at all. “I was thinking I could stay here for a while, in Stoney Grange?”
Mum’s round, solemn eyes brim with emotion.
“Don’t do that,” I tell her, smiling. “You daft thing.”
“I’m sorry, son.” She shakes her head. “Of course you can stay here. What will you do about the flat though?”
My shoulders raise. “I’ll sign it over to Hannah. She can have it.”
“What?” she asks, sounding confused.
Perspective.
I don’t need it. There are bigger things to worry about. “I’ve started proceedings already.”
Mum gawps at me. Mute.
I explain, “When I went to see Andy, he wasn’t finished with the repairs. I ducked into the solicitors and got all the necessary paperwork.”
“And you’re happy to just hand it over like that? No money or anything for it?”
