Page 61 of Once Upon A Player
Dread grips me, and my fingers are icy as I open the front door. Dad comes out from the kitchen and gives me a smile, but it’s obviously an effort.
“What’s happened?” My voice is barely above a whisper as graphic memories of when I was so sure Mum was going to die flood my mind.
Stop it.I can’t let something that happened when I was nine years old give me nightmares for the rest of my life.
Yes, I can…
“Nothing. Your mum’s asleep now.” He gives me a quick hug and kisses the top of my head. “She called me, and that’s a good thing.” We both know it’s not, because mum would only call him if she was desperate, but I know what he means. At least she didn’t struggle on by herself, pretending everything was fine. “We’re seeing her specialist on Thursday. They’ll probably change her meds or something.”
I nod, more firmly than necessary in the hope that’ll make me feel more positive. “Good. Okay. So, um, is there anything I can do to help?”
“You could pick Sam up from school.”
That wasn’t what I meant, and he knows it, but I let it go. “Okay, no problem.”
“Anyway.” He gives me a mock punch on the arm. “You okay with Lucas and everything?”
A warm glow spreads through me, and I’m smiling before I can stop myself. How can I smile at a time like this? But even though I’m eaten up with worry about Mum, I can’t help the way Lucas makes me feel, even when he’s not here.
“It’s all good. I’m meeting his dad tonight.”
“Nice one. So, when are you bringing Lucas back here to meet me? I’ve got to make sure his intentions are honorable for my girl.”
I groan. “Dad, please. It was bad enough when you phoned me on our very first date.”
“Didn’t stop you having a second one, did it?”
I smile and shake my head. “I’m going to get Sam. Won’t be long.”
A couple of hours later I’m in my bedroom, neck deep in some VA work the agency’s sent me. Maybe I could see about getting more hours from them. I’ll look into it when my stint at Sycamore Lodge finishes.
No, Vi. You should look into itbeforethen, so you’re prepared.
Good thinking. I write myself a reminder on my phone to contact the agency later this week.
Katie calls, and I nearly let her go to voicemail. I’m so behind on the work, and I want to relax in the bath for half an hour before I get ready to go out, but of course I answer her. I’m dying to tell her the latest.
“Violet, I just saw on the news that Lucas’s moving to Madrid. Did he eventellyou that?” For someone who’s been reminding me this thing with Lucas is just a fling and nothing serious, she certainly sounds upset at the idea he’s moving on.
“Yes, it’s cool.” Admittedly he didn’t tell mebeforethe news broke, but I’m over that now. “We’re not breaking up or anything.”
“He’ll be inSpain. How’s that going to work?”
I don’t have the faintest idea, but if Lucas is willing to make it work, then so am I. “We haven’t figured out the details yet.”
“Right,” she says, but it’s obvious by her tone she’s worried about me. And I can’t blame her. After all, she was there to pick up the pieces after Geoff. “As long as you’re happy about it.”
“Yes, I am.” The thing is, I trust him, and if he’s serious about us then he’ll be faithful.
Maybe that’s something I should talk to him about before I go jumping to conclusions?
“Good. But I still haven’t met him.” Her subtext is clear, and she obviously has little faith in my own BS meter, despite believing me that he’s nothing like Geoff.
“Well, we’ll have to try and arrange something before he leaves in a couple of weeks. Anyway, I have to go. I’ve got a heap of work to finish before he gets here.”
“Okay.”
I raise my eyebrows as she ends the call, as it’s not like Katie to be fobbed off, but whatever. I’m seeing her at work tomorrow, so we can talk then.
