Cait shrugged. “Might as well let him up. We’re upstairs!” she called in the direction of the door.
Great.
His footsteps thundered against the stairs as I folded my clean laundry. “Sophie.” He stopped and looked at my suitcase. “Don’t go.”
“I’m leaving. Why is that so hard for anyone to understand?” I shoved the last t-shirt into the case and pulled the top down.
That was it.
That would do.
Anything I’d left could be brought home by Camilla in a few days.
I zipped the suitcase up and put it on the floor next to me. “Excuse me.”
“Sophie, I’m not letting you go,” Henry said, blocking the door.
“Why not?” The words burst out of me. “Why do you not understand that I need to leave this place and go home?”
“I promised Hugo.” He met my eyes. “I told him I wouldn’t let you leave.”
“I don’t give a damn about Hugo.” My voice was quiet, but I held his gaze. “If he cared, he’d be here instead of you, wouldn’t he?”
“He tried to. Dad wouldn’t let him. He’s trying to get to the truth at home and smooth things over and—”
“He’s still not here. He still sent you and Cait in his place. If he really wanted to be here, he’d be here right now.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and inhaled, fighting back the sting of tears again. “Let me pass.”
He glanced over my shoulder.
“She’s right,” Cait said softly. “Her logic is pretty sound.”
Henry sighed. “I think you’re making a mistake.”
“I’ve already made plenty. One more doesn’t matter,” I replied.
He stepped aside, dropping his chin to his chest.
“Thank you.” I pushed the case through to the hall and carried it downstairs. There were just a few things here that were still mine, and I grabbed them, splitting them between my handbag and suitcase.
Both Henry and Cait watched me as I finished getting everything together.
It’d taken me fifteen minutes to pack all my things.
I wheeled it out to my car and threw the case into the boot, then turned back to them. I pulled the cottage key off my keyring and held it out to Henry.
He looked at it.
“Can you give it to Cam, please? It’s the key for the cottage.”
Nodding, he took it. “I’ll pass it over. She’s still at the house.”
“Thank you.” I opened my car door and sniffed, pausing for a second before I turned back around. “Thank you, guys.”
Cait ran at me and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Can’t you just wait? For like an hour? And if Hugo doesn’t come, go then? It’s only seven.”
I hugged her back. “No. I think it’s best if I just leave.”
She released me and clasped her hands to her chest, and Henry pulled me into a warm hug and pressed a kiss against the top of my head.