Her wide-eyed astonishment made Ryan laugh. ‘What happened to that cool girl who couldn’t stay in one place for more than a week?’
She lowered her voice, as though she was talking in confidence. ‘I think she grew up. But don’t tell anybody.’
He shook his head. ‘You’re growing up, and I’m regressing. I feel like a kid right now.’
She tipped her own head to the side. ‘She really did a number on you, huh?’
He closed his eyes for a second, but all he could see was Juliet. Opening them again, he looked at Sheridan. ‘It’s not her fault.’ And in the end it didn’t really matter. He was bleeding out regardless of who’d held the knife.
‘I knew it. I knew there
was a woman involved.’ She clapped her hands together. ‘Come on, who is she? She must be somebody special to make you run like a demon.’
‘There’s nobody.’
‘Bullshit.’ She folded her arms across her chest. ‘You’re running scared, Ryan. It’s obvious. Is it that woman Charlie keeps telling me about, the one who lives across the way from here?’
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
Her face softened. ‘You never do. And though it drives me crazy, it’s one of the things I like about you, too. You’re a strong man, Ry, and I’m glad our son has you for a father.’
Her simple words touched him deep in his soul. His voice was gruff when he replied. ‘Not as glad as I am to have him for a son.’
The corner of her lip quirked up. ‘Then go and do what you need to do. As long as you’re leaving for the right reasons. Because there’s nothing worse than running away, only to find your troubles bought a ticket and decided to travel right along with you.’
27
The course of true love never did run smooth
– A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Juliet tucked her knees beneath her chin, wrapping her arms around her legs as she sat on the window seat in her bedroom, looking out across the wintry yard to the white stucco building opposite. He was in there somewhere, packing a bag or printing out his tickets. Maybe he was laying his photographic equipment gently in their boxes, packing his camera and lenses carefully to transport them to who knew where.
The band around her chest hadn’t loosened any in the hours since he’d told her he was leaving. If anything it had become tighter, as she stared aimlessly at her phone, wondering if he was going to call her back and promise he’d be home soon. If he was going to text her and tell her he missed her as much as she missed him.
She only had to close her eyes to picture him the way he was the last time they’d been together. When he’d slowly slid himself inside her, his eyes capturing hers with their intensity, his breath soft, his kisses gentle. She’d felt so safe in the circle of his arms. There’d been a moment – just after they’d both reached their peak – when they hadn’t been able to take their eyes from each other. It had felt as though she’d discovered everything she’d always been looking for, right there above her.
Now it was gone and it hurt like hell.
Poppy had climbed into bed without as much as a complaint, falling straight to sleep in spite of her earlier nap. The house was quiet and dark. The silence bounced off the walls, reminding her how alone she was. That she wasn’t even worth fighting for.
Juliet followed her bedtime routine on autopilot. Washing her face, cleaning her teeth, climbing into her fleecy pyjamas. Though the heating was cranked up to high, she still felt bone-cold. She climbed into bed, pulling the quilt tightly around her, but her body was still shivering beneath the blankets. A few moments later, she heard the padding of bare feet on the floorboards outside the room. Poppy pushed the door open and closed the short distance to the bed, wordlessly climbing in and hugging Juliet close.
When was the last time Poppy had slept in her bed? Juliet couldn’t even remember. Maybe when she was a toddler, afraid of the dark, searching for comfort wherever she could find it.
Juliet hugged her daughter back, stroking her hair as Poppy nestled into her, closing her eyes tightly. Maybe another day she would have carried her back to bed, and stayed there until Poppy fell asleep. But not tonight.
Because tonight she needed the comfort as much as her daughter did.
Poppy woke before Juliet the next morning. The first thing she knew was the sound of the bathroom floorboards creaking as Poppy made her way to the bathroom. A minute later the sound of the flush followed by running water was enough to tell Juliet her day had started. She glanced in the mirrored door of her closet, seeing the telltale red rings around her eyes. Her skin was sallow, her cheeks thin, and her red hair – usually so wavy – hung limply below her shoulders.
She was a mess.
Somehow she managed to get Poppy ready for school. Hair was brushed, lunch was packed, and as usual she had to remind her three times to brush her teeth before Poppy finally relented, managing to walk to the bathroom while rolling her eyes at the same time. Her neediness of the previous night had disappeared, replaced by her usual Poppy-like strength. Even though it meant more work for Juliet, she was glad to see her daughter’s fighting spirit was back.
They were only a couple of minutes late arriving at school. Juliet pulled into a tiny space at the far end of the parking lot, wincing at the expensive models she was sandwiched between.
‘Open the door carefully,’ she reminded Poppy.