“You’re a good brother, better than mine is to me.”
“Draco really cares about you, otherwise he wouldn’t have kicked off the way he did.”
“I suppose you’re right, but he’s got an odd way of showing it.”
“We’re through the worst now. As soon as I get back from seeing Sean, I’ll be in touch, okay?”
Relief hit her.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. I couldn’t let George down. He put a lot of faith in me, and it’s been a huge wake up call.”
“How do you mean?”
“That someone valued me that much, cared about my future, and trusted me.”
She wanted to bellow into the phone she valued him that much and more, but she held back, letting him get his thoughts out. Besides, he was revealing a side of himself she hadn’t seen before.
“There were a lot of things to do, and I had his pets to look after.”
“Tell me about them.”
“Aside from Oscar, the wolfhound, three resident cats and a feral colony at the bottom of the garden. George lived on the edge of a park, so there are a few scavengers around. George fed them and kept a watch on them.”
“Send me a photo, will you?”
“Okay.” He sounded surprised. “I can do that. Oscar knew me, which was a mercy. I wouldn’t have fancied coming in here to feed them and have him thinking I was a burglar. George used to bring him to the workshop on the days his dog walker wasn’t available. We’d spent a lot of time together before.”
He chatted on, then his tone altered. “Before I go, tell me what are you wearing?”
The question took her by surprise. “One of your old T-shirts.”
“Ah, yes I was going to confront you about it. I saw it under the futon the day we had to leave for Wales.”
“You left it behind. Of course I was going to grab it.” She chuckled.
“If you’d asked I’d have given it to you.”
“The band was that bad?”
He laughed. “No, but I’d have given you anything you wanted.”
“I wanted you.”
“Is that why you stared?”
“Making eyes. My Mum used to tell me off every time she caught me looking at you. Stop making eyes at him, she’d say.”
A deep sigh issued from the other end of the phone. “Al I wanted to do then—and now—is put my hands on you, to be inside you. To hold you.”
His tone had a low intensity about it that melted her. His words set loose a yearning like she’d never felt before. She bit her lip, her head dropping back. “Are you winding me up?”
“No! I’m being straight with you, you crazy girl.” Again he sighed. “I wish I was there.”
She laughed breathlessly. “So do I, believe me. I’m going to dream of you tonight.”
After the end of the phone call, Sky found it much easier to snuggle down in bed, having spoken to him. She lay on her side and imagined Rory was at her back, holding her. The things he’d said on the phone ran through her mind, making her smile. The treasured intimacy was back again. In fact it seemed stronger, as if they didn’t have to be cautious and on guard with each other. Relieved and hopeful, she closed her eyes. She was drifting into a doze when her phone bleeped.
Lifting up onto one elbow, she reached for it and opened up the message.