There was a picture of a big shaggy wolfhound looking at her, a real close up, and he had a red ball in his mouth, as if he’d brought it to her and wanted to play.
Tears prickled at the back of her eyes.
A moment later the phone bleeped again.
She swiped to the next message. The photograph she saw there featured a bookshelf stacked with ornaments and books, and what looked like bike parts and bits of old radio. It was taken from quite a distance away, around ten feet or so, she supposed, and she wondered what she was looking at.
Then she saw it, and gasped aloud.
In various places amongst all the paraphernalia on the shelves she caught sight of a black moggy peering out from between a clock and a radio, hidden at the back of the shelf, safe and secure. She touched its nose with her fingertip. “Hello cutie pie.”
Scanning the rest of the shelves she found a fluffy ginger and white, and a wide-eyed tabby, hidden in various places. The tabby even seemed to be sitting on a cushion, which made her chuckle. George must have put it back there for the cat to sit on.
No wonder Rory had felt the need to go and be with them, they would be missing George terribly, just as she was missing Rory. And he was missing his boss and friend. It struck her then, how much Rory would be missing George. Like a network of grief, it was eventually followed by love and consolation from those left behind, to heal the gaps.
I’m part of that.
For the first time, she knew how much she wanted it. To really be part of something, to be needed. Reassured, and filled with love, she knew then Rory wouldn’t break from her. She would see him again, and as soon as he could.
She wanted to pour her heart out in response to the lovely photos, to tell him how happy it made her feel. She would tell him when they were together. She sent him a heart emoji, and took a selfie showing his T-shirt and sent it as well.
Then she snuggled down in bed, clutching her phone to her heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
With a glance at her phone, Sky reminded herself he wasn’t calling because he was visiting Sean. She simply had to do as he asked and prove she was woman enough to wait, be patient, not bombard him with texts, and to trust him. Kiddo wouldn’t have waited. Kiddo would have been texting him like crazy and hanging around outside his house all the time. Kiddo had to be halted in her tracks. Nevertheless, she ached for him.
A customer approached and ordered two lattes with an extra shot each. On auto pilot she made the coffees and snapped the plastic lids on. Dropping them into a holder, she passed it
over to the customer.
That’s when she though she saw Rory in the shifting crowd. Just a flash of black leather and a stubbled chin that seemed familiar.
Imagined it.
She looked away He would have texted, had he been on his way.
“Espresso please.”
Her head snapped up.
Rory was standing there right in front of her.
She covered her mouth with her hand, afraid she would cry if she didn’t.
“Hey?” Concern marked his expression.
“I thought you were visiting Sean.”
“I did first thing. You’re next on my hit list.” He grinned.
Giddy, she set about brewing the espresso. When she returned with the cup he leaned as close as he could.
“Are you finishing soon? I have a proposition for you.”
She nodded, glancing at the clock. “I’ll be done here in about twenty minutes. I can’t leave any earlier today. I’m on a final warning.” She rolled her eyes to let him know how she felt about that.
Rory laughed, lifted his cup to her and sauntered off.