Page 28 of The Stranger

“You’ll get used to it.”

“Won’t be here long enough!” I call over my shoulder.

“Dinner is in an hour.”

“Thanks!” I expect it’ll be a Victorian affair with the kids and me eating bland food in the villa’s equivalent of the draughty nursery.

I recognize the Sylvie’s room thanks to her name plaque and the girly decorations hanging from it, and slide quietly into the room two down from hers. The door is cool against my back, and my heartbeat seems to finally regulate in the silence.

Lucien, the brooding, rude, hot arsehole. The brooding, rude hot-hole. Yes, the epitaph suits him, I think. And then I wonder which room he knuckle-drags himself to when he needs to sleep. Before I have the chance to consider his nightly proximity, my phone begins to dance against the ebony nightstand, and Emmy’s name flashes up on screen.

9

PRIMROSE

“Emmy. How are you? How’s your dad?” My questions run into each other as I pick up my phone.

“He’s going to be okay.” The tremoring relief in her answer brings the sting of tears to my eyes.

“’Course he is,” I say as I send a silent thanks to the heavens.

“He’s sleeping right now. Mum’s with him so I thought I’d duck out and give you a quick call to check in. How are things are going?”

“Well! Things are well!”

“Have you been huffing helium?”

“Haha. I mean, I was expecting to be working for a couple of kick-ass entrepreneurs, hey-ho.”

“I told you ages ago I moved jobs.”

“Did you?” I feel myself frown.

“Primrose, don’t take this the wrong way, but with the year you’ve had, I’m surprised you remember anything. All I can say is you must really want to become a doctor.”

I laugh. “I’m sorry I’ve been rubbish at keeping in contact. It’s been intense.” Study, and more study, and then my final exams, plus my assistantship. Sometimes I’m surprised my brain still works.

“I’m in the same city, still doing the same job, so…”

“I can still be sorry for being a crappy friend.”

“Not eve if I can be sorry for surprising you with a single dad.”

“It’s no surprise he’s single with a personality like his.” I didn’t mean to say that.

“Oh no. What happened I know he can seem a little unfriendly on the surface, but he’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

“Well, that’s not going to happen.”

“I didn’t mean like that! But oh my gosh, he’s like, flames, right? So hot.”

Well, I’d like to set him on fire. Not really. Okay, just a little bit. Maybe singe him around the edges or something.

“Prim?”

“Sorry, the call must’ve dropped out,” I say with a wince. “Yeah, he’s something… else.”

“I’m just glad I don’t have to worry about that with you.”