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“I promise to call if I need anything,” I say. “Look, I better go. Cal has ordered takeaway, and it should arrive any minute now.”

“Cal?” Di asks, her interest clearly peaked.

“Yes, Caleb Frazer, the property developer who bought my building.”

“Really…” she says, the excitement in her voice makes me want to groan.

“Oh, I have to go. Our takeaway has arrived,” I say, screwing up my face and holding my breath. I hate lying to Di, but I don’t need her to get the wrong impression. Especially knowing he already has her seal of approval. She was the one who told me I should look him up after all.

I repent and sigh. “He’s kindly offered me his spare room, and I’ll be staying with him for a few days until I can get myself sorted. Please don’t worry about me.” Before she can say anything else or get the wrong idea, I continue. “Look, I better go. I’ll call you as soon as I pick up a newphone. If you need me, call Samuel. He can get a message to me.”

“Take care, April. Remember, we love you.”

“I know. I love you too,” I say.

Even after all these years, knowing they are there and care makes me feel a little less alone in the world.

I wash my face and put a brush through my tangled hair. Exiting the bathroom, I find Cal in the doorway and Samuel still sitting on the bed.

“Singing my praises?” Cal says, a smirk on his face.

“Did no one ever tell you it’s rude to eavesdrop.?” I make a mental note never to use speaker phone again within Cal’s hearing

“Nah, and if I thought you meant it—” he stops and shoots a look at Samuel. “The food's arrived. It’s downstairs and waiting whenever you’re ready.”

Samuel is up and off the bed in a heartbeat, making his way downstairs. Cal holds his arm out, motioning for me to lead the way.

“Thank you,” I say as I pass him.

“You’re welcome,” he replies, his smile genuine.

I don’t understand this man. Everything about him is a contradiction. The things I’ve read about him, how he conducts his business, the humanitarian effort, his affordable and eco living and then there’s…him. The man makes my head spin.

Conversation over dinneris a muted affair, everyone too hungry to speak. I wonder whether Samuel’s assessment of Cal is true.

Has he really been out looking for me all day?

The thought does strange things to my insides.

When Samuel’s phone rings for the fifth time, I growl at him.

“You can’t ignore him,” I say.

“I can and I will. Daniel needs to understand that what he did is unacceptable,” he hisses.

“Maybe, but you know why he is the way he is. You ignoring him and being with me will not help the situation.”

“If it hadn’t been for Caleb, I wouldn’t have known you were missing.” He huffs before grabbing one of the spring rolls Caleb ordered.

“I wasn’t missing. I was at a hostel. I would have called you tomorrow,” I say. “I was just too tired earlier. It was a long night. The paramedic warned me I’d be tired from the smoke inhalation. Told me to sleep it off.”

It’s then I realise what Samuel said. I turn to Cal. “You went to Daniel’s apartment?”

Cal nods but continues eating as if it’s no big deal.

He tracked down my best friend to check on me.

I turn back to Samuel. His declaration is not something I can process right now.