Page 38

Jack

It had been a week since Willow received Cain’s call and she was a shell of herself, barely moving.

Each day I made sure to slide into the same bed, by her side, terrified that the one time I didn’t, she’d decline. Thankfully, the worse it ever got was a few whimpers and kicking of the legs. I’d routinely turn over and rub her back until she calmed, then fall back to sleep myself.

On the first and second days, she stayed in bed.

The only sign of life were creaks of the floorboard above me as she’d travel from the bed to the bathroom, and back again.

I struggled to find a balance between giving her space and trying to encourage her to talk.

All efforts to converse were met with silence, maybe a soft smile as she appreciated my efforts but couldn’t find the energy to care.

I’d called the police and they’d spoken to Mack. Having attempted to talk with Willow, she tugged the pillow over her head, only for little sobs to escape. They’d taken the phone away to trace the call, but something told me Willow would never want to own a phone again.

On the third day, she ventured downstairs, still in the same clothes she’d worn to the gym.

I jumped out of my skin when I heard the soft footsteps down the stairs and stuck my head out my office door to check I wasn’t hearing things.

Willow was in the entryway to the kitchen looking round the room as if it were unfamiliar, pulling a glass from a cupboard and filling it with water.

She’d moved to return back upstairs and caught me watching her.

I looked at her with caution, and she looked like a deer caught in headlights, before rushing upstairs.

On the fourth day, I desperately tried to pull her out of bed by pretending I needed help making pancakes.

All she managed was an exhale of air in lieu of a laugh, then rolled over and stuffed her face into Angus.

I made a cheesy pasta that evening, bringing a bowl up and leaving it on the bedside table.

When I headed to bed, I found the bowl empty. There was evidence of life.

On the fifth day, even my terrible sense of smell was starting to find her change of clothes – or lack thereof – offensive to the nose.

Not that I’d tell her, whatever was going on in her mind was a big enough battle.

It was time to bring out the big guns – Elle.

I sent a text after more failed attempts at communication.

Me: Hi Elle, it’s Jack. I need your help.

I returned my phone to my back pocket, hoping the text would elicit an urgent response as the situation required.

Itching with nervous energy with the wait, I took the dogs for a walk, keen not to leave Willow for too long. Moments later, I felt vibrations, Elle’s name on the screen.

“Elle?”

“Speaking. How can I help Jack?” Elle’s chipper voice called through the speaker.

“It’s Willow. I’m worried about her. I don’t think I can help her right now —” I spoke in broken sentences, unsure how to explain the situation.

“ Jack ?!” she squealed, breaking my train of thought. “ Are you fucking serious ?!”

“Elle —”

“When she moved in with you, I told you, I begged you not to let her down —”

“Elle —”

“— to help us build her from the ground back up and you’re quitting on her now?!”

“ ForfuckssakeEllewillyoujustlisten ?!” I snapped in an otherwise silent street, birds flapped into the air at the sudden burst of noise.

On the other end of the call, Elle had gone quiet, enough for me to check she hadn’t hung up.

“I am not quitting on her,” I ground out.

“She’s struggling, like really struggling.

She received a call from Cain, and she’s just…

frozen. Like she simply can’t function. She’s barely eaten.

She won’t talk. She’s still in the same clothes she was when she first got the call, and I don’t know what to do.

I’ve tried to talk, tried to be there, made her food, I lie awake next to her for comfort.

But I don’t think any of it helps. I want to help her but right now I don’t think I can do this on my own.

So, I’m begging you, please help me make Willow happy. ” Silence. “Elle?”

“You moved into her bed?”

“Yes. I wasn’t going to let her face her nightmares alone,” I replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. More silence. “Can you say something?”

“I’m going to allow you the snappy attitude on this occasion, because there’s more important things at hand.

” Something told me she would come back to haunt me, but that was a problem for another day.

“She needs something to remind her there’s a life outside of all of this.

She needs to feel safe, and I’m guessing the only place she feels safe is in the comfort of bed.

Let me have a think and get back to you.

” I blew out a puff of air with relief. “Do me a favour and think of planning something… something fun or different from the norm. Can you do that for me, Jack?”

“Yeah, I’ll have a think.”

“Perfect,” her voice returned to its usual chirpy manner. “And Jack?”

“Yes?” I winced, realising Elle’s wrath was due.

“If you ever keep anything like this from me again, I’ll staple your balls to your thigh in your sleep, whether Willow likes you or not.”

The phone beeped, signifying she’d ended the call. I stood in the damp street with the hand holding the dog leads, hiding my crotch as if she was ready to pounce at any moment. And yet her hopeful words cut through any fears.

Whether Willow likes you or not.

Two hours later, I was installing a doorbell camera, having successfully managed to set up a camera facing the front and back of the house.

I’d dropped the dogs off after my call with Elle, and rushed to buy the best security system money could buy.

As I connected the doorbell to my phone through the relevant app, I made a mental note to add it to Willow’s too.

I stepped back to admire the doorbell and camera, happy at the coverage the two achieved, when I heard a cough behind me. I spun around.

Leaning against the front gate, was Elle. Her black chunky boots crossed over at the ankle, she wore a long black coat, black flared jeans and a red thin knit jumper that rivalled her hair in its vibrancy.

“You took the safety aspect seriously, huh?” She smirked and lifted a brow.

“I always take her safety seriously.” I blinked at her as she pushed off the gate towards me. She tapped my chest with the tips of her fingers.

“I know Romeo, I know. She’s lucky to have you.” She offered a soft, genuine smile as she looked up at me, before passing towards the door. “Have you figured out a plan?”

“Yep. Starting tomorrow evening.”

Winking at me, she smirked and let herself into the house.