Page 79 of Wish You Were Her

Chapter Twenty-Two

Allegra didn’t have to ask Jasper for a ride, the keys were already in her hand. Jonah got dressed and followed the two of them out to the jeep, not even entertaining the idea of staying behind. Allegra watched Arthur lean down to whisper something into Jasper’s ear.

“No, stay here with Grace, I’ll be back soon,” she replied.

Jonah and Allegra got into the car and Allegra tried to keep her heart steady.

“It’s my mum,” she said quietly. “Gotta be. I’m too scared to turn my phone on.”

“He would have said if it was your mum,” Jonah said softly. He knew her father better than she did. “Don’t do that to yourself.”

They were at Brooks Books in minutes, due to quiet roads and the size of the town. As Jasper turned off the engine, she placed her hand on Allegra’s arm.

“Breathe. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Tonight’s been a whole mess. Everything with Simon—”

“Simon is a huckster. I may be the only person in this town who doesn’t like him, but I’m glad you’re seeing through him. He may turn out good someday, but he’s a—”

Jasper suddenly remembered that Jonah was in the car and it stopped her from continuing.

“Don’t worry,” Jonah said bitterly. “I’m starting to see him more clearly.”

“This is an autistic canonical event, I’m afraid,” Jasper said. “Some of us trust people’s words a little too quickly because we forget that not everyone is like us. It’s a rite of passage.”

“I have to go in,” Allegra said, her words staccato-like with nerves.

“Can I say something quickly?” Jasper pressed.

Allegra tried to calm her breathing. “Yes.”

“You’re eighteen. You’re independent. You can’t get in trouble. Not anymore, schooldays are done. If he’s cross or mad about something, you don’t have to bow your head and take it. I know you’re eighteen and being a young adult is weird, and you’re never sure where the lines really are. They’re not in a number or a birthday and none of the rules click into place. But you’re allowed to stand up for yourself. Trust me. I’ve been there.”

If Allegra was not in such a hurry to find out why her father had sounded so ominous she would have spilled out all of the warm feelings she felt toward this woman. Instead she swiftly hugged her, before running to the bookshop door.

She unlocked it with shaking hands, holding it open for Jonah as the two of them dashed inside and upstairs. They found George Brooks in the kitchen and, to the astonishment of them both, there was a laptop set up next to him. It sat menacingly on the kitchen table.

Allegra watched her father scowl at the sight of Jonah. “What’s going on, Dad?”

“Sit down, Allegra.”

Remembering Jasper’s words, Allegra elected to stand. “No. Tell me. Is it Mum? Is she okay?”

“Can you hear us, honey?”

Natalie, her publicist, was on the laptop screen and she was wearing a robe. She looked haggard. Allegra would never usually use such a word to describe Natalie, but it was fitting. An assistant to her agent, Sam, was also present on the call.

“I can hear you,” Allegra said shakily.

“Okay, hon. You haven’t been answering either of your phones.”

“No, they’re switched off.”

“Okay. Well.” Natalie was clearly searching for how to begin, while her father would barely look at her. “Did you go on a date tonight?”

The question completely threw Allegra. She felt Jonah’s fingers brush her own, a silent reminder that he was there and on her side. “Yes. Kind of. Not really a date, we just went—”

“But you kissed?”