head every time I inadvertently think about it. I’ve spoken to Chris, my stepdad’s friend who says the box is a wonderful item and it will be a pleasure to restore it. It will take at least a week’s work, but I know that Bertie will be so pleased to have it back to its old self, so Jack and I are clubbing together to pay and Chris will do it for slightly reduced mate’s rates.
Just as I’m leaving the house, my mum phones. ‘Hi, sorry, Mum, I’m just off to pick up a dog,’ I answer. ‘I’ll put you on hands-free.’
‘Why a dog?’ asks my mum, confused.
‘Not for me, for my neighbour Bertie. He’s lonely and one of Erica’s friends can’t look after hers so …’
‘Sounds like a win-win situation then.’
‘Pretty much. Speaking of which,’ I add, ‘I need your advice.’
‘Fire away.’
‘If you found out a secret about someone in a letter, but you thought the truth of it might hurt them, would you keep the letter from them, or would you give it to them regardless?’
‘Give it to them regardless,’ says Mum, without missing a beat. ‘Just a minute; my bleep’s going … Okay don’t worry, it’s nothing urgent. I’ll phone them in a second. This isn’t something about me, is it?’ she asks with sudden concern.
‘No.’ I laugh. ‘No, I’d just tell you if it were. It’s Bertie. I found a letter from his wife, who sadly died last year. I inadvertently saw something in it that he needs to know.’
‘Then you must tell him,’ she says decisively.
‘Yeah I know. I just felt bad about it as he’s on his own and I was worried about the shock, then this dog came up and you know …’
‘No, you just need to tell him. Give him the dog as well by all means, but it’s important you let him know. People are stronger than you think. He’ll be fine as long as you all support him.’
‘Thanks, Mum. I know I should have done it straight away,’ I say guiltily. ‘I’m just in such a mess with everything. I thought I was doing really well and now it feels like it’s all falling apart.’ I try to stifle a sob. This is ridiculous. How old am I to be crying on the phone to my mum? Somehow everything’s built up and I haven’t wanted to worry Jess with it.
‘Well, you do tend to take a lot on all at once,’ Mum comforts me. ‘I can’t think who you take after!’
‘I know, I like to be busy.’ I sniff. ‘It’s just … Ryan’s got back in touch and it’s thrown me totally.’
She pauses. ‘I’m not surprised that’s thrown you, love.’ Her voice becomes muffled as she turns to someone in her office. ‘Just a minute, I’m going to field this call.’
‘Do you need to go? I don’t want to stop you working?’
‘No, I’m on a break. I was told to get some fresh air. It’s been a full-on morning.’
‘I’m sorry, and here I am offloading my worries on you.’
‘Don’t be silly, that’s what mums are for. So, Ryan’s come crawling back has he?’
‘Something like that.’ I take a bite of chocolate, hoping it will make me feel better. It doesn’t actually; now I just feel slightly sick, as I’ve eaten it too fast.
‘What did he say?’
‘Oh just that he’d made a mistake, and can we start again?’
She’s quiet for a moment, then she asks, ‘Do you want to? He’s such a nice, steady chap.’
‘I just don’t know – that’s the problem. I’m confused. This could be my opportunity to get my life back on track. Now I love my career and Ryan and I could give it another go.’ I pause for a second. ‘But then there’s Jack.’ I can’t even bring myself to suggest to my mum that I’m considering gambling my entire love life on a stranger.
‘The lad you’ve been looking after upstairs? But you’ve never met him, Soph. That’s not really a relationship is it? You don’t even know him.’
I sigh. ‘I know I don’t. But somehow it feels as though I do.’
‘Bit different when you were with Ryan for five years though – you’ve got a whole lot of history. What does Jess say?’
‘I haven’t told her. You know what she’s like!’ I exclaim.
‘Yes, to be fair she does get a bit … enthusiastic, but it’s only because she cares,’ Mum acknowledges. ‘She’s always so thoughtful and quite brilliant with Uncle Jim. She’s been dropping supplies