and introducing her to everything. It doesn’t matter what he’s saying; Tilly obviously just thinks he is great.
I give them a few moments whilst I lean on the wall and send the videos and pictures to Jack. Look at this – pretty successful don’t you think? x
Within minutes, he’s replied, Brilliant! Brought a tear to my eye x
Me too, speak later? x
Looking forward to it. Maybe a drink and some nibbles as well? x
Perfect, on the balcony at 7 p.m.? x
Done, looking forward to it already x
I look up at Bertie and Tilly, a smile on my face. There’s something about Jack that just makes me feel like that, in spite of all the issues I’ve had going on – my meds, Ryan, Jess – I’m more settled somehow, as though I can take on the world and things will still be okay. He’s such an upbeat kind of guy.
‘I don’t know how to thank you, Sophia,’ says Bertie. ‘I’d give you a hug if I could. Just know this: you have done more than you’ll ever know.’
I look at his weathered face, with his laughter lines and sparse grey hair and I am assailed by guilt over the secret I’m keeping. ‘It was no trouble,’ I tell him. ‘I’ve loved every minute of it.’ I bend to stroke Tilly’s head. She’s scratching at my leg, tail a-wag all the time. ‘I’d better leave you two to get acquainted with each other.’ I need to leave before I blurt something out. It’s not the right moment.
Bertie strokes the dog, who has come and sat down by his side, as though she knows who she belongs to. ‘Before you go, Sophia, I just wondered …’
I pause, my hand on the gate. ‘Anything you need?’
‘No it’s just, I had the strangest thing happen today,’ he tells me, hesitating. ‘I had an email from someone.’
‘Not one of those scammers?’ I ask, feeling immediately protective.
‘No, at least I don’t think so, it was from a Flora Bird.’
I look at him questioningly.
‘She says she’s Elsie’s daughter.’
Chapter 36
Jack
I sit and watch the video of Bertie and Tilly for the umpteenth time. I can hear Sophia in the background of one of them and I play it again a couple of times, just enjoying the sound of her voice. This is really sad; I’m totally obsessed with a girl I’ve never met. But then, perhaps like someone who is missing their vision, my other senses have become sharpened. I can tell that Sophia is the one. I can’t be wrong – I know somewhere inside that we connect on a deeper level, something I didn’t think I’d ever say.
My phone starts buzzing – Sam is calling, requesting FaceTime. ‘Hey how’s it going?’ he asks.
‘Good thanks. I’m just sitting here watching a clip of Bertie and his new dog.’
‘Did Sophia manage to sort it then? Is there nothing this girl can’t do?’
‘Obviously not,’ I say, feeling somehow proud. ‘She is pretty amazing. How’re Carrie and Tina?’
‘We took Carrie out in the buggy again today for our daily exercise, though the city parks were pretty full so it was hard to distance and Tina got a bit anxious. We just made sure we walked round people. Carrie loved it; she had a huge beam on her face. I think she’s going to be an animal lover. She’s fascinated by the ducks on the pond; the birds in the garden and anything that moves really. She’s such a bright little thing.’
‘Takes after her Uncle Jack then.’ I feel a little sad, disappointed that she’s already developing into a little person and I haven’t even met her yet.
‘So, how’s Sophia?’
‘I don’t know. I think I heard her on the phone to her ex last night. He wants her back.’ Even the words make my heart sink further; somehow saying them makes it all feel more real.
‘Has she told you that?’
‘No,’ I admit.
‘Then how do you know? You’re just guessing, and you don’t even know what she thinks about the whole thing. Why don’t you ask her?’
‘I can’t do that,’ I protest. ‘Then she’d know I’ve been ear-wigging.’
‘Well … you kind of have been.’
‘True, though I didn’t mean to. No, I’ve got a better idea than that,’ I say.
‘Always have a plan,’ Sam approves.
‘I’m going to tell her how I feel.’
‘That’s original,’ Sam says, sounding genuinely surprised. ‘How do you feel?’
‘I don’t know exactly.’
He laughs. ‘Great start.’
‘Yeah right, thanks a lot. But I know I care a lot for her and I