I gripped the doorknob, ready to turn it when I paused. What would be waiting for me on the other side?
42
Jay was leaning against the wall, opposite the bedroom door. It was a wide curving hallway with several wooden doors and alcoves with vases of flowers. He took my hand. The contact with his skin sent the familiar spark of electricity through me. I squeezed his hand, needing reassurance.
“Wow, your house is amazing,” I commented as we came to a large, sweeping staircase.
He looked at me and smiled, then led me down the stairs, through a huge landing and into a living area. Georgian style windows spread across one wall, and an elegant white fireplace on the other.
I sat on the sofa, already tired from walking the short distance, and he sat in the adjacent armchair. He stared straight into my eyes. The way he used to. I shifted in my seat.
Rosie walked in carrying a tray with a pot of tea, a pot of coffee and some cups. Without saying anything, she placed the items on the low table and left.
“Tea or coffee?” Jay asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off me when Rosie came in. And now, like then, he continued to stare into me.
“Tea, please.” I fixed my gaze on my mug, keeping my eyes away from his.
Jay picked up the teapot and poured me a cup, then poured himself one. He then picked up my cup and passed it to me.
“Thank you,” I said. I’ve said thank you to him so many times in the past few minutes. And I did have many things to thank him for. I could almost feel my body warm, but then I remembered the email. Not so much the photo. But the words James McAllister screaming out from the text.
“Would you like any food?”
“Uh, yes please. James.” I tried the name out on my tongue. He visibly flinched when I said it but quickly regained his normal composure. He took something from his pocket, a small plastic oval with three buttons on it. He pushed the blue button.
“The blue button is for Rosie,” he said, handing it to me. “You keep this while you’re here, and she will come to you.”
“Yes?” Rosie asked as she entered the room.
“Abbie and I will have lunch soon, in the dining room”
“Yes, sir.” She turned and left the room as quickly as she had entered it.
We finished our tea and I followed him into the dining room. I gawked at the room as we entered, the table sat twenty and original artwork graced the walls.
We talked through our meal, the easy flow of conversation still between us. I realized how famished I was after not eating for three days, and lapped up all of the chicken soup placed in front of me.
“Did you get enough to eat?”
“Yes, thank you.” That phrase again. Thank you for everything Jay, except for being a liar.
“Come, you should get some rest.” He stood and without protest I followed him back to my room.
“Where’s your room?” I asked as we approached my door.
“Down the hall.” He didn’t indicate which way down the hall.
I stepped into my room and he closed the door, with him on the other side.
Tired and confused, I climbed back into bed and fell asleep.
When I woke, my eyes blinked at the weak sunlight. I wish I knew the time, but I didn’t have my phone and couldn’t see a clock in the room. I pushed the blue button, and Rosie appeared soon after.
“Yes?”
“Do you know the time?”
“It’s a little after four. Is that everything?”
“Is it okay if I go downstairs?”
“Of course, I’ll let Mr McAllister know.”
Once she’d left, I got out of bed and went back to the dresser with the robes in it. I pulled the top drawer open and ran my fingers over the contrasting fabrics. With Sam’s voice in my head, I closed the drawer and opened the one underneath. It was full of underwear, bras and socks, of all fabrics and colors, all of them my size.
I opened the next drawer down, it was full of casual tops, all my size. The drawer underneath that was full of pants. My heart raced at the sight. I shut the drawers and went to the closet, the walk in closet. Inside every rail was covered in dresses, skirts, blouses, smart pants. Every one of them my size.
I staggered backwards, until I bumped into the closet doorframe.
There was a soft knock at the bedroom door, and I rushed over to open it.
“Jay.”
“What’s wrong? Why are you so upset?”
“The clothes here, why are all they all here?”
“So you’d have something to wear when you felt a little better.”
“But Jay. James. There’s enough here to wear something new every day for a year.”
“I didn’t know what style you’d want, so I got an assortment.” Assortment. Unbelievable. The hair on the back of my neck prickled. Why did he do all of that?