EMILY
In a few seconds we’re going to buzz the flat intercom so Rory can let us into the building. I just want to take some time to compose myself, take a few deep breaths and mentally prepare myself before we press the button. It’s a modern building towards the Royal Armourires Museum in the centre of the city. Squeezing my trembling hands together I curse my phone for dying on me because right now I could do with a FaceTime with Lizzie and Bill to calm my nerves. In true Felix fashion, he ignores my request for a few moments to get my thoughts together, stands on his tiptoes and presses the button.
‘Felix,’ I hiss, making Baxter bark at me from our feet, who has recently been to the toilet on a snowy patch of grass on the way to Rory’s block of flats. ‘I was going to do that.’
Felix shrugs. ‘I saved you a job, Aunty Emily.’
No one responds.
Felix presses the button again and still nothing.
My stomach starts to rotate. In my head I can see Rory and Beth laid in bed up there and her telling him to ignore whoever is disturbing them. I feel sick.
Before I have time to reach in my bag for peppermints Felix nudges me and points towards a young man hurrying towards the flats carrying a toilet roll four-pack under each arm and two bulging carrier bags.
As the figure huffs and puffs towards us Felix tugs on my arm. ‘He might know Rory.’
The man reaches the door and groans. ‘My key fob is in my coat pocket.’
‘Do you want some help?’ Felix asks.
‘Help would be good,’ he says, ‘the key fob is in my left-hand coat pocket.’
I reach inside and grab it. He gestures for me to press it against the door to the building. With a swish the electronic door opens, and the man staggers inside with his carrier bags and toilet roll packs. ‘Who are you here to see?’ he asks, with his back to the lift.
‘Rory Wilkinson,’ Felix pipes up.
He turns back to us. ‘And you two are?’
I place my hand on Felix’s shoulder. ‘I’m Emily and this is Felix.’
With a gasp he drops his toilet roll packets and carrier bags to the floor. For a few seconds we all stand and survey the toilet roll, tinned meat and candle chaos.
‘Sorry,’ says the man, bending down to grab as many candles as he can. He’s shorter than Rory and looks like he’s in his early thirties. He’s wearing a red winter jacket, a blue rugby shirt and jeans. His face is bright red and he’s breathing quickly. He stops for a second. ‘You’re Emily as in Rory’s ex-girlfriend?’
My heart starts to thump. Oh, God, why does he seem like he’s in shock?
Felix leaps into action after putting Baxter into my arms. He hands the man the tins of meat which have rolled away, and the toilet roll packs.
‘I’m Tom, Rory’s flatmate. Well, you better come with me.’
Felix carries one of the packs of toilet roll.
‘Can you press the lift button for me as well?’
Felix jams the button and frowns at all the toilet rolls. ‘Why have you bought so much toilet roll and tinned meat?’
The lift button has not even lit up which doesn’t bode well. I press it again.
‘The snow is going to get bad, and some say there might be toilet roll and food shortages. When I was a student, I lived on tinned meat for months, so it can be done.’
Felix nods and casts him an odd look.
‘Is the lift coming?’ Tom is staggering around the foyer.
‘The lift doesn’t seem to be working,’ I explain, pointing to the screen. ‘There’s no up or down arrows and the button is not lit up.’
A frustrated wail can be heard from behind the toilet roll mountain. ‘I can’t walk up six flights of steps with all of my emergency provisions.’
