We’ve decided there is no other option but to walk up the stairs as the lift must be out of action. Tom has said this is a regular occurrence. Baxter is in my arms, and I’ve never appreciated him more than I do now. Thank goodness he’s a tiny dog who doesn’t weigh very much. I’m so exhausted walking up all these stairs. Tiredness is making my legs ache.
Tom is alongside me as we make our way up the stairs. ‘It’s nice to finally meet you,’ he puffs, as a torrent of sweat drips off his pink face.
‘Nice to meet you too, Tom.’
He gestures to his carrier bags. ‘I watch a lot of survival programmes.’
I cast him a friendly smile. ‘It’s always good to be prepared.’
On the third floor, Tom brings us to a halt. ‘Is Rory expecting you?’
‘It’s a surprise,’ shouts Felix, from halfway up the stairs ahead. Felix’s answer causes Tom to drop the packets of toilet roll from under each arm again.
‘Well, this is going to be some surprise,’ chuckles Tom, scratching his damp blond hair before bending down to pick up the packets of toilet roll, and bags of candles and tinned meat.
I start feeling sick again. Rory is with Beth back in the flat. A feeling of uneasiness creeps over me. I want to grab Felix, turn around and head downstairs. This is going to be embarrassing. Why did I let Felix bring me here? I should have been stronger with him. By the time we reach the sixth floor I’ve managed to sneak a look at my reflection in the metal lift frame. My skin has a definite greenish tinge to it.
We arrive at Rory and Tom’s flat. I can’t help noticing Tom, with his eyes shut, pressing his face against the toilet rolls and muttering things under his breath.
‘Shall I open the door?’ I ask as I am still carrying Tom’s key fob.
He shakes his head. ‘Open the door for me and I’ll go in first.’
As we watch Tom struggle in with his toilet rolls and bags of tinned meat Felix reaches out for my arm. He leans his head against me. I ruffle his hair, close my eyes, and pray for a miracle.
Tom returns after a minute. ‘Rory’s not here.’
‘Not here?’ Felix and I say in unison.
Tom nods. ‘You better come in.’ He spots Baxter in my arms. ‘We’re not allowed pets in the flat.’
Irritation bubbles up inside of me. ‘Well – Baxter’s not staying out here,’ I snap, holding our trembling little dog close. Felix looks up at me with a proud grin. I don’t think I have seen one of those before. With a defeated nod Tom gestures for us all to come in.
We enter the spacious open-plan living area, lined with two monstrous black leather sofas and one red leather chair which lurks in the corner. On the square coffee table is a pizza box, three cans of beer, a TV controller for the giant plasma TV on the wall and a games console. Felix, Baxter, and I sit on the sofa. Opposite us are ten empty beer bottles lined up against the wall. A giant window is on the far side.
Tom comes to stand before us. He’s fumbling with his hands and shifting his weight from foot to foot. ‘I don’t know where Rory is. He was here with… erm…’
‘Beth,’ growls Felix, crossing his arms over his chest.
My stomach squelches inside of me. The sex with Beth must have been so good they’ve gone to christen her house. I glance at the sky out of the window. It’s darkening over the snow-coated city. Given that Rory is not here, what the hell are Felix and I going to do? If the snow is going to be so bad that Tom is buying in emergency supplies how will we get home tonight? It also will take ages to get home and we wouldn’t get back until the early hours. If we can’t get home due to the snow we also have no accomodation booked.
My face feels hot and sweaty. Other sensible adults would have been watching over Felix in the station and would not have let him run off to board a train to another part of the country. Even if they had found themselves on a speeding train they would have been prepared for every eventuality and perhaps booked a cheap hotel room. Sensing my worry Felix tugs on my arm. ‘Remember what Rory sent you, Aunty Emily, the message.’
I force out a weak smile as my belly feels like a pit of writhing snakes.
Tom flicks his eyes to the floor. ‘Can I get anyone a drink?’
What are we doing here? I should be hurrying Felix away and sorting out my travel mess. ‘We should probably get going, Tom,’ I mumble.
Felix casts me a pained look. ‘It’s going to be all right, Aunty Emily. Rory is out buying us Christmas presents. Can we stay as I am thirsty?’
‘One drink and then we better go.’
After we’ve given Tom our drink orders, we remove our coats and let Baxter investigate the carpet. Felix curls up in the crook of my arm.
I sink back into the sofa and push my travel fears to the back of my mind. I turn to Rory-related thoughts. As much as my pessimistic side would love for me to believe Rory has gone back to Beth’s house, the Facebook message he sent earlier refuses to leave my mind. The question I’m now asking myself is whether you can still love someone and have sex with someone else. I need a charger for my phone. Lizzie and Bill would know the answer to this and I’m sensing the answer is probably YES. ‘Tom, do you have an Apple phone charger?’
He comes out of the kitchen carrying a a cup of tea for me and a glass of water for Felix. Swinging from his hand is a lead with a white phone charger attached. ‘You are lucky,’ he says, ‘I took it with me into town as I knew Rory would try to pinch it.’
