“You all right?” I look up to see an older man walking his dog.
“Yeah, fine. Just waiting for a cab,” I reply, sliding my phone from my pocket, noticing a missed call from a number I don’t recognise. I go to the app and order a cab before listening to the voicemail.
The voice is unfamiliar and yet familiar.
She has a nervous catch to her breathing as she leaves me a message, and when she says her name, I’m grateful to already be sitting.It can’t be. My hands shake as I end the voice message and my finger roams over the number of the missed call. After taking a deep breath, I dial the number and wait for her to pick up.
Chapter Sixty-Two
RACHEL
I’m beyond exhausted.
I’ve been up since the crack of dawn helping Marcus get ready for his trip to Dubai. We agreed it might be good for him to get away from bad habits here, and he can find out about this job opportunity while he’s there, too.
He spent some quality time with Molly, and though she continued to ask after Olly, he didn’t seem to be annoyed by the fact. I mean, how can he? Olly saved her life.
I hesitate when I arrive at Olly’s house. There’s a car parked over his drive. His is parked on the driveway. I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach—maybe this was a bad idea.
Hesitating, I walk with trepidation up his path and to the front door. I pause at the voices floating out through the open window. His is distinct—I would sound it out in a crowd—but it’s the female one which is unfamiliar.
And instead of knocking like any sane person, I step towards the bay windows. The blinds are open, his living room visible.
My breath catches when I see him embrace another woman. He is holding her by the shoulders, and her face is tilted towards his. But what crucifies me is the way he’s gazing at her with so much admiration and love.
And suddenly, I can barely get air into my lungs. I step back and try to breathe. Who is she? Was he playing me this whole time?
I stagger back down the path and towards Betty, needing to be anywhere but here.
Molly has a sleepover tonight with Sophie, but I can’t bear going home. I know there is one place he won’t be, so I drive towards the bar.
OLLY
I should be sitting down. I know pacing like this is not doing my body any good, but I’m a ball of nervous energy. How did she even find me?
When she said she wanted to see me, I was floored.
When she called herselfCharlotte, I almost thought I mistook her voice for someone else, but as soon as she corrected herself and said, Lottie, I knew it was her.
I’m sweating profusely, so I go to the bathroom to rinse my face. I don’t want the first time I see her to be dripping with sweat.
God, what if she blames me for our parents’ death? What if she hates me and she’s coming here for answers?
The sound of the doorbell echoes through my house like a final curtain call, and I know it’s now or never. Buster is out with the dog walker which means it will be just the two of us.
I inhale a deep breath before I open the door, and the air is knocked right out of me.
“Olly,” she says on a small exhale.
“Lottie,” I reply, struggling not to get choked up.
We stare at one another for a brief moment. She is so much like our mother, whereas I look like my father, but we both have the same eye colour.
I reach out my hand towards her, and she takes it without hesitation before stepping into the doorway and wrapping her arms around my neck.
I hold onto her, probably too tight.
“You’re so grown up,” I say when I let go. I close the door behind us and lead her into the living room.
