‘I apologise for yesterday. Mrs Neal was abruptly called away to a conference in France. I only found out last night.’
Even as I say it, the words sound ridiculous. Nicola’s eyebrows shoot up.
‘France?’ she echoes, incredulous. ‘Can she leave the babies just like that?’
Her naivety catches me off guard.
‘There are other surgeons,’ I say.
She studies me, searching my face for something. I keep my expression neutral. ‘She wanted me to apologise,’ I add. ‘She’s quite embarrassed.’
Nicola huffs, unimpressed. ‘She could have messaged me, though.’
This conversation is becoming more challenging than I expected. ‘It was urgent,’ I say. ‘She probably got caught up in everything.’
I turn away, grabbing my briefcase and avoiding her gaze. Nicola drifts past me to where Joel sits at the kitchen table, crayoning. ‘Good morning, my handsome lad,’ she says, her tone softening.
Joel looks up and grins. Nicola fills the kettle, then mutters, ‘Still, she could have answered my calls.’
Bloody hell, will she ever drop it?
‘Her phone died,’ I say.Even I wouldn’t believe that one.
I lean down and press a kiss on Joel’s forehead. ‘See you later, dude. I’ll be home by six,’ I tell her, then check my phone as I walk towards the lift. Donald has called twice already, so I call him back. I can hear Julia in the background. She sounds frantic and is begging him to call the police.
‘He’ll call,’ I tell him. But for the first time, I’m starting to doubt it.
***
I can’t focus on work. My stomach churns. My phone stays glued to my hand, my eyes constantly darting to the screen.
Where is the call?
I’m still staring at my phone when Nic strolls into my office. He doesn’t even knock anymore. His arrogance irritates most of the other employees. He’s handsome and aware of it. He wears the best designer clothes and only frequents the bestrestaurants. He lives beyond his means, but it doesn’t worry him. Women find his supposed wealth and generosity hard to resist.
‘Everything cool?’ he asks.
‘Sure,’ I say, even though I want to scream,No; everything is far from bloody cool.
He perches on my desk, annoyingly relaxed. ‘Up for tonight?’
‘Can’t. Jo’s at a conference in France. I need to be home for Joel.’
‘Ah, too bad. Can’t your nanny stay later and babysit?’
I shake my head. ‘Wait till you’re a father. You’ll understand then.’
He scoffs, pushing himself off the desk. ‘Fuck off. That’s not happening. No responsibilities for me.’
At that moment, my phone pings with a WhatsApp message. ‘I need to…’ I say, looking at the door.
Nic raises his hands in mock surrender. ‘Okay, I can take a hint.’
The door closes. I click on the message. It’s a photo of Jo. She sits stiffly in a chair, posing like a model; but her eyes tell the truth. I see the fear lingering there. She’s holding a copy of a newspaper:The Sun. I zoom in. It has today’s date.
The photo trembles in my hand, but the sense of relief is overpowering.
I immediately forward the photo to Donald. Then my phone rings. It’s an unknown number.
