Page 13 of The House Swap

She had been in the middle of packing, her suitcase open on the bed and half filled, when her phone rang. Seeing his name on the screen, she answered with a smile, expecting him to double-check what time he was picking her up from the airport, or perhaps just to say he was looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.

Instead, she heard it immediately. Something wrong in his voice.

‘Hey. Are you okay?’

There was a moment of silence before he answered.

‘Not really.’ She heard him release a shaky breath. ‘Something’s happened to James.’

She sank down onto the edge of the bed. James was Tom’s best friend, and he spoke about him often and fondly.

‘What’s happened?’ she asked.

‘He was…’ Tom hesitated, as if the weight of the words were too heavy. He tried again. ‘He was in a car accident this afternoon.’

Poppy’s stomach dropped. ‘Oh God. Is he…?’ Now she was the one who couldn’t finish her sentence.

‘They’ve put him in a medically induced coma. His fiancée is at the hospital. She called me about an hour ago. She was in pieces. He’s in a bad way, Pops.’

Until now his tone had been careful and controlled, like he was trying hard not to fall apart, but as he spoke that last sentence, his voice cracked.

‘Oh Tom. I’m so sorry.’

‘I have to go back.’ He said it quietly, almost to himself. ‘I can’t not. He’s my best friend. He’d do the same for me.’

‘Of course you do. Don’t even think about it.’

Quietly she was devastated, but she would never say that out loud. Her holiday in Crete paled in significance to what was going on with James, and guilt racked through her at even thinking about it at this awful time.

‘I’ve already looked at flights. There’s one tonight at half ten. I’ll go straight to the hospital when I land.’ There was a pause. ‘Pops, I’m so sorry about tomorrow. I’ve been really looking forward to it and now⁠—’

‘Stop,’ she said firmly, even as her throat tightened. ‘This is your best friend. Nothing else matters right now.’

For a moment, neither of them spoke. She could hear him breathing and desperately wished she could give him a hug.

‘The villa is still yours,’ he said eventually. ‘Please don’t cancel your trip because of this. I mean it. Get away from everything, like you planned. You need it.’

‘I don’t have to go. I can stay here. The holiday’s not important.’

‘You’ve already booked your flight. Don’t waste it. Please. It will give me another thing to feel awful about.’

Could she still go? The image of his beautiful villa wasn’t quite the same, knowing that she’d be arriving alone. But he was right. She had the flight booked.

‘Okay,’ she said quietly, an idea forming. ‘What about you? You’ll need somewhere to stay when you’re not at the hospital.’

‘I’ll sort something. Get a hotel room.’

‘Tom.’ She kept her voice light, but firm. ‘Use my flat. Please. I’ll be in Crete and it’s just sitting there empty.’

There was a small pause.

‘I don’t want to put you out.’

‘You won’t be. You’re letting me stay in your villa. It’s the least I can do in return. It’s close to the Tube station, so it will be ideal.’

‘So, we’re doing a house swap. Are you sure?’

‘Yes, I’m sure. I can leave a key on top of the door ledge for you when I leave tomorrow.’