Page 139 of Playing By Ear

“That bad?”

“He fell.”

Perry gasped. “Is he all right?”

“I think so,” Jamie said, “apart from the brain tumor.” He wiped his wrist over his mouth. “Sorry, not trying to be cheeky.”

“I like your cheek. Both of them. All of them.”

Jamie’s smile felt crooked, but it was real. “I miss you.”

“Erm, have I lost track of time or were you just here two hours ago?”

Jamie sank into one of the terrace chairs. “I miss you in advance, because I need to stay with him for a while.”

“By ‘a while,’ you mean…”

“Until the end. Until he—” Jamie pressed his lips together and watched Layla as she scoured the tall wooden privacy fence for the scents of intruders and probably squirrels. “Until the end.”

Perry released a sorrowful sigh. “What can I do to help?”

“Just, I dunno, be there, I suppose.” Jamie scuffed his shoe against the edge of the brick terrace. “Oh, and send pics of yourself.”

“Like, nudes?”

Jamie laughed despite the circumstances. “Just your pretty face. If I want a scud shot, I’ll take a screen grab during your next show. Tell your parents I’m sorry I cannae meet them today. And Sarah and Brian, too, I was looking forward to having a victory pint with them after your big win in Edinburgh.”

“I appreciate your optimism. I’ll text you the scoreline on my way home.”

“You’d better.” On the other side of the fence, a car pulled into the recess, its engine turning off a moment later. “I should go. I think my sister’s here.”

“Don’t forget to look after yourself.”

“Thank you.” It meant everything to know that one person valued Jamie’s well-being above that of his father.

They said goodbye, and he brought Layla inside. Then he went to the front door and opened it as Belinda and Lucy were coming through the gate. “Hiya!” he said—brightly, for the wean’s sake.

“Hi.” Lucy gave him a wavering smile, twisting the hem of her blue jumper.

Jamie put his arm across the doorway to stop Belinda rushing in. “Take a beat,” he told her in what he hoped was a soothing tone. “He’s all right at the minute, though we should phone a nurse to see if any bones are bruised.”

Belinda’s face pinched. “Will it be scary for—” she whispered, glancing at her daughter.

“It’s scary for all of us,” he said. “But he looks pretty normal just now. He’s still Dad.”

“I had to bring her. Stuart’s out on a job with—” She cut herself off. “Not for you to know.”

“Thank you.”

“Anyway, we’re going to see Grandda as much as ever now he’s ill, aren’t we?” she asked Lucy, stroking her hair with a trembling hand. “Do you remember why?”

Lucy nodded. “Because he’s feeling poorly and we make him feel better.”

“That’s right.”

“And even when he’s crabbit, he’s still happy to see us.”

“A very wise tip,” Jamie told his niece as he led them inside.