Page 110

“I walked.”

I’m furious with her, but I know yelling isn’t the best course of action. For whatever reason, she chose to call me. She needs my help and support, not a lecture about her choices tonight. I can save that judgement for when she’s safe in the car and on her way home.

“Okay, wait where the shops are, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Thanks, Delilah.”

She hangs up, and I look at Joseph.

“I need to pick up Maddie. She’s snuck out of the house,” I explain.

“I’ll drive you,” he offers.

“Are you sure? You’re not worried about her seeing us together?” I ask.

He huffs out a laugh. “It’s not a sin for us to be seen together. Besides, you can keep an eye on your phone in case she calls again, and you can let me worry about the driving.”

I nod, then check my buttons are correct and gather my things. I follow him through to the hallway but falter by the front door.

“Do I look okay?” I ask.

He looks surprised at the question and then smiles.

“You always look stunning, Dee.”

I snort. “Cheesy, Joseph, very cheesy. I meant, do I look like I’ve just had multiple orgasms and like you came all over me, as I’d really like to avoid that being the obvious look when we pick Maddie up.”

He snickers. “I think you’ll pass.”

“Good. Now, let’s go find her, take her home to face the music, and then we can come back here so you can finish up on your promise.” I grin at him.

We walk out of the house and towards his car. He opens the door for me, making me smile. When he gets in and starts the engine, I input the address for where we need to go into his satnav. It’s fortunately not too far from Joseph’s house, but still miles from her home.

Joseph reverses off the drive one-handed, the other arm behind the back of my seat. It makes me smile again as I wonder if it’s how he always moves the car, or if he knows that it’s a move that some women find sexy.

“We can tell her that I was driving you home after dinner at Felix’s, if you like,” he offers once he’s straightened the car off the drive and starts down the road.

“I think she’s too preoccupied with whatever is going on tonight to worry about why we’re together. I can’t believe she snuck out. What was she thinking?”

“She’s a young kid who wants to be normal,” Joseph comments.

“I know that, but she’s so young, and it’s so late. She’s not supposed to be taking risks like this, and anything could happen to her as she wanders the street.” I can feel my heartrate rising as I talk. I look over at him. “I know I was doing things like that when I was a teenager, but I had reasons, and I wanted more for her than I had.”

“I’m sure she has her reasons too. They may not be as disastrous or awful as what you had, but I’ll bet she’ll tell you about them,” Joseph says.

“I should call Verity, just in case she checks in Maddie’s room and panics that she isn’t there.”

“You’re telling me you think Maddie wouldn’t have arranged teddy bears and pillows in her bed to make it look like she’s there and asleep? That’s what I did if I snuck out for a party. Sounds like I have a lot to teach her,” Joseph jokes with a grin.

“I never had to bother with shit like that. If my mother ever checked my room, I don’t think she’d have given a shit to find me missing,” I admit.

He clears his throat. “I hope you know, if you decide in the future to have a child… you’ll be a good mother, Dee.”

“I don’t know,” I murmur.

“About having them or being a good mother?” he asks.

“I want kids. I want the whole magical future—you know, the nice home, loving husband who comes home at six o’clock from work with a ‘Honey, I’m home,’ the labrador dog and the two point four children. Well, maybe I’m not dreaming about it exactly like that, but you know what I mean. I just don’t know how good a parent I’d be.” I shrug.