Page 159 of Key of Kink

I straightened slightly. “Oh?”

“Yes. For a few months now.”

“And you’re telling me because…?”

“Because I thought it might be better if you heard it from me.”

I could picture her standing in the kitchen back home, twisting the phone cord around her finger the way she used to when I was younger.

Except that phone had died long ago. Now it was a cordless one.

“What’s his name?” I asked.

“David.”

“And you like him?”

“Yes.” The answer came quickly. “He’s very kind.”

“That seems like a good starting point.”

“I just didn’t want you to think…” She trailed off.

“That you’re replacing Dad?”

“Yes.”

The words hung awkwardly between us.

“Mum,” I said gently, “Dad hasn’t been around for ten years.”

“I know.”

“You’re allowed to move on.”

“I suppose.”

There was relief in her voice now, although she tried to hide it. “David’s very patient.”

“That’s useful. He’ll need a lot of that with you,” I teased, because I could.

She laughed. “Yes, he probably will.” Another pause settled between us, but I knew what was coming. “And what about you?”

“What about me?”

“Is there anyone special?”

The phrasing was so careful it almost made me smile. There were a dozen easy ways to answer it.

No.

Not really.

Just work.

Instead I said, “There’s someone I’m spending time with.”

Silence.