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Rowan came right up to him and stared at him with intense scrutiny.
“She’s going to be okay, thank goodness.” She paused, and continued to look into his eyes. “So, how long have you and Sky been seeing each other?”
“We bumped into each other on the tube, just a few days ago.” It was the truth.
“Coincidence, huh?” She didn’t look convinced.
Rory nodded.
Her eyes bored holes into him. Eventually, she broke into a wry smile. “No need to look so shifty.”
Rory’s instinct was denial. He didn’t want to appear shifty. “I’m not. We get on well. It’s not against the law.”
“No.” She looked almost wistful. “I’m glad you got together, I told her she shouldn’t follow you to London but she wouldn’t listen.”
He shook his head. “She wouldn’t have known where I was, it was chance.”
“She hoped though. I hope you look after her.”
“I intend to.”
“Good. I appreciate you bringing her.”
“Unfortunately we have to head back later today. Her supervisor is a cold-hearted bitch, only gave her today off, even though it was a family emergency.”
“Nice.”
“She needs a better job.”
Rowan nodded, seemingly impressed. “How’s Sean?”
“He’ll be out for Christmas. I’m hoping to set him up with a job at the bike shop where I work.”
She didn’t respond for ages. “Come on, you better go in and speak to Nan. They allow two at a time so I’ll wait here with Gladys, while you take a turn with Sky.”
Rory wasn’t sure he wanted to go in there. Partly because it would make him think of this mother again. Partly because Nan was a bit of a scary lady and he didn’t have the first idea what she would say when she saw the pair of them standing together at her bedside.
“Don’t look like that,” Rowan said with a soft laugh. “You know what she’s like. She’d be annoyed if she knew you were here and didn’t say hello.”
“True.” Rory opened the door.
Rowan waved to her great aunt and held up the cardboard cup of tea. As they exchanged places Gladys nodded at Rory and looked at him with curiosity. “Rory Rattigan, what a hero you are, getting her here so quickly.”
Hero? Rory almost laughed aloud. It was the last thing he expected her to say. And it was pretty damn far from what he felt, with the dubious legacy of his hacker days hammering close at his back.
He moved to be at Sky’s side, and rested his hand on shoulder.
Nan was barely awake but peered at hi
m anyway.
“Hello, Nan,” he offered.
Nan smiled. “Rory Rattigan. More handsome than ever.”
Rory was used to them chasing him off from Sky, this was too weird. She was a woman now, an independent woman, not a crazy kid, that’s why.
Sky looked up at him gratefully. “Nan’s going to be okay, and she’s going move in with Gladys, Rowan too.”
