Jake jumped at the sound of a voice right behind him. Someone must have crept up on him as he was closing the door. Who had spoken? The voice sounded familiar. Looking up and down the hallway, he couldn’t see a soul.
A stair creaked. Gayle’s mother, who had answered the door to him and had swiftly shut it without explanation, appeared at the top of the stairs and came towards him. She must have spotted him through hallway banisters as she walked up.
‘Ah, Mrs Belafonte.’ Jake had been surprised when she’d answered the door to him and had realised she was Gayle’s mother. William had clearly got his facts wrong. Both her parents hadn’t passed away after all.
‘She’s coming back, you know,’ she said to Jake.
‘I’m sure she is,’ said Jake casually. He remembered Gayle mentioning that the room was special. She’d said,this room was re-decorated as a surprise and a gift from a special friend.That made sense. Gayle had mentioned that her interior designer, Robyn, was also her friend.
Jake smiled reassuringly. ‘We are not going to be here long. Just two nights, and then we’ll be gone.’
She stared at him for a long moment. ‘Gone? Why are you leaving?’
‘Er … because there will be other guests arriving.’
‘Other guests? I don’t know what you mean.’
Jake heard Marcus snoring. He glanced at the bedroom door.
She followed his gaze. ‘Is Robyn in there?’
Jake stared at her and scratched his head. ‘No, that’s Marcus. The guy who arrived with me.’
‘You’re not David! What are you doing in Robyn’s room?’
‘David?’ He looked at Gayle’s mother.Who the hell is David?he thought.Something isn’t right here.
‘Why don’t we both go downstairs and find your daughter.’
‘Gayle?’
‘Yes, that’s right – Gayle.’ Jake led the way, hoping she followed. Thankfully, she did. However, when he started down the stairs, Jake didn’t hear her walking down behind him. He turned to find her standing at the top of the stairs, looking uneasy.
Jake raced back up. ‘Here, let me help you.’ Jake offered her his hand.
Tentatively she took the first stair. Taking one step at a time, they made it to the bottom.
He let go of her hand just as Gayle rushed out from the lounge, carrying a book and wearing large round reading glasses. ‘Mother!’ she exclaimed, ‘have you been upstairs again?’ Her face registered alarm.
Her mother gave her a look of indignation. ‘Maybe,’ she said, shrugging, ‘or maybe not.’ She gave Jake a mischievous grin and walked off towards the kitchen.
Gayle glared after her before turning to Jake for an explanation.
‘She was walking up the stairs when I came out of my room. I think she got a bit confused. She asked me what I was doing in Robyn’s room, and mentioned some guy called David?’
Gayle took off her reading glasses. ‘She spotted you coming out of the bedroom. You’re right, that must have confused her. My friend Robyn lived here for a bit. You’re in her old room – it was hers and David’s – her fiancé. He moved in here too for abit.’
‘Oh, I see.’
Gayle lowered her voice. ‘Do you know how many times I tell my mother not to go upstairs? Maybe she’s forgotten, but her bedroom is downstairs now.’ Gayle looked towards the stairs. ‘I thought that if I didn’t shift her downstairs, she’s going to have an accident one of these days. I know what will happen – she’ll get tired coming down one day.’ She looked back at Jake. ‘Like today, for instance.’
‘I’m glad I could be of help,’ Jake said. He didn’t have time for this. Jake turned to go.
‘Sometimes ...’ Gayle mused.
Jake rolled his eyes and adopted a sincere expression before turning back to face Gayle.
She continued, ‘Sometimes I think my mother does it on purpose.’ She looked sheepishly at Jake. ‘That wasn’t a very nice thing to say, was it?’
