At the moment I had decided not to scramble down the treacherously slippery bank to set it free, my phone rang. Leaning on the wall of the bridge, I saw the unknown number and felt my heart accelerate.
‘Hello?’
‘Faith? It’s Gwynne.’
I gripped the stone wall with my free hand.
‘Hi. Thanks for calling me back.’
‘No problem at all, Faith. How are you, kid?’
I thought about that. How was I?
‘Kane is out.’ That should answer her question.
‘Ah. Are you still in Brooksby?’ she asked.
‘No. A few miles away. Sam’s here, too.’
‘How’s he taken it?’
I sighed. ‘Not great.’
‘What do you need to know?’
‘Where he is. If he’s looking for us. If our fear is justified. If we need to emigrate or hire bodyguards. Or forget about him and move on.’ I turned around and leaned with my hip on the wall.
‘Did the VCS let you know the conditions of his release?’
‘Kane’s not allowed to contact us.’
‘Give me a couple of days.’
‘Thanks, Gwynne.’
‘You are very welcome.’ Her voice softened. ‘Take care of yourself.’
Phew. I was trying.
Sam was in bed when I called in later that day. He didn’t want the tea I made, or the sandwich. April lay amongst the debris on the sofa, wearing Sam’s tatty dressing gown.
I gave her his rejected tea, and switched off the television. ‘What are you doing here, April?’
‘I’m taking care of Sam. And the flat.’
I looked around. I hoped she was taking better care of Sam than the flat. ‘Why?’
She shrugged. ‘I love him.’
‘How long have you known each other?’
‘A few weeks. Long enough.’ She flicked a dreadlock out of her face.
‘So you met him when he was well.’ I sat down on the seat opposite her.
‘Yeah. But you don’t just love someone when they’re happy, do you? Love means being there when they need you.’
‘Sam suffers from serious mental illness. He’s also been an addict for fourteen years. This could go on for weeks, maybe months. Then he might get better for a while, before another crash. He will probably start drinking again, and smoking whatever he can find to numb the torture. It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. He needs serious help, April. Major commitment that will grind you down. No one would ask or expect that from someone he’s just met.’
