by Jay Howard
The curtains screeched a protest as Rob drew them. Or is it really my head screeching? Lynn screwed up her puffy eyes in protest at the light. Is it really possible to feel this ill and not die?
Rob placed a tray with coffee, tomato juice and toast on the bedside table. She groaned aloud.
“Come on now, you need to at least get some fluid inside you,” Rob insisted. “Toast too would help, but I won’t insist on it.”
Sudden realisation dawned of where she was and what she had done to get there. How humiliating!
“Rob, I’m so sorry I’ve put you to all this trouble. I’ve even taken your bed. I hope you weren’t too uncomfortable last night? What’s everyone going to say? What will they think?”
Rob decided she had to be told and sooner rather than later was probably best.
“Actually, you didn’t take my bed. Well, it used to be, but Gary and I have a very comfortable double bed now.”
He gave her a moment for this to sink in.
“You mean you’re... you’re…” Oh no!
“Gay?” Rob chuckled at the shock on her face. “Gary and I came out together shortly after we started work here. It’s our second anniversary next week. It’s a shame you won’t be here for the party.”
“He works here too? I’ve never seen around.”
“No, he’s manager of three Homes and has been away for a couple of weeks in the Welsh one.”
A sudden memory of what she had said before sleep claimed her turned her face crimson. “Rob, about what I said last night -”
“What you said? When was that? I don’t recall you saying anything.” He tried not to laugh as Lynn dragged the sheet up over her head, grateful but totally mortified.
-0-
“There you go, Lynn.” Her Dad patted her thigh as she sat in the passenger seat of the family car. “Go on, I’ll park the car and see to your bags while you go and tell your mother about your great time away.”
She kissed his cheek and ran to the kitchen where she knew her Mum would be preparing one of her favourites for tea to welcome her back.
“Hi, Mum!” she called. “The wanderer returns. Mmmm, that smells good.”
“Hello, love. Well, was the world ready for my daughter?”
Lynn thought about just how ready the world had been to eat her up and spit her back in little pieces. But it won’t catch me on the hop next time. She grinned and leaned over for a big hug.
“No, Mum, nowhere near ready for a daughter of yours. But it’s good to be home.”
~~~
