The Fixer Upper by Phoebe MacLeod

Author:Phoebe MacLeod [MacLeod, Phoebe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

I’m woken up by my phone ringing. For a moment, my heart leaps into my mouth, hoping it’s Thomas calling to say that I’ve got it all wrong, he’s not sleeping with Cat at all and the whole sabbatical idea was a stupid joke.

It’s not Thomas. It’s Michelle.

‘How’s Claire this morning?’ she asks.

‘I don’t know,’ I tell her groggily. ‘It was a difficult night, but I left her fast asleep earlier. I think she’s over the worst.’

‘You sound dreadful. Are you OK?’

‘Not really.’

‘What’s up?’

‘Oh, just stuff. Don’t worry about me.’

‘What stuff?’

‘I found out Thomas is sleeping with Cat. We just broke up.’

‘I did think they seemed very close. How did you find out?’

I fill her in on the events of the night and my disastrous breakfast.

‘The worst bit,’ I tell her at the end, ‘is that I’d really like to go home now, but I’m stuck here for three more days. I have no intention of seeing Thomas again, obviously, but Claire is going to want to spend as much time as she can with him, so I’m basically stuck moping around the hotel until it’s time to leave.’

‘That, at least, I can do something about. Why don’t you try to get a couple of hours’ kip and I’ll pick you up at noon. Jack’s got a work issue he needs to sort out, so he’s not going to miss me.’

‘Thanks, but you don’t need to take pity on me, Michelle. I’m a big girl, I can look after myself.’

‘I know, and this isn’t pity. You’re doing me a favour, because at the moment I’m also stuck here with nowhere to go. Be in the lobby of your hotel at noon, OK?’

‘OK.’

I’m just crawling back under the covers when there’s a tentative knock at the door. Sighing, I slip on a dressing gown and pad across to open it.

‘I’m so sorry about last night,’ Claire tells me. ‘It never occurred to me that the biscuits were spiked. Did I make a terrible fool of myself?’

‘You were… interesting,’ I tell her.

‘Oh, God. Was Thomas embarrassed? There’s nothing worse than embarrassing your children in front of their peers. There was one time when he was little, and⁠—’

‘I’m really sorry, Claire,’ I interrupt. ‘The truth is that I hardly got any sleep last night and I’ve had a difficult morning so far. I don’t want to be rude but I really need to go back to bed. Do you mind?’

‘Of course. I’m so sorry. What would you like me to tell Thomas? He’ll be disappointed not to see you.’

‘I’m sure he’ll be just fine. Go and have fun with your son.’

I gently close the door before she has a chance to say anything else.

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