Bound by Ivy by S. Quinn Read Free Book Online Page B

Sammy’s missing her like crazy,’ says Dad. ‘That’s why I know she can’t have left for good. She’d never leave him for good.’
    I don’t know what to say about that. Truth be told, I’ve always thought of Genoveva as a bit on the cold side. I try to see the best in everybody, but with Genoveva it was a struggle at times. And right now, seeing my dad upset like this, it’s a real struggle.
    Two sides to every story , I remind myself. But knowing Genoveva the way I do, perhaps there really is only one side to this one.
    ‘Oh Dad.’ I put my arms around him again. ‘Let me make you some hot milk and I’ll start getting this place cleaned up.’
    ‘No .’ Dad shakes his head and clambers to his feet. ‘You must be knackered. You’ve come all the way from London. We’ll both get stuck in tomorrow. You should go to bed. Get some rest. We both should.’
    His skin looks so pale and thin – almost see through.
    ‘That sounds like a good idea,’ I say, knowing full well that I’m going to insist Dad stays out of my way tomorrow. He’s far more of a hindrance than a help when it comes to clearing up, and by the look of him he needs a good lie i n. ‘You go get some sleep.’

16
    After Dad has staggered off upstairs, I creep up myself and sneak a look in Sammy’s room. He’s sleeping soundly in his cot, his little arms thrown up above his head.
    Sammy’s room used to be my old bedroom and I love that Sammy sleeps in here.
    It’s a perfect kid’s room because there’s a sloping ceiling that makes it hard for an adult to stand u p.
    Of course, Genoveva has redecorated so it doesn’t look anything like my bedroom anymore. The little fairies I painted around the fireplace have been scrubbed off, and the lavender plants I grew along the windowsill have been thrown out. All the old furniture Dad and I found at flea markets has been replaced with white flat pack stuff.
    I w atch Sammy sleeping for a few minutes, but just as I’m backing out the door, a floorboard creaks and Sammy mutters and rubs his nose.
    ‘Mama,’ he says, wide awake suddenly.
    I go to him. ‘It’s alright Sammy,’ I whisper, suddenly furious with Genoveva. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll look after you while Mummy’s away.’ I rub his back until his eyes close and sing the lullaby my mum used to sing to me – Somewhere over the Rainbow .
    Soon Sammy is asleep, and I creep downstairs.
    *****
    W hen I reach the living room, I call Marc.
    H e picks up on the first ring.
    ‘ Sophia.’
    ‘M arc. I … is everything okay? You didn’t call—’
    ‘I’ve been calling and calling,’ Marc barks. ‘Why hav e you had your phone off?’
    ‘I didn’t t urn my phone off.’
    ‘I called at least twenty times. Every time it said the number was unavailable. I was going out of my mind with worry. I even came to the theatre, but my security team told me you were out. With Leo.’
    ‘We went out to dinner,’ I say. ‘It was only for an hour or so.’
    ‘If it wasn’t for the fact my security people were there ... Sophia, I don’t like not being able to reach you.’
    Suddenly it hits me. ‘Wait. My phone was in Leo’s dressing room, at the back of the theatre. There’s no phone reception back there. So I guess no calls could get through.’
    ‘ Leo’s dressing room?’ Marc growls.
    ‘He confiscated my phone,’ I explain. ‘So I could concentrate better. Otherwise I’d just have been checking it all day for your calls.
    ‘ He took your phone?’ Marc sounds furious.
    ‘I mean ... it wasn’t exactly like that. I agreed to it. He was right. It would have been a distraction.’
    I can hear Marc breathing. Hard.
    ‘Marc?’
    ‘Don’t give Leo your phone again.’
    I rub my eyes, tired suddenly. ‘Marc, you’re making something out of nothing.’
    ‘Get some sleep. I’ll see you soon.’
    ‘When?’ I ask . ‘It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow.’
    ‘And you have all day free. Until your show at eight.’
    ‘How do you know