His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 74

GABRIEL (continued…)

That night, I called Sophia for the first time since arriving home I went in for a quick shower, and called her while getting dressed for bed. She picked up, but seemed so distant… like there was something playing on her mind.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Freckles?” I asked for the fourth time in that one conversation. I am still seeing you tomorrow, right?”

“Hmm..” She buzzes a little sleepily, but mostly she was just distracted. “How’s your work emergency thing going?”

“Bad,” I reply, truthfully. Alister had colorectal cancer. I was planning on picking Sophia up tomorrow, but instead, I’d have to take a trip to his doctor. To tell her this was on the tip of my tongue, but only the promise I had hastily made to my grandfather before leaving- the one to not tell this to anyone until he tells it to my grandmother in person this weekend- stopped me. Besides, Sophia just lost her Grandpa to cancer. I doubted she wanted more cancer news, “Why do you soundl so busy?”

“I’m not. I was just almost asleep when you called.”

“Oh, sorry, Freckles.” I say with no remorse, a sihall smile making its way to my lips. I needed to hear her voice.

“That’s okay.” She stays quiet for a few seconds before adding, “Are you at home?”

Tam

“Are you going to sleep now?”

‘Soon, I tell her, yawning.

‘Hm. Okay. Goodnight, Gabriel.

“Goodnight, Freckles.”

I miss you, I wanted to add, but didn’t, partly because it was too cheesy, more than I’d ever been, and partly because she disconnected the call so quietly after I said goodnight, you’d think her hand was burning from holding the phone.

I conclude I was thinking too much into it.

sanctuary all these years, which was why I never even asked Lily to move in wi me. But now, it was filled with reminders of

to be able to sleep tonight, I realise, not without her next to

and quietly left to my office; might as well work if

back home, that she needed a few more days to bask in the memory of her grandfather before she could leave her hometown, unsure when she’d

of course, but this nagging feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t

it now. I talked to her again in the morning, told her

me.

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concentrate on wark either. There

employees were in, showering at home and collecting my grandfather’s cancer reports from Dr. Grant

oncologists in the country was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister called him for a second opinion on Jim’s health so many

Alister said, of it still being in the first stage, where it would be easy to control

my heart was beating louder with every

said work. The lie

night.

so far: One, he passed his hand through his blonde hair very often. Two, he said ‘well’ every time he went on to explain a concept I didn’t know. And three, he was good at

that my grandfather would be okay. He had explained the treatment plan, and been

the cafe a bit after he left, lost in my thoughts. I considered myself good with secrets, but all

come back home. If she doesn’t, I would go to her tomorrow and bring her back with me whenever she was ready. I toy with that idea while

furrowed. “What’re you

you wouldn’t pick up my calls.” She replied

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

She raised her shoulders, “But if I did, would

did call from her phone and I

silent.

The hurt that flashed across her face was quick,

even know I was here?” I ask, and

here when I overheard him talk to

blink my annoyance