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.

years, which was why I never even asked Lily to move in wi me. But now,

tonight, I realise, not without

up my laptop and quietly left to my

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 think

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

falling asleep while working, but I’d done this too many times before Freckles entered my life to worry about it now. I talked to her

me.

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wark either. There was something dooming playing in

and collecting my grandfather’s cancer reports from Dr. Grant

Chicago, where one of the most famous oncologists in the country was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister called him for a second opinion on Jim’s health

confirmed the same things that Alister said, of it still being in the first stage, where it would

didn’t pick up. I waited minutes, but my heart was beating louder with every passing second. So, I called my grandmother, who

I said work. The lie

night.

next evening. I met Lily’s Uncle. He not only agreed to meeting me in an informal setting, but insisted on it. Ten minutes down, here’s what I knew so far: One, he passed his hand through his blonde hair very often. Two,

end, he had convinced me that my grandfather would be okay. He

myself good with secrets, but all I felt was the urge was to talk about this

I would go to her tomorrow and bring her back with me whenever

eyebrows furrowed. “What’re

you down since you wouldn’t pick up my calls.” She replied making herself more

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

raised her shoulders, “But if I did, would

would’ve told her that my grandfather did call from her phone and I did pick up the second time,

silent.

flashed across her face was quick, and

did you even know I was here?” I

overheard him talk to you

my annoyance