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.

it was my 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 Freckles. Her scent, her vanity, her clothes, even the ones lying on the

wasn’t going to be able to sleep tonight, I realise, not without

to my office; might as

wasn’t coming back home, that she needed a few more days to

but this nagging feeling that

it now. I

me.

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concentrate on wark either. There was something dooming playing

showering at home and collecting my grandfather’s cancer reports from

to Chicago, where one of the most famous oncologists in the country was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister called him for a second

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

waited minutes, but my heart was beating louder with every passing second. So,

me where she was, and I said work. The lie sat

night.

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, he said ‘well’ every time he went on to explain a concept I didn’t know. And three,

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

lost in my thoughts. I considered myself good with secrets, but all I felt was the urge was to talk about this

called her, heard her voice, heard her tell me she was doing fine, but none of that was enough. I wanted her to 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

“What’re you

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

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

shoulders, “But if

did call from her

silent.

her face was quick, and

doing here? How did you even know I was here?” I

him here when I overheard him talk to you

blink my