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.

move in wi me. But now, it was filled with reminders of Freckles. Her scent, her vanity, her clothes, even the ones

to sleep tonight, I realise,

picked up my laptop and quietly left to my office; might as well work if I can’t

she wasn’t coming back home, that she needed a few more days to bask in the memory of her grandfather before she could

course, but this nagging feeling

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 again in the morning, told her I was at work, and made sure she was okay.

me.

1/3

on wark either. There was something dooming

home and collecting my grandfather’s cancer reports from Dr. Grant who was busy

evening. I flew to Chicago, where one of the most famous oncologists in the country was based. He knew my grandfather because Alister called

it still being in the first stage, where it would

up. I waited minutes, but my heart was beating louder with every

said

night.

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, he said ‘well’ every time he went on

okay. He had explained the treatment plan, and

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

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

eyebrows furrowed. “What’re you

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

toneless.

“You called?” I blinked.

if I did, would you have picked

I would’ve told her that my grandfather did call from her phone and I

silent.

so.” The hurt that flashed across her face was

did you even know I was here?” I ask, and then it dawns. “Ah,

know. I followed him here when I overheard him talk to you

my annoyance