Page 56 of Jackson
I’d sleptthrough dinner and breakfast. It had taken me by surprise to learn I’d woken at lunchtime and with a very grumbling tummy. I was hungry. I took a quick shower and dressed before making my way through the house to thekitchen.
“Good morning, is it still morning?” Alfie asked as he looked at his watch. “Goodness, no it isn’t. How about I make you some tea and something toeat?”
“I’d love that and I can’t believe I’ve slept for so long. I feel very refreshed today,though.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Now go take a seat and I’ll bring it toyou.”
“Where’sDex?”
“Gone to the bar, he’ll be backshortly.”
I made my way to the wicker sofa and sat in the same spot I’d occupied for hours the previousday.
“What will you do when you get home?” Alfie asked, as he placed his tea on a small table beside me. “I understand you’re on the hunt forwork.”
“I need to be. My husband had an affair, I discovered he has a child, and the mother of the child wants his share of my apartment.” I tried to conceal the bitterness that crept into myvoice.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I imagine that was very hard for you tolearn.”
“It was, but Jack helped me come to terms with it. For now, I have no idea what I want to do. I had a thought about going back to university but I’m not sure forwhat.”
“What interestsyou?”
“I’ll tell you what does, not that I know anything about it, but psychotherapy, what Dexter does. I think I’d like to learn more about that, if only to be able to helpJack.”
“UC runs courses, in what area of psychotherapy I’m notsure.”
“UC?”
“University of California, up the road as you would say. Only need a student visa.” Alfie gave me a wink, pushed himself from the sofa and headed back into thekitchen.
It didn’t sink in immediately but then a grin spread across my face. Perhaps some investigation was in order. I picked up my tea and sipped. Although Alfie hadn’t added milk, he had added a slice of lemon and the taste was growing onme.
I’d need a laptop for proper research. I scrolled through the Internet on my phone but the university’s site was too complicated for me to navigate. ‘Up the road,’ he’d said. I wondered how far up the road itwas.
Perhaps there was a chance for me to move to California, assuming Jack and I could make a relationship work, of course. And that was a big assumption. I’d decided to talk it through withDexter.
I spent the day alternating between worrying, sleeping, and eating. Alfie was a wonderful chef and insisted on trying new recipes on me. I had told him if he wanted to go to the ‘shack’ he could, I’d be okay on my own, but he insisted on stayingput.
