Page 22 of The Day After Christmas
‘Yes. It’s me.’
‘You found me.’
‘I did.’
In the background, Felicity could hear muffled voices. Talking. Laughing. And music, playing softly, vaguely familiar. Old school Beatles or similar. Her mother had always loved to play rock and roll. Felicity wondered what Harry’s “other” family was like. She felt strangely jealous all of a sudden.
Harry cleared his throat. ‘I don’t know how you found me, Felicity, but I’m bloody glad you did. I felt like such an idiot for not leaving my number but you seemed so… mad. You were so cross. I didn’t think you would ever want to talk to me again.’
Felicity swallowed back tears. ‘I am cross. Of course I’m cross.’
‘Of course you are.’ Harry sounded crestfallen.
‘I will probably always be cross with you. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to talk to you. I do. I really do. I’m so sorry.’
There was a long pause, following by a deep sigh.
‘You have nothing to be sorry for, do you hear me?’
The tears were flowing now and Felicity could barely speak. James slipped an arm around her shoulders, which only made her cry harder.
‘Please… can I see you?’ she managed. Another pause. She looked down and saw she’d unknowingly ripped the tissue James had handed her into a thousand tiny pieces. Her lap was full of confetti. She heard a sniffing sound from the other end of the line, then some frantic throat-clearing.
‘Of course. You can see me whenever you want.’
‘Okay.’
‘Okay.’
His voice changed. She could hear his smile and it was like the sun coming out.
‘Are you working on Friday? Maybe I can meet you after work and take you for dinner?’ He paused. ‘Is that too much? Say if it’s too much.’
Felicity exhaled. ‘That sounds lovely. I finish at five.’
‘Perfect. I’ll be there then.’
‘Perfect.’
‘Bye, Felicity.’
‘Bye.’
‘See you Friday.’
‘Will do.’
‘Bye.’
‘Bye.’
The line went dead.
There was a long silence. Then Felicity let out a noise that was half gasp, half giggle. She wiped at her cheeks as elation washed over her.
‘That was my dad,’ she said, voice wobbling.
James gave her arm a squeeze. ‘That was your dad.’
