Page 9 of Hollywood Games
But then Zoe showed up, and his life had become even more complicated. Rory’s heart expanded as he thought of her. She was all he’d ever wanted and so much more. He sat up in bed and rubbed his stubble, glancing at the clock on the bedside table. Nine o’clock. He’d taken lights from his workshop so he could work through the night. He only stopped when he was so tired he worried he’d have an accident. The floor of the attic was now clear and a tarp was fixed to the roof, but he needed to take a look in daylight and make sure it would hold through the winter. Even though Zoe might still be at the cabin with no signal, he sent her a text. He wanted to be done by the afternoon so he could get back to her. He showered, then went into the kitchen to see his mother dishing up a plate of steak and a pint glass of water. She gave him a tight smile. ‘Are you sure I can’t interest you in a slice of toast?’
‘It’s been four years of only meat now, Mum. I’ll let you know if anything changes.’
Barbara gave a resigned shrug, removed her apron and sat down opposite him. She moved slowly and stiffly.
‘Are you okay?’ Rory asked. ‘Did you hurt yourself last night?’
Barbara interlocked her hands on the table, then brought them apart, smoothing them down the front of her thighs. She looked away, fixing on a point on the wall. ‘I’m a little stiff, but I’ll be fine.’
Rory stopped eating and sat back, observing his mother critically. She was the ultimate ice queen: always composed, always in control, never a chink in her armour. Even after his father died she kept her grief hidden behind a beautiful mask. Rory knew her pain ran deep, but she never let it show. But now? Something was off. Something bigger than her husband dying, her son falling in love with a woman she hated, or the estate going under. Rory moved his plate to the side and leaned forward, reaching across the table towards her. ‘Mum, what’s going on?’ he asked, willing her to look at him. Her hands fiddled in her lap.
As the silence stretched out, Rory’s heart beat faster, running possible scenarios through his head.
Barbara took a deep breath in, then started trembling. ‘I’ve got… It’s… I’ve…’
‘Mum! Tell me!’
Barbara finally looked up at him. ‘I’ve found a lump in my breast,’ she said flatly, then burst into tears.
Zoe had returnedto Morag’s the next morning, not wanting to be away from a phone signal and Rory. They were sitting in the living room, listening to Jamie playing his guitar when she got a text.
Rory: Mum’s not well. I’ll come back to the cabin later to explain. Love you xxx
She dropped the phone beside her.
‘What’s up?’ Fiona asked. Zoe passed her the phone. ‘Not well?’ Fiona scoffed, giving it back. ‘People like that are never ill. I’ve heard she’s a bloody gorgon. I bet she’s impervious to everything – Ebola, the Black Death, human emotions.’
‘Tsk tsk,’ scolded Morag as she rocked a sleeping Liam in her arms. ‘It’s not easy for anyone to lose a husband.’
‘Mum! She’s a witch. Look what she did to Zoe.’
Jamie stopped playing. ‘Oi, if you won’t be quiet for my sake, think of Liam. No wonder Duncan buggers off to the middle of the North Sea every two weeks.’
‘You’re right, son, we’ll pipe down,’ said Morag, winking at her daughter. Fiona stuck her tongue out at her brother and snuggled back into Duncan’s arms as he kissed the top of her head. They listened to Jamie until he finished the song.
‘That’s so beautiful, Jamie,’ said Zoe. ‘I haven’t heard it before.’
Jamie looked relieved. ‘I’ve been working on some new material. I’m going to play them in the pub restaurant next Friday night.’
‘Oh, that’s awesome. People loved the music I posted last year on Instagram,’ said Zoe. ‘We’ll definitely be there. Fi, can you come? I want to try and make up for missing Hogmanay.’
‘Aye, I’ll be in my usual spot at the back with the rotten tomatoes,’ she replied. Jamie threw a cushion at her. She caught it and turned back to Zoe. ‘What are you going to do about Countess Barbarossa?’ she asked, indicating Zoe’s phone.
Zoe shrugged. ‘Wait and see, I guess. She certainly didn’t look like she was on death’s door the last time I saw her, so I doubt it’s going to make much difference to my life.’
It wasdark by the time Zoe got back to the cabin. She refilled the firebox of the Rayburn with wood and brought out Basil to play. She was about to start tucking into the leftovers from Morag’s when Rory arrived. He kicked off his boots, shrugged off his jacket and lifted her into his arms. Zoe wrapped her legs around his waist and ran her fingers into his hair, grabbing handfuls and pulling him closer. They kissed as if it had been a lifetime since they last saw each other. Their tongues tangled, their breathing came hot and fast, but Zoe could tell something was different.
She pulled back. ‘What is it? What’s going on?’
He sat down with her on the sofa and sighed. She stroked the side of his face and he closed his eyes. He looked exhausted. ‘I haven’t been able to finish the repairs to the roof yet. But that’s not the problem. Mum… She’s not been feeling well for a while, and she found a lump in her breast the other day. She thinks she has cancer.’ Rory broke off. He seemed completely lost. ‘She cried. Zoe, I’m thirty-four and I’ve never seen her cry. Not once, not ever.’ He let out a huff and shook his head. ‘Fuck, I bet I’ve cried more in my life than she has.’
Zoe held his hands, circling her thumbs into his palms. Her heart tightened with his pain, as she remembered what she had gone through with her own mother all those years ago. ‘I’m so sorry. I remember when my mum got cancer. Everything fell apart. Just let me know how I can help.’
‘She says she needs me. She wants me to come to the appointments, and she also wants me around more.’
Zoe’s heart sank. Just as their relationship was beginning, the honeymoon phase would be cut short.
Rory squeezed her hands. ‘I know she’s got a problem with you, but this isn’t some kind of ploy to keep us apart. I’ve never seen her like this.’
