Page 100 of Roommates

‘Why should I?’ she challenges Em. Her voice is getting louder.

‘Because even though he says he’s fine, I think he’s still grieving, and could still use some support.’

‘Grieving?’ Em suddenly sits up.

Crumbs. They don’t know. ‘Maybe I should let Caleb…’

Em reaches out to touch my hand. ‘Ariella, Caleb is part of my family. We can’t support him if we don’t know what’s going on.’

I look into her pleading eyes. I like Em. More importantly, I trust her.

‘Caleb’s mom died about three weeks ago.’ I tell them how it unfolded, but skip my involvement and the train journey.

‘Em?’ Caleb whispers as he pokes his head round the kitchen door, and we stop talking immediately. He is carrying little Alfie, who has fallen asleep on his chest with his thumb in his mouth. His other hand is wrapped tightly round Caleb’s neck.

‘His bed or yours?’ Celeb asks quietly.

‘His. Thank you, Caleb,’ Em answers with a crack in her voice.

‘Come on, little man,’ he whispers to the sleeping Alfie as he turns around to leave. Moments later, we hear his footsteps on the stairs.

‘Tim and I don’t know anything about his family. How is he?’

‘Dealing with it in his own way. He’s tough, though. Maybe sometimes too tough.’

‘It’s still no excuse for the way he treats women.’ Louisa is back on track, albeit taking a gentler tone.

‘As far as I know, he’s always honest. Is it the healthiest type of relationship? Absolutely not. But I left my fiancé, the most wonderful man I know, by clearing out all my clothes while he was at work, and leaving him nine words on a Post-it stuck to the fridge. So, I’m in no position to judge him.’

‘Noooo. You didn’t!’ Em fills my glass up.

‘It wasn’t my proudest moment.’ I feel the tears well and I blink them away quickly.

‘You have to spill,’ Em beckons, so I tell them the whole, sorry mess.

TWENTY

CALEB

‘Caleb,’ Em calls softly as she puts a steaming mug of tea down next to the couch. I search for Jack. He’s already awake, with his mug in hand.

‘Tim’s gone to work and I have to take the boys swimming. I’ll be back in an hour. Can you stay with Jack till then?’ She smiles sadly and tiptoes out of the room.

No one expected last night to end the way it did. I knew Ariella’s acceptance by Em and Lou had been too easy and was fairly certain that, if her awkwardness around people didn’t get her, Louisa would. Instead, the girls joined us in the living room with some wine after the kids went to bed. She joined in easily with the chatter and it felt good to have a sixth person join our usual five. I think everyone appreciated it too. However, the minute she popped to the bathroom, an inaccurate assessment was made.

‘She’s beautiful, decent and clever. Bit of a departure for you, Caleb,’ Em commented suggestively, raising an eyebrow at me.

‘Her rent is all I’m interested in,’ I said dismissively.

‘Thank God for that, because you have zero chance. She told us about her ex-boyfriend. It’ll be like going from Michelin-star restaurant to a kebab van,’ Louisa declared from Jack’s lap.

They all chuckled quietly. Seriously, guys?

‘Why are we having this conversation? She’s my lodger. That’s it.’

‘Any particular reason why you had your hand on your lodger’s thigh?’ Em nodded at my hand.

‘She’s also my friend.’ They all laughed, just as Ariella walked back in, so I changed the topic quickly.

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