Chapter 106

ONE HUNDRED SIX

Penn stepped inside his home and immediately felt that, in his absence, something had changed.

The silence and the suitcase in the hall told him exactly what it was.

He supposed that he had kind of been expecting it. The last time he’d spoken to Lynne, earlier that day, she had assured him that both she and Jasper were fine, but there had been a distance in her manner, a distraction in her tone.

It hadn’t been an easy relationship to maintain. Doing the same job meant they at least understood the pressures and demands of their chosen career, but that didn’t make it any easier to deal with the long hours, the missed dates and sometimes a week rolling by with barely seeing each other.

They loved each other; he knew that, but sometimes it wasn’t enough. Love had to be fed, watered and shown sunshine to flourish.

He realised that this case must have been the final nail in the coffin for Lynne and she’d made the decision to pack up the few things she had here. At least she’d done him the courtesy of waiting around to tell him to his face.

He knew Jasper had been collected by Billy’s mum to play Xbox games and that he’d likely stay over, so she had chosen her time well.

A fresh ache came to his heart at the thought of Jasper, who was almost as much in love with Lynne as he was.

How would he break the news to him? He didn’t do well with people coming in and out of his life. He didn’t always understand that things changed. He expected that if someone entered his life, they were there to stay. That was the very reason that Penn had never invited anyone other than Lynne into their small family unit.

It would hurt them both, but he couldn’t expect her to stay around for Jasper’s sake.

At that second, she appeared in the doorway to the kitchen.

She wore slim-fitting jeans and a tee shirt with a cartoon giraffe. His heart leaped with joy as it did every time he laid eyes on her.

Her pensive expression confirmed this was not a normal evening. She didn’t rush into his arms for a ‘crikey, I’ve missed you’ hug. Instead, she headed straight for the kettle.

‘Cuppa?’ she asked with a slight tremor in her voice.

‘No,’ he said flatly. If it was going to happen, he’d like it done quickly. He didn’t want coffee. He wanted her to put him out of his misery.

The pensive expression had increased to outright concern.

‘You okay?’ she asked, switching the kettle on anyway.

‘Come on – out with it,’ he said, taking a seat.

‘What’s wrong with…?’

‘I know what you’re going to tell me, so let’s get it over with. Don’t try to spare my feelings. I’m too exhausted for that.’

‘Penn, what the hell has got into you?’

Realising he was reacting already to the hurt he was going to feel in a few moments, he held up his hand. ‘Sorry, just tired.’

‘Understandable,’ she said, coming to sit beside him. She took his hand, but the touch was hesitant, unsure.

‘I actually have got something to tell you.’

He nodded and waited.

‘And I hope you’re gonna be okay with it.’

That was asking a lot, but for her sake he’d try and be gracious.

‘Jasper and I have been a bit busy while you were gone.’

She didn’t have enough stuff for two people to collect and pack.

She took a deep breath. ‘So, I hope you don’t mind, but I kind of moved in. Like properly.’

‘Wh-What?’

‘Oh God, I’m sorry. It’s too soon. You don’t want me here. I’ve been too presumptuous.’

Penn could feel the smile starting to spread across his face. His heart was flip-flopping in his chest as the feeling of panic melted away.

‘I just thought it made sense and that we might get to see more of each other if we at least lived in the same house, and Jasper thought it was a great idea too and, oh, if you want me to move back out again, I can.’

‘Lynne,’ he said to get her attention. He pointed to the cheesy grin shaping his mouth.

She visibly relaxed. ‘So it’s okay?’

‘Oh, it is more than okay,’ he said before taking her in his arms.