Chapter 28
S he wasn’t sure if seconds had passed or minutes but, regardless, she couldn’t fathom the scene in front of her. Sam was here, in her kitchen, in Sandyhaven? How did he even know where she lived? His height almost took up the whole of the kitchen doorway and he stooped under the doorframe as he moved towards her.
“You’re back,” he spoke and hearing his voice again felt jarring to her. A voice she had worked so hard to erase from her mind for the past few months. A voice she never thought she’d hear again.
She cast her eyes across to the sofa by the window where Alfie remained seated, his mouth set in a grim line. He met her eyes, but his expression gave nothing away. She looked back over to Sam who was now metres away and thankfully had stopped. Any closer and she may have been tempted to run.
“Yes I’m…back,” she stuttered out before hastily continuing, “Sam, what are you doing here?” His expression looked genuinely hurt but he composed himself before replying.
“I came to see you, Millie. I’ve thought about nothing else but you since what happened. I’ve missed you every single day. I wanted you to know that.” Her mind was spinning, and it felt as though the room would give way beneath her. She’d played many, many scenarios over in her head since the day she’d walked out of their flat, but this had never been one of them. She wasn’t mentally prepared for the enormity of the words he’d just said to her.
She opened and closed her mouth several times like a confused goldfish, rendered completely silent. In the corner, Alfie shifted in his seat, clearly wondering whether or not to get up and leave. He’d contemplated it many times in the past minute, but something was making him stay. There was an air around this Sam guy that made him feel uneasy.
As though reading his thoughts, Sam turned to him.
“You can go now, mate. But thanks for letting me in.” Millie’s confusion at the situation built even more.
“You let Sam in?” she questioned, looking between them both. Alfie looked uncomfortable.
“Yes, but not through choice,” he replied, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck, before staring at Sam. “Can you just give us a minute?” Sam raised his eyebrows but walked over to the sofa and sat down, pulling his phone out of his pocket. You won’t get far with that Alfie thought smugly, knowing how poor the signal was here. He gently took Millie’s elbow and guided her so both their backs were to Sam. Muttering, he explained:
“I got a phone call from my dad. Said he’d received a phone call from a neighbour regarding an unknown man outside Rosemary Cottage and could he send me up to check on it. So, I came and…here we are.” Millie’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know what to do for best Millie. What was I supposed to do? I had no idea what time you would be home, so I thought the middle ground would be to come and wait in here with him.”
“And you didn’t think to call me to ask?” she hissed under her breath. She took in his hurt expression and softened her features. “It’s just a shock that’s all. I’d probably have preferred to see him on neutral ground, I guess.” Or just never again she thought. Alfie’s face turned to one of genuine concern.
“Is there a reason you don’t want to be around him in here…on your own?” he asked, mumbling even quieter now.
“No…not because of anything hugely sinister. I just…this is all just a total shock.”
“Any chance I can come back into this conversation now?” Sam’s voice spoke behind them, and they sprang apart, realising how close they had been. Although they weren’t doing anything wrong, Alfie thought. Did this guy even know that he and Millie had kissed only a week or so ago? He decided probably not; considering Millie’s absolute shock at him being here, he guessed she hadn’t spoken to him for quite some time.
“Look, I have to go,” Alfie spoke purposefully, patting his pocket to check for his keys. “I’ll see you later Millie?” he said, raising his eyebrows slightly at her, checking if she was OK with him going. She gave a small nod and an unconvincing smile and with one final glare at Sam, he left, the door latch clicking behind him. Millie watched Alfie stride past the window and out of sight as he headed down the lane.
Reluctantly, she turned back to face Sam who was casually leaning forwards now on his knees, giving her an intense look. She swallowed and prepared herself for whatever conversation was coming next.