Chapter 13
Milly grabbed Murray’s arm as he wobbled precariously.
‘Come on,’ she said, worry lacing her voice. ‘You need to sit down!’
Wrapping one arm around his waist, she held on tightly as she guided him back towards his chair. She watched in concern as he sank down onto it.
Was his head bothering him?
He’d been perfectly fine… until suddenly, he wasn’t. The colour had drained from his face, and for a moment she’d been convinced he was about to faint.
Milly’s guilt about turning up at Murray’s place unannounced promptly disappeared. There was no way he should be all the way out here on his own right now. Even if the hospital had booted him out, something clearly wasn’t quite right.
Staring down at him as he swayed gently on the chair, Milly wondered what she could do to help. Should she call the doctor or something?
Other than wincing slightly when he’d run his fingers through his hair earlier, Murray had seemed to be well enough. Now, though? He definitely wasn’t well. In fact, he looked a bit like she did when she forgot to take a lunch break.
Ah!
‘Murray?’ she said gently, watching as he tried to prop his head up with both hands.
‘Mmm?’
‘When did you last have something to eat?’
‘Eat?’ he echoed, looking confused, as though the concept of food was completely alien.
‘Yeah – you know… breakfast? Or lunch?’ said Milly.
‘I… actually, I have no idea,’ said Murray. ‘Maybe… teatime.’
‘Teatime?’ gasped Milly. ‘You mean you haven’t eaten anything since yesterday?’
‘Maybe?’ said Murray, rubbing his eyes.
‘Okay, well… that’s probably part of the problem,’ she said, heading for the doorway.
‘Are you going?’ said Murray, looking confused as he started to rise from his chair.
‘You wish,’ she chuckled. ‘I’m just going to grab my bag, and then I’m making you some food.’
‘But… you don’t have to…’
‘Sit!’ she said as he wobbled again.
Changing direction, Milly dashed over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. Gently but firmly, she forced him back down into his chair. She knew it wasn’t her place to order him around in his own home, but it was either that or end up with an unconscious heap of Murray Eddington to deal with – and there was no way she was about to risk it!
‘Stay put a sec,’ she commanded, then darted from the room.
It took a couple of seconds to locate her shopping bag on the floor next to the sofa. It was mercifully mud-free, and the knot she’d tied in the handles had kept everything safe and sound during her rescue from the marshes.
‘Mind if I see what you’ve got in the fridge?’ she said, striding back through to the kitchen and breathing a sigh of relief to find Murray still slumped in his chair. He’d rested his elbows on the table, and his face was in his hands.
Milly dumped her bag onto the counter and then opened the fridge before Murray had the chance to formulate a reply. It was remarkably well-stocked. There were plenty of veggies, fresh mushrooms, a box of eggs, milk…
‘I don’t have any bread,’ said Murray. ‘I was going to make some later… but…’
‘No need – I dashed into the bakery on my way down the hill,’ said Milly, feeling triumphant that at least one of the decisions she’d made today had been the right one. ‘I wasn’t sure if you’d have the basics when you got back from the hospital, and I didn’t think you’d want the hassle of heading back into town again…’
Milly trailed off. Just the fact that she was there meant that he had no choice in the matter. If he wanted to get rid of her, he’d have to head out again. Milly’s boat was stuck in the mud, and she wouldn’t be able to get back to Crumbleton without Murray’s help. Looking at the state of him right now, though, he wouldn’t be going anywhere any time soon.
‘You brought me bread?’ he said, blinking at her and looking adorably befuddled and sleepy.
‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘And a small bottle of milk, a couple of slices of cake-’
‘Cake?’ he said, perking up.
Milly smiled. ‘Lemon drizzle, chocolate rice crispy and a cherry flapjack.’
‘My favourite!’ said Murray.
‘Which one?’ said Milly.
‘All of them,’ said Murray.
‘Well… that’s good,’ she laughed. ‘That can be pudding. And how do you feel about cheese toasties?’
‘Strongly pro,’ said Murray, his face serious.
‘Or I can make you an omelette?’ said Milly.
‘You had me at cheese toasties,’ said Murray. ‘I’ll help—’
‘Nope!’ said Milly. ‘Just tell me where you keep your cheese grater and I’ll do the rest. I would suggest you go and grab that second shower… but I think you’d better stay put until you’ve had something to eat.’
‘Best. Toasties. Ever.’ Murray popped the last bite into his mouth and sat back in his chair, his eyes closed and a happy little smile playing around his lips as he chewed.
Milly couldn’t help but echo that smile – though she was grateful he had his eyes closed for a moment because she couldn’t seem to look away from him.
The food had worked its magic, and the colour had come back to Murray’s cheeks. It was as though the fragrant, fatty goodness had breathed life back into him - which was a huge relief. Milly wasn’t really sure how to call a doctor out to a stranded trawler in the middle of the marshes!
‘Better?’ she said gently.
Considering Murray had just demolished an entire mountain of cheese toasties, she had a feeling she knew the answer to that question already. She’d helped herself to one when he’d insisted that she joined him – but Milly hadn’t got much of a look in after that. The man had clearly been starving and had wolfed the food down with little moans that had made her blush.
‘I feel like a new man,’ he said, opening his eyes again and beaming a smile at her that made her tingle from her head to her toes. ‘Thank you. And… just for the record… I don’t normally go all weak and feeble and expect my dates to cook emergency toasties!’
Milly swallowed. A date – is that what this was? She decided to let that one lie. She didn’t want to make him feel “weak and feeble” again! Hadn’t he already admitted that he’d been at the wedding just to see her? But… he’d been on the verge of passing out at that point, so it didn’t seem fair to take anything he’d said too seriously.
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Noted.’
‘Not that this is a date of course!’ he said, suddenly looking horrified. ‘God, I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. Just… ignore everything I’ve said since you got here!’
‘Everything?’ said Milly, a lump of congealed disappointment landing in her stomach.
‘Maybe,’ he said.
‘It would be a bit of a shame,’ she said lightly. ‘To forget everything, I mean. You said you went to the wedding to – erm – see me?’
Murray squirmed slightly. She felt a bit mean bringing it back up – but she couldn’t face another eighteen months of pining. She might as well come clean. After all – it might be the only chance she got.
‘That’s why I went to the wedding too… to speak to you. Or… I don’t know… to see you – and dance with you?’
‘Am I hallucinating again?’ said Murray faintly.
Milly grinned at him. ‘Don’t think so…? Unless I’m a purple dinosaur or something?’
‘Definitely not a purple dinosaur,’ he laughed.
‘Well, that’s something,’ she replied.
‘And you’re definitely here?’ said Murray.
Milly nodded, and then – before she could overthink it – she reached out and laid her hand over his on the tabletop. ‘I’m definitely here,’ she agreed, squeezing slightly.
‘Oh,’ said Murray, his eyes on hers.
They both fell silent, and Milly removed her hand before things could get weird.
Hah! Bit late for that!
‘Want a piece of cake?’ she said.
‘I want all the cake,’ laughed Murray. ‘And more coffee.’
‘And then…?’ said Milly, wondering how to broach the subject of getting home. After all, he seemed to be fine again, and she didn’t want to outstay her welcome… any more than she already had just by turning up!
‘Then?’ said Murray, turning to her with a gleam in his eye. ‘Then I think we should go to bed.’
What?!
Milly felt her jaw drop. She blinked once. Twice.
Had he really just said that?
‘B-bed?’ she stammered.
Murray grinned at her. There was no trace of his previous discombobulation now.
‘I don’t know about you,’ he said, mildly, ‘but I’m going to need a nap after all the excitement. Would you care to join me?’
A nap? Was it her turn to start hallucinating? Maybe she really was a purple dinosaur.
A slow smile spread over Milly’s face – which promptly morphed into an embarrassingly enthusiastic yawn. What was it about the word nap? It was almost like it created a chemical reaction that induced sleepiness.
‘I don’t mind chilling on your sofa for a bit while you grab a nap,’ she said.
‘The sofa’s too short for a decent nap,’ he said, not taking his eyes off her. ‘Trust me – I’ve tested it several times. Anyway – it’s a big bed.’
Milly shrugged. Why not? This had already been the weirdest afternoon she’d had in a very long time. Why shouldn’t she join him for a quick snooze on that giant bed of his? After all – at least she’d be able to keep half an eye on him.
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Let’s nap.’