Broken City

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

I jump at Tom’s voice and listen as he pulls himself upright from the doorjamb which he has been leaning against and kneels besides the bed.

“Don’t worry, Tarri—I always come back don’t I?”

He reaches out to tweak one of her dusky curls.

“Come on, it’s time short people were asleep.”

He pulls the covers back around her and kisses her cheek.

“Night Uncle Tom and Aunty Deet,” Tarri's voice is drowsy.

“Night, mush,” replies Tom, he pulls me up from my sitting position on the floor, his hand warm on my arm.

“Your freezing Deeta, you’d better sit by the fire for a bit I’ve got something to tell you.”

Tom hands me one of his jumpers and I pull it on thankfully as he picks up his mug of tea and leans on the back of Uncle Jep's chair.

I don’t tell him that it’s not just the cool air that is making me shiver, that the thought of him, Pip and Nella not coming back is to blame for my trembling.

“I had a little talk with Jamie, apparently he is aware of Ralph’s feelings for Nell and he’s trying to help.”

“I kind of thought that was what he was trying to tell me after I considered it for a while.”

“Yes, well. Jamie, being something of a hands on man showed a spectacular lack of tact, I told him it might help more if he didn’t try but allowed nature to take its own course.”

“Your right,” I nod. “He would only succeed in making Nell dislike him more.”

I look around the room toward the clock and after taking in the time manage to feign a pretty good start.

“If that’s the time, I’d better go,” I stand up and kiss Uncle Jep goodnight but as I turn to Tom he shakes his head.

“I’ll see you down.”

He opens the door and as I pass through, turns to say something in polish to Professor Jepsjon. We have navigated the first flight of stairs before Tom, taking hold of my arm, pulls me to a stop.

“What’s wrong, Deeta, why did you want to get away?”

Knowing that if I talk about my fears I will cry I pull away.

“I’m tired, that’s all. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

He makes no move to touch me again but looks at me for a long moment.

“You don’t have to tell me Deeta, but don’t fob me off with a load of rubbish.”

I think I stand there looking up at him miserably for a whole minute before I start to cry, but even then he makes no move to touch me, to comfort me, because he offered once and was refused. If I want his sympathy now I’ll have to ask for it.

“What if you and Pip and Nell don’t come back Tom, what then?”

I lean my head against his shoulder feeling his arms move around me. It is a while before he releases me and speaks.

“Hanky Deeta?”

A search through my pockets turns up nothing and Tom gives me his own. He keeps his arm flung loosely around my shoulders as we walk the rest of the way until we reach my door.

“Now get inside and get some sleep, didn’t you hear what I told Tarri, short people should be in bed by now, that goes for you too.”

His grin is full of camaraderie and he pats my cheek like Uncle Jep does.