Forked Roads Back

109 - ARCHIE

WHEN I WAKE UP, I have no idea what time it is, but Tessa has gone.

I sit up with a start and shout her name, before tumbling out of bed, running down the hallway and down the stairs. I snap my head backwards and forwards in a panic before I hear voices in the kitchen; Millie and Tessa's voices.

Glad they hadn't seen me in my panic, I walk nonchalantly into the kitchen to join them.

Tessa is still in the clothes she was in yesterday, but her hair is now up in a messy bun. She's borrowed a pair of Millie's slippers and is sitting, balancing, on one of our mismatched kitchen stools with a cup of peppermint tea in her hand. Millie is up and dressed as she usually is, no doubt in the midst of baking bread, the telltale wisp of flour brushed across her cheek.

"My two favourite ladies," I say, and they both turn. Millie waves at me, and Tessa gives me as big a smile as she can manage.

Her eyes are still puffy and swollen after crying most of the night, but she's still beautiful.

"You okay?" I ask, coming up next to her as I put my arm gently around her. She nods as she leans into me as best as she can whilst keeping her balance. "Sleep okay?"

She looks up at me and shrugs as she takes my hand. I didn't expect her to sleep much to be honest, and I didn't sleep much because I was worrying about her. I had no idea what time she got up out of bed, but it can't have been too long before I woke up.

"Is there any tea?" I ask Millie and she nods, getting up to get me a cup. I pull the third stool over next to Tessa and sit down, keeping her hand in mine.

"I should probably call my dad," she says quietly, before her eyes widen. "Oh my god, I completely forgot his appointment yesterday!"

I shake my head. "Don't worry, I took him."

"You did?" She asks, a mixture of confusion and happiness on her face. "Did it all go okay?"

"Yeah. He rang me, asking, and I didn't have anything to do, so I said yes. He was really worried about you, but Millie rung him last night to say you were here." Her eyes widen again. "She didn't say why; just that you were here."

She nods. "Okay. Thank you for taking him, Archie." She squeezes my hand.

"Oh no worries at all. I was happy to help. I got a free dinner out of it, so I was more than happy."

"His dinners are the best. Best thing about being home again." She smiles, and it's a proper smile. "What did he make?"

"Lamb chilli," I say, as a steaming cup of tea is put down in front of me. "I wouldn't have thought lamb chilli was good, but I think I prefer it to beef already."

"Dad's lamb chilli is so good," she says, her voice small.

I smile as I give her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Have you had any breakfast?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "I'm not that hungry," she says, her voice small. "I don't feel that great to be honest," she adds, and I notice her cheeks are pale, and she looks pasty.

I put the back of my hand on her forehead, and she does feel hot to the touch. It's probably the fact she had been out in the rain, not to mention the stress of yesterday on top of that. I'm about to ask if she wants to go back up to bed, when she cups her mouth and suddenly shoots out the kitchen and up the stairs. Millie and I barely have time to understand what's going on before we hear her being sick.

I look at Millie in a panic. "Archie, go!"

I run up after her, almost tripping on the stairs, heading into the bathroom just as Tessa splutters up into the toilet bowl again.