Page 82 of Loving Jemima
“Hello, hello,” Paul trilled.
Ellie jumped up, sending Constable sliding to the floor where he stalked off to the bedroom. “Paul?” Her heart started to beat harder. “What are you doing here?”
He wasn’t dangerous, she told herself. All the time he’d been her neighbor he’d never done anything dangerous. He might have the wrong idea about a few things, but he wouldn’t actually hurt her, would he?
“I just thought I’d come in and deal with that mold problem in your bathroom,” he said with a grin, holding up a bottle of something.
Ellie took a breath. A week ago she wouldn’t have thought anything of this, she thought. A week ago this would just be Paul being friendly. It could still be Paul being friendly. “That’s kind,” she said.
His grin widened. “And then I thought we could talk about us.”
Okay, not just being friendly. “Us?” croaked Ellie.
“It’s been long enough, Ellie. You’ve had time to think about it. And I know you know I’m right. All this playing around with women has been fine, but it’s time for you to settle down, and we make a good couple. They always say that you should be friends before lovers, and we’re good friends. I’ve been patient, I’ve let you work all this other stuff out of your system.”
Her chest was getting tighter. He was inside the flat already. She couldn’t anger him. How had it come to this? How had she never noticed how creepy he was? She’d been so sure that he was just a kind and gentle neighbor.
With a deep breath she forced a smile on her face. “It’s kind of you to take care of the bathroom problem,” she said. “You knowthe way, don’t you?”
“Your place is the exact same layout as mine,” he beamed.
She waited until he was in the bathroom before dialing 999.
She just hoped that the police came quickly enough.
Chapter Thirty Three
Jem strode out of the elevators. “He’ll see me,” she said.
“Hold on,” Toby said. “Please, we talked about this.”
She stopped and sighed. “Fine, call him right now, but you’ve got about three seconds.”
He nodded and picked up the phone by his side. “Just, um, I know it’s none of my business…”
“And?” asked Jem.
Toby blushed a bright red. “Nothing, just, well, I heard about things and…” He sniffed and straightened up. “And if anything happens in there you can depend on me to call the police or security or whatever needs to happen.”
For a second, Jem was confused. Then things clicked into place. Toby had obviously heard the rumors and the gossip and knew what had gone on and was offering to protect her. She smiled at him and let her voice grow softer. “Thank you, Toby. I appreciate that. But I don’t think you have anything to worry about. My father isn’t angry because I’m gay, he’s angry because I lied.”
Toby looked relieved. “Oh, good.” He bit his lip. “I was a bit worried because, well, I don’t want to get fired.”
“For being gay?” Jem said without thinking.
“Bi,” Toby said with a nod.
“None of anyone’s business but yours,” Jem said with a grin. “Been to that new club that opened down by the river? The one with karaoke? It’s great, you should check it out.”
“I will,” Toby said, finally dialing the extension number with a relieved look on his face.
Jem walked on to her father’s office feeling a little better. It was the first time she’d ever talked openly about a place and it felt strangely freeing. A feeling that she suspected she might have to get used to.
“Jemima,” her father said, standing up as she opened the door.
“No need to stand,” she said, reaching into her handbag. “I’m not staying.” She took out the keys to her flat and her car and placed them on the edge of his desk.
“What’s this?”