Becca ran up to the front door and fumbled with the key as a feeling of dread welled up inside. The place was in darkness!
‘Dad! Dad!’ she called out.
‘In here, love.’
Relief washed over her as she rushed into the living room.
‘Why are you sitting in the dark?’
She flicked on the light and saw her father Adrian close his laptop quickly, as if he didn’t want her to see what he’d been looking at.
‘Sorry, love. I didn’t realise it had got so late. I didn’t mean to scare you.’
‘I wasn’t scared,’ she said as she sank down on the sofa and waited for her heart to stop pounding.
‘You don’t have to worry about me any more, Becca.’
He reached for her hand and squeezed it.
‘I’m OK now. I have been for quite some time.’
‘I know,’ she whispered as she finally came down from her fear.
‘Do you?’
‘Yes, of course. I’m just a bit tired, that’s all. It’s been mad at the hospital today.’
Talking about work made her feel as if she was on solid ground. He was right. The dark days after her mum died were far behind them and he was fine now.
‘Is it too late for coffee?’ he asked. ‘Or are you in a hurry to get to bed?’
‘Dad, I could drink a gallon of coffee and it won’t stop me sleeping, but it would be nice to unwind a bit.’
‘Good, because we need to
