Page 54 of Obedience

‘Huh?’ Dylan continued to busy herself with the coffee, her fingers splayed as she pushed the cafetière plunger down with her palm. ‘Yeah, she’s fine. Her chest isn’t great at the minute, and her cough isn’t strong, so she struggles a bit. She just needs more help clearing, that’s all.’

Despite Dylan’s blasé tone Greta suspected that wasn’t all, and though she was obviously reluctant to talk, the need to was gnawing at her. Not just about her mother but the whole situation. All of it.

‘Can we talk?’ Greta said softly.

‘Before coffee? You’ll be luck—’

‘Dylan, please?’

Dylan chewed the inside of her lip, as if realising she couldn't keep Greta out, not if she hoped for Greta to open up in return. A silent beat passed. Greta could practically see her searching for a way to navigate the conversation without touching the heaviest parts of her life but there was no more putting it off.

‘Do we have to get serious? Because that’s what will happen.’

‘But we need to, Dylan.’

‘What if.’ Dylan gave a cheeky smile. ‘What if…’ she echoed with a pout and squinted eye, buying herself some time as Greta watched her with a cocked brow.

‘What if nothing, Dylan. We have to talk.’

‘Pfft.’ Dylan pushed the sound past her lips. ‘I have a better idea,’ she offered as she sidled up to Greta. .

Greta canted her head and smiled with both exasperation and fondness as Dylan moved closer, leaned forward to cradle her face and placed the softest of kisses on her lips. Greta dissolved into it, holding Dylan’s wrists as their foreheads pressed together. Shuffling closer, Dylan leaned a possessive arm over Greta’s thighs to keep them face to face. Greta ran a hand down the arm stretched over her.

‘As it’s a Saturday, why don’t I take you out?’ Dylan said softly.

‘Out?’ Greta did nothing to hide the fact that she found the suggestion mildly horrifying.

‘Yeah, you know. Out. As in, we go outside together and not stay inside together.’ Dylan laughed, but her laughter faded when she caught the look on Greta’s face.

Greta fleetingly looked down at her hands, unable to bear the forlorn look on Dylan’s face. ‘I don’t think— ’

‘Okay, it’s okay. We don’t have to.’ Dylan offered a quick smile, but a flash of disappointment gave her away.

‘Can you get away today?’ The words left Greta’s lips despite herself.

‘Yes! Yes, I can. Priya’s here all day. I could come to you— ’

Before Dylan could lay out a plan, Priya’s voice boomed up the staircase. ‘Dylly! Can you come down here for a minute, please?’

Dylan scanned Greta’s face, as if searching for any sign of annoyance at yet another interruption, but Greta gave nothing away. She wasn’t annoyed but the reality of their lives was chipping away at her ability to see any kind of future with Dylan.

‘Can I shower while you’re gone?’ Greta asked softly.

‘Of course you can. Towels are in the airing cupboard on the landing. The bathroom is a nineties dream, you’re gonna love it! I hope you like tiles with seashells on and peach.’ After a mock shudder of disgust, Dylan’s laughter gave way to a soft, earnest kiss. ‘I’m sorry it’s like this. It won’t always—’

Greta pressed a fingertip to Dylan’s lips. ‘Why are you apologising for your life? Don’t do that.’ Greta softly cupped Dylan’s cheeks and kissed her again. ‘Now go. I’ll be okay.’

‘You might need help in the shower. It’s quite old, you see…there's a knack to the taps.’ Dylan wiggled an eyebrow. ‘I should probably join—’

‘Do not finish that thought, Miss St John,’ Greta chuckled. ‘Now go.’

‘Okay well, take your phone into the bathroom so you can take some pictures of the design features. I suspect you’ll be coveting the shit out of it and copying it for your en-suite or something.’

Dylan left the room, winking over her shoulder before she did, leaving Greta laughing to herself.

***

Dylan’s attention was pulled from her mum as Greta appeared in the hallway, showered and dressed in her jeans and jumper, coat held at her front in both hands. Dylan and Priya were performing chest physio to help Margaret’s cough and alleviate her difficulty breathing.