At five-thirty, lots of the office workers began leaving for the day, and Therese instructed me about the keys and how I was to lock up once everyone was gone. Supposedly, the team of cleaners had their own keys and let themselves in later in the evening.

  It was ironic I now had to get to my own cleaning job. I missed being able to head to the bus stop to see Shay, but I reminded myself it was only temporary. Two weeks and I’d have lots more free time to spend with him.

  When I got home that night, I was ready to collapse onto my bed, but I needed to grab something to eat first. I couldn’t remember what I had in the fridge, but just as I was slotting my key in the lock, Siobhan appeared carrying a small bag, a delighted grin on her face.

  “I met your new boyfriend,” she announced, and my eyebrows shot up.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Your boyfriend. He turned up with a handwritten note asking if I’d give this to you when you got home,” she said, holding up the bag. I glanced at it, then took it when she handed it over.

  “Oh, you met Shay? He’s not quite my boyfriend. At least, we haven’t had that conversation yet, but—”

  “He’s very handsome,” Siobhan said. “For a second, I thought it was a young Richard Burton risen from the dead to come and seduce me.” She fanned her chest, chuckling away, and I fought a smile. “How sad he’s deaf. The poor thing.”

  “He isn’t deaf. He’s mute from a bad surgery he had as a child,” I said, opening my door and stepping in.

  Siobhan’s amusement faded, and she looked suddenly mortified as her hands went to her face. “Oh, God. I just assumed he was deaf. And there I was over enunciating so he could read my lips. He must’ve thought I was a right loony.”

  “He’s been mute most of his life. I’m sure people have mistaken him for being deaf plenty of times,” I said to reassure her because she really did look embarrassed. “Honestly, Siobhan, I doubt he was offended. Shay has a tough skin. In fact, I assumed the same thing when we first met, and it didn’t bother him in the slightest.”

  “Okay, that makes me feel a little better. Please apologise to him for me when you see him next. I feel like such an idiot.”

  “It’s fine, really,” I said. “Now, I’ve been working all day, and I need to get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “See you tomorrow, pet,” she replied before heading upstairs to her own flat.

  I slipped off my shoes and set the bag down on the coffee table, going to change into something more comfortable before I returned to see what Shay had left for me. My chest squeezed when I found a container with chicken soup, a fresh bread roll, another container with salad and a final container with a slice of apple pie. Maybe I was just exhausted, but tears suddenly welled in my eyes.

  He knew I’d been working a double shift and went to the trouble of making me dinner. Emotion threatened to drown me at the simplicity of the gesture, but it just meant so much, especially after the day I’d had. I’d found out I had a half-brother, and I barely had time to process the news, never mind tell anyone about it.

  I wanted to sit down with Shay and talk it all through, but it would be the weekend before we got the chance. The morning bus was too busy and noisy for that kind of conversation.

  I did need to thank him for the food, though. Pulling out my phone, I dialled his number. It was only when it started ringing I realised my error. He wouldn’t be able to respond to me. There was a click, and the ringing ceased. Silence followed, but I heard his breathing and knew he was listening.

  “Hey, um, Siobhan gave me the package you left. I haven’t eaten it yet, but it looks delicious, and I just wanted to call and say thank you. Today has been exhausting, and this is just perfect. Exactly what I needed. So, thank you, again. You’re just …” I sighed. “So great.”

  Silence followed, and for a moment, I wished for him to be able to speak, but it was a selfish instinct. Besides, to me, Shay was just Shay. He came as he was, and I really wouldn’t change a thing about him. His inability to speak might’ve made it difficult for us to communicate, but we found ways around it. It wasn’t that big of a barrier in the grand scheme of things.

  “Siobhan asked me to apologise to you for mistakenly thinking you were deaf. She’s mortified,” I chuckled and heard him release a breath, like he found it amusing, too. I could just imagine her speaking really loudly and moving her lips with extra emphasis.

  “Anyway, I better go eat and then sleep because I have to do it all again tomorrow. Hopefully, I can return the favour for you soon. Maybe when I start getting paid for this new job, I can treat you to a meal out somewhere.” I paused, my heart still shimmering. “Goodnight, Shay,” I breathed.

  The urge to tack on “Love you” was on the tip of my tongue, but I managed to keep it in. I didn’t know where the instinct came from. Maybe it was my exhaustion and the fact I was feeling extra emotional because the food was such a kind gesture.

  I hung up, my heart racing. I’d almost said it. It was a quick save I’d clamped my mouth shut. Saying those words might’ve freaked Shay out. I knew he liked me, but love? It was far too early to tell. And it worried me my feelings might be stronger than his. I didn’t want that, didn’t want to be more attached to him than he was to me, but there was nothing for it now. He was nestled right there in my heart, and there was no wrenching him out, not without significant pain and suffering.

  That was exactly what I’d spent years avoiding. I just had to keep reminding myself the potential for heartbreak was better than never taking a single chance and being lonely for the rest of my life.

  Pulling myself together, I went about heating up the soup when my phone buzzed with a text.

  Shay: It was no trouble, honestly. I knew how tired you’d be working for sixteen hours straight. Also, I already know how you can pay me back.

  I replied with a single question mark, and his response came fast.

  Shay: There’s a work Christmas party Rhys invited me to attend, and I was wondering if you’d come?

  My chest fluttered. He wanted me to be his date.

  Me: *thumbs up emoji*

  Me: When?

  Shay: This Saturday. It’s okay if you can’t come. I know you’re going to be exhausted from working double shifts all week.

  Me: I’ll b der. x.

  I put down my phone and dug into the food, which was delicious, especially the apple pie. I wondered if Shay made it, or if it was another of his father’s culinary delights.

  The next few days were a blur. I saw Shay only briefly on the bus, and he’d been leaving me dinner packages, which Siobhan delivered promptly every time I arrived home. Honestly, if I wasn’t already falling for Shay, the dinner deliveries would’ve sealed the deal. Food was the way to my heart, for sure. I also discovered Siobhan had invited Shay into Bob’s flat for tea, and he’d been using his text to speech app to chat with them. I imagined they’d grilled him about our relationship big time, and I was dying to know how he responded, but I hadn’t had the opportunity to quiz Siobhan about it.

  Siobhan and Bob were my neighbours, yes, but they were also the closest thing I had to friends, so Shay being polite enough to share tea with them warmed my heart.

  I hadn’t encountered Jonathan since the big reveal on Tuesday, but he’d left me a message saying he’d schedule a lunch for us soon, so we could talk. The building manager job was demanding, and Therese was still training me, but I was finding I quite enjoyed it. Not only because it meant not cleaning anymore, but also because it was a new challenge. My brain was taking in all this new stuff, and it was invigorating.

  On Saturday, I didn’t wake up until well after midday. I didn’t feel guilty about it, though, because I deserved the extra sleep after the week I’d had. Remembering my plans to go with Shay to his work party, nerves and anticipation filled me. I was excited to spend some time with him, but I had no idea what to wear. A Christmas party required something a little glitzier and more stylish than what I was used to.

  I owned a grand total of two dresses and a very minimal collection of make-up I wore so seldom most of the tubes were probably out of date. Remembering how much Vivi loved make-up and fashion, I did something I rarely did and called up my baby sister to ask for help. Normally, it was the other way around.

  She sounded excited when I explained the situation.

  “I’ll hop on the bus now,” she said. We hung up, and I wondered if I was making a huge mistake asking for fashion tips from a fourteen-year-old. No more than an hour later, the buzzer to my flat went. I answered the door, and Vivi stepped inside, eagerly looking around. She’d never been over before. It was always me coming to see her, so I braced for her reaction. It wasn’t at all what I expected.

  “Oh, Maggie! I love your place. It’s so cosy and cute.”

  I smiled. I guessed my flat would seem cool to her because she’d had to share a room with Shelly almost her entire life. She went to sit on the sofa and put down the backpack she carried with her. Unzipping it, she began pulling out all sorts of accessories, as well as a small make-up bag.

  I watched as her eyebrows drew together and worried something was up with her. Then she asked, “Did Delia call you about visiting Mam? She arranged for us to go on Christmas Eve.”

  “Yes,” I replied, my gut twisting at the reminder. “She left a voicemail.”

  Vivi didn’t meet my gaze as she continued, “It’s okay if you want to change your mind. I know you don’t really want to go.”

  My heart clenched because she was far too astute for her age. “I haven’t visited Mam since she was sentenced, but I’ll go for you and the others. Just because I won’t benefit from seeing her doesn’t mean the same goes for you.” Vivi frowned before I went on, “Besides, it turns out I actually have a few questions I need to ask her.”

  “What sort of questions?”

  I exhaled and sat down on the couch. “Questions about my birth father. I found out this week I have another half-brother.”

  Vivi’s hands went to her cheeks. “Oh, my goodness, Maggie! You have another brother? How?”

  “We share the same dad. His name is Jonathan. He was born about ten years before me.”

  “That’s crazy. What’s he like?”

  “I’m not sure. I haven’t had the chance to get know him yet.”

  “Well, if he’s anything like you, I’m sure he’s amazing,” she smiled, then turned to sort through the items she’d unpacked.

  “So, who’s this friend you’re going to the party with?” she asked, and I found I was relieved for the subject change.

  “His name is Shay,” I replied evenly before going to sit down beside her.

  Vivi held up a bottle of foundation. “It’s lucky we’re basically the same shade.” A pause as she pressed her lips together, then said, “You can tell me if he’s your boyfriend, you know. I’m not a kid. We can talk about stuff.”

  “Yes, you are a kid,” I countered. “And I guess it’s too new to call him my boyfriend.” Even though you’re half in love with him, a small voice in my head piped up.

  “Hmm, well, can I look in your closet? Do you have anything dressy?”

  “I have a black shift dress that could work,” I replied and went over to retrieve it from my wardrobe.

  Vivi tapped a finger to her lips and started to smile. “Yes, we can definitely do something with that.”

  Later, I paced from my sofa to my kitchenette, waiting for Shay to arrive. He’d said he’d pick me up at eight, but he seemed to be running a few minutes late. I peered at myself in the mirror one last time.

  Vivi had done a spectacular job. I barely recognised myself. She’d blow dried and curled my hair, so it looked way silkier and shinier than normal. She also did my makeup in a way that highlighted the blue of my eyes. Vivi gave me a shiny red belt to cinch in my waist, which elevated my plain black shift dress into something a bit more festive. I also wore my only pair of black high heels.

  I was so impressed with her styling job that I insisted on giving Vivi some money before she left. Her face lit up. I knew she hoped to become a make-up artist when she was older and paying her boosted her confidence.

  Peering out the window, I spotted some headlights approach before I recognised Rhys’ SUV pull up outside my flat. Shay hadn’t mentioned he was coming with his cousin. The last time I saw Rhys was the night of Mrs Reynolds’ party. Self-consciousness pecked at me because I’d been a wreck that night. But no, I refused to be embarrassed.

  Tonight, I just wanted to push everything out of my mind. Mrs Reynolds, Jonathan’s revelation, the upcoming visit to see Mam. I wanted to forget it all for a few brief hours.

  Shay emerged, and I hurried to grab my coat and handbag. I opened the front door before he even had a chance to press the button. His eyes travelled slowly up my body, and I knew Vivi had done a good job when I saw a flicker of heat there. I swallowed nervously as his eyes burned a path from my shoes, up my legs and along my hips. I felt thoroughly seen, and it sent a thrill through me. His appreciation was blatantly evident.

  “You look amazing,” he typed into his phone, and I flushed.

  “Thank you. You look good, too. Really handsome.” It was the truth. Shay wore a deep blue shirt with a black tie and dark slacks. It was the fanciest I’d ever seen him dressed.

  His eyes went over my shoulder as he glanced inside my flat. Then he smirked and typed, “Maybe we should just stay in tonight.”

  “No,” I said, playfully wagging my finger. “I was promised a party.”

  Shay smiled and pressed his hand to the small of my back as he ushered me into the car. The warmth of his palm seared through my clothing, and I momentarily regretted not agreeing to stay in. Rhys sat in the driver’s seat, but there was no Stephanie tonight. Maybe she was going to meet him at the party.

  “Hi, Rhys,” I greeted.

  “Hello, Maggie. Good to see you,” he replied.

  Once Shay had me secured in the back, he went around to sit in the front next to Rhys. I liked that because it would be rude for us both to sit in the back and act like Rhys was our chauffeur or something. It was also good because, as handsome as Shay looked tonight, it was going to be hard keeping my hands off him.

  When we arrived at the hotel, Rhys parked in the underground car park, and we took a lift to one of the function rooms where the staff party was being held. Rhys explained the part-timers were all working to facilitate the full-time staff having their party.

  Shay slid his hand into mine as we entered the large room where the proceedings appeared to be in full swing. A DJ played all the usual Christmas songs, while long tables of food had been set up on one side and a busy bar on the other. I was impressed the hotel went all out for its staff, but then again, it was still a family-owned business. Most other hotels in the city were run by large corporations.

  I spotted the receptionist who’d been rude to me that one time, Lloyd. He sat at a table sipping Prosecco and chatting with a few others, and I made a note to avoid bumping into him. Sometimes, all it took was one mean comment from a particular person to ruin your entire night.

  “There’s Tristan and Nuala. Come, and I’ll introduce you,” Rhys said, motioning for us to follow him. He led us to where a man and woman, both in their thirties, sat sharing drinks. There was such a resemblance between them they had to be brother and sister, perhaps even fraternal twins. They had the same chocolate brown eyes, though where the woman’s hair was blonde, the man’s was light brown. Those were the Balfes I’d heard mentioned, the ones Rhys was close friends with. As far as I knew, their father owned the hotel.

  “Tristan, Nuala,” Rhys said. “I’d like you to meet my cousin, Shay, and his date, Maggie.”

  “Shay, I’ve heard so much about you,” the woman, Nuala, exclaimed. She then proceeded to sign something, and Shay smiled as he signed back. They shared a back and forth before Nuala explained, “I’m a primary school teacher, but I did some work with deaf children back when I was training and learned some sign language. It’s nice to be able to use it again. I’m a bit rusty.”

  Shay signed something that appeared to be a disagreement on her rustiness, and she grinned bashfully. Again, I felt that pinch of discomfort. I wished I could just click my fingers and be able to use sign language with Shay. I wanted it more than anything, and I was irrationally jealous of everyone who could talk with him in that way. Perhaps once I finished the double shifts I was working, I could start taking a class. I was already attending my literacy classes. Surely, adding another couldn’t hurt.

  “Please, sit down,” Tristan said. “We nabbed the best table.”

  Shay ushered me over to a seat, then motioned to the bar, and I knew he was asking if I’d like a drink. “I’ll take a coke,” I told him, and he arched an eyebrow. “I don’t drink alcohol,” I explained, realising I hadn’t actually mentioned that to him yet. He nodded, unfazed, before proceeding to sign to Rhys and Nuala, likely asking if they’d like a drink, too.

  “I’ll come help you,” Nuala said, and I frowned a little as she joined Shay and immediately engaged him with more sign language. It seemed to put him at ease, while I was left feeling some discomfort because she was a beautiful woman. Of course, I was going to be jealous. My feelings for Shay were deeper than any I’d had for a man before, and it was scary because we were still in such a tentative place.

  “You don’t need to worry about Nuala,” came a voice, and I turned to find Rhys sitting next to me, his intelligent eyes taking me in. “She’s friendly like that with most new people she meets.”

  “A golden retriever, I think, is the term for it,” Tristan said.

  “Oh, I wasn’t worried,” I told them, flushing.

  Both men didn’t look convinced, and I swallowed thickly. Seeming to sense my discomfort, Rhys changed the subject and addressed his friend. “You mentioned there was something you wanted to tell me?”

  “Right,” Tristan replied, smacking his forehead. “I’ve been meaning to mention this for ages but kept forgetting. Guess who’s coming to work at the hotel in the New Year?”