The Imposter

Chapter 2

The officers left shortly after, they gave Tom some contact details for people who could help both him and Katie, explaining that it would be a big adjustment for them both.

He crept quietly to the bedroom, expecting Katie to be sound asleep. He stopped short, just outside the ajar bedroom door, when he heard her voice; “Yes, I’m fine. No, I told him I was tired. Still chatting to the police officers, I expect. No…No don’t worry, they can’t tell him any of what I said without my express permission.” A long pause, he thought she might have hung up, but then she spoke again, her voice softer, just above a whisper, “I know, I love you too. ‘Bye.” He waited another thirty seconds before entering the room; Katie was sitting on his side of the bed, she looked startled when he walked in.

“You scared me,” she told him, she sounded a little bit annoyed.

“Sorry,” he said, “I just wanted to come up and see you. The police just left.”

“It’s alright.” She lay back on his pillow.

He smiled at her, trying to summon some of the easiness they’d had before, “Hey, I thought you always had to be closest to the bathroom?” He asked with a light laugh, only slightly forced.

She looked up at him, her dark brows knit together in confusion, “What?”

He gestured towards the open door to their en-suite bathroom, “I thought you had to sleep on the other side of the bed to be closer to the bathroom.”

She looked uncertain for a moment and then embarrassed; “Yes, well…I prefer this side now. A lot has changed, Thomas.”

“Thomas? Am I in trouble already?”

“Huh?” She asked, impatiently.

“You used to call me Thomas specifically when you were pissed off with me, remember?”

She laughed, her usual, breezy laugh, “Sorry, Tom. Of course, I’m not angry, just tired.” She sat up then and pulled him close to her. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” He held her tight; his Katie was finally home. They fell asleep side by side.