Wee bit angsty but please stick with it. :)


Ruth watches, anxiously, waiting for Harry to finish his phone call. As soon as he hangs up, she hurries towards his office. She knocks on the door before opening it partway and stepping quickly through the gap.

"Harry," she begins, her voice quavering, "I was wondering if…would it be a problem if I took Thursday and Friday off?"

He watches her for a moment before replying. She is wringing her hands together and her gaze is fixed on the wall behind his left shoulder.

"No, it's not a problem."

"Thanks. I-" She stops, takes a breath, and then looks at him. "I decided to take your advice. I'm going to see my mother."

He smiles. "Good. I'm sure you'll be able to sort everything out."

She is less confident. "Perhaps. I need to speak to her, face-to-face, I know that much."

"You think her mind is definitely made up?"

"I think it is."

The sadness in her voice is palpable and he fights the urge to take her into his arms again and comfort her.

"Did you get much sleep last night?" he enquires, although he's already sure of the answer.

"A little."

"Don't stay late tonight then."

She begins to protest. "I've got lots of things to sort out if I'm not going to be here for two days."

"Please, Ruth." His tone is firm but kind. "You have tomorrow to do that. We will be able manage without you for a couple of days."

She wavers for a moment before relenting. "OK. I won't stay late."

-x-

By Friday, Harry is feeling bad-tempered and restless. He is missing Ruth and realises, somewhat guiltily, that she's had very little time off since she started working for him. He has become so used to her presence on the Grid, and in his life, the voice in his head tells him, that to be without her, even for two days, is intolerable.

He looks at his watch: 8.24 p.m. He should go home, walk Scarlett and have some dinner. Instead, he picks up his phone and presses a couple of buttons. He wonders if she knows it's her number that occupies the first position on his speed dial list.

"Hello? Harry? Is something wrong?"

She sounds out of breath, nervous.

"Hello Ruth. No, nothing is wrong. I just thought I'd see how you're getting on."

"Oh, right." She hesitates. "I'm fine. Everything is…fine."

She might be able to lie convincingly to others but he knows she is not being truthful. "Are you sure?"

"Can you hang on for a minute? I just need to…"

There are muffled voices and then the sound of a door opening and closing. When she speaks again, the background noises have changed.

"Sorry about that. I'm in the garden now; I'll get more privacy here."

"Ah, I see. Everything isn't all right, is it?"

"Not really, no."

His instincts are right.

"My mother's determined to go ahead with her plans. The auctioneer came round today to do the valuation."

The words come out in a rush and he hears her gulp for breath. "I'm sorry, Ruth. It must be upsetting."

"It…it is." There is a pause and when she continues, her voice is cracking. "I c-can't make her change her mind, Harry. We had a big row about it."

"Oh, sweet-" He stops himself. "Ruth, has she told you why she wants to sell everything?"

She doesn't answer immediately and he is certain she's crying. It's breaking his heart.

"Erm," she clears her throat, sucks in a lungful of air. "She says it's time to let go of the past. Time she thought a-about herself. She said there's no point hanging on to such a big house, a family home, if there's n-never going to be a family to live in it."

Harry digests the words. "Does she mean…?"

"Yes. She said that I was obsessed with my career and it was clear to her that I would never have a family. She called me selfish, Harry. Said I was depriving her of the 'joy of grandchildren'. She's convinced no man would want me now anyway."

He is stunned by the spectacular insensitivity of her mother's words. "She can't really mean it, Ruth."

"She does." Her voice is faint and he has to strain to hear her.

"I'm sure she doesn't. It's just words said in the heat of the moment."

"She means it, Harry. She's made her mind up about the house, about everything." The resignation in her voice makes Ruth sound broken and fires up a fierce anger in Harry.

"I can't believe she has been so thoughtless and so bloody inconsiderate. You're her daughter for God's sake! What the Hell does she-"

"Please Harry." The small, plaintive voice stops his rant.

"Sorry. It's…I hate hearing you so upset. I hate you being so upset."

The only response is her quiet breathing.

"Ruth?"

"I'm OK."

He knows she is lying again but decides not to challenge her on it. The idea that has been at the back of his mind all day has now transformed into a definite plan.

"Why don't you try and get some rest and, if you don't mind, I'll speak to you again in the morning."

"OK, I will." She sounds calmer now. "I-I don't mind you ringing me. It'll be good to talk to you."

After they have said their goodbyes, Harry turns back to his computer. It takes him less than five minutes to find what he needs.

"Thank God for Google," he mutters under his breath.

Within another five minutes, he has a hotel booked and one more phone call to make.

"Adam. I was wondering if you and Wes could do me a small favour over the weekend?"

-x-

The blond spook is bleary-eyed as he opens the door to his apartment. "Blimey Harry, I know you said first thing in the morning but I didn't think you meant first thing."

"Er, sorry, Adam but I wanted to make an early start."

Further conversation is prevented as an excited boy and an excited dog greet each other. Once both have been calmed down, Adam offers Harry coffee.

"I really should get going."

"Please Uncle Harry," Wes cajoles. "Stay for a little while. It's been ages since you've been to see me."

Harry is torn. He desperately wants to see Ruth but, equally, Wes' words have a struck a chord with him. "OK, I think I've time for a quick coffee."

Half an hour later, he is ready to leave. He pats Scarlett on the head and tells her to be good.

"You be good as well," he says as he hugs his colleague's son. "Don't tell your Dad," he whispers, as, with practiced sleight of hand, he presses a ten pound note into the boy's palm.

"Thanks Adam. I'll be back tomorrow, about six o'clock I should think."

"No problem," the younger man replies. "Give me a ring and let me know if you'll be later than that."

After Harry's gone, Wes questions Adam. "Where's Uncle Harry going?"

"To see a friend."

"What friend?"

"Auntie Ruth, I think, but," Adam ruffles his son's hair, "don't tell him I told you, OK mate?"

"OK Dad."


More soon :)