Page 11 of Be More Lucy

The man moved to the other side of the window. He was easier to see now. He was wearing a white shirt but it wasn’t buttoned up.

‘It is Adam.’ Lucy slid down on to the floor.

Em looked at her, puzzled.

‘He might spot me,’ Lucy explained from the passenger side footwell.

‘We’re in Jack’s car. You said he wouldn’t recognise that.’

‘I know but if we can see him he can see us. I should’ve thought about wearing a disguise. Hopefully, he won’t recognise you.’

‘I very much doubt there’s any chance of that. He’s only met me twice and he mostly ignored me on both occasions.’ Em tried not to sound too bitter.

Lucy changed the subject. ‘I should’ve asked you to bring your camera!’

‘I’m not a paparazzo. I’d need a huge lens for that. Anyway, it’s not as if you need evidence. I assume you’re just going to challenge him if anything isn’t right?’

‘If? He’s given me a false name and he’s currently getting dressed in a house he owns with another woman who shares his real surname. I think we can safely say that something is not right.’ Lucy was angry again now.

‘Look - the front door’s opening,’ Em said.

A woman, who appeared to be around Adam’s age, walked outside.

Lucy pushed herself up slightly so she could see out of the driver’s window. ‘That must be Eve.’

A toddler followed the woman outside and held her hand. Both of them looked back towards the open door.

‘Who’s that with her?’ Em asked.

‘A child.’

‘Nothing gets passed you, does it.’

‘I meant Adam’s child. He looks like the little boy I saw in the photo.’

A pram emerged from the door. A second later they could see that Adam was pushing it.

‘He’s got more than one child,’ Em said.

‘That explains the baby crying in the background when he phoned me yesterday.’ Lucy looked seriously pissed off.

‘Eve could be his sister-in-law? That would explain why she’s got the same surname.’ Em knew she was clutching at straws but, for Lucy’s sake, she felt she ought to try hard to find an excuse for Adam being there. ‘They’re all dressed up for some special occasion, or church?’

‘They are definitely not dressed for tennis. Shit! They’re coming this way. Put your coat over me.’ Lucy ducked back down into the footwell.

‘Because that doesn’t look suspicious at all.’

‘Don’t argue. Pretend to be looking for something in the glovebox so he doesn’t see your face.’

Em obliged.

She could hear Adam and Eve chatting amicably as they crossed the road and walked past the car. They were talking about where they were going to take the children after they’d been to church.

As their voices faded away, Em risked a look in the rearview mirror. She watched as Eve put her arm through Adam’s and whispered something in his ear. He leaned down and kissed her, and not in a family peck on the cheek kind of way either. They headed off along the street looking like the perfect couple.

‘What’s going on?’ Lucy’s muffled whisper came from under Em’s coat.

There was no way to dress this up. ‘He’s just snogged her.’

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