Page 51 of Perfect

“Screw supper. I think this conversation is a little more important than fucking food.”

I heard Rachel clear her throat and then there was silence and I shuffled back slightly, so they wouldn’t see me half sticking out of the kitchen if they left the room.

“I don’t think we have anything to worry about. I took a different route on the way back and stopped several times. Just as I said I would.”

“You should have come back when you said you would. What if Martha’s spoken to him, you know she’s a fucking busybody.”

I heard shuffling footsteps as they made their way around the room and poised myself for flight, just in case.

My mind raced as I tried to process everything they were saying. They were talking about a man and one that they were hiding from for some reason.

I heard the patio doors in the study being opened.

Rachel’s voice became quieter as she moved away.

“Please Connor, just let it go. We’re safe. You’ve nothing to worry about. He’s out but he will have moved on by now, he’s let us both go.”

Another silence followed. Were they talking about Connor’s father?

Connor’s voice was strained and angry, the pitch not at all pleasant and I felt a wave of worry. This wasn’t good.

“Safe, that’s an interesting word. We will never be safe now the fuckers free and if I ever see him again, I’ll wipe the floor with him.”

Rachel’s voice shot up an octave and I started to regret my decision to eavesdrop. Now afraid of what I was hearing.

“You need to see Doctor Mitchell again Connor, please. Mike said that you’ve been struggling.”

I was now certain that Connor’s fatherwasthe person they were discussing. I stored the word ‘safe’ into my memory, deciding to deal with that piece ofinformation later. A new and unsettling realisation that I might have misjudged his situation, needled away at me.

“Fuck that, I’ve had enough of that shit and feeling half asleep all the time. I’m doing things my way now.”

So, Connorhadstopped taking his ‘chill out’ medication. Fuck! My hands started sweating.

“Rachel, Connor!” Dad’s voice cut in, immediately ending their conversation and I panicked.

“Coming,” Rachel shouted. “Look we’ll discuss this later. I’m your mother and you’ll do as I say.”

I’d never heard Rachel use that tone before and I was glued to the spot as I awaited Connor’s response.

His voice was low and nasty. He was close to losing his temper; I recognised the tone from Nate’s party.

“Really, sothat’swhat you are, bit late to be playing that fucking card. I’m out of here.” His voice was so cold and a chill rippled through me.

As I realised it was Connor leaving the room, I jumped forward to move away.

I must have caught a pan or something as I swung around and the metal fell to the floor, with the loudest clatter ever.

Adrenalin burst in my chest like a mushroom cloud as my red-faced stepbrother strode out of the study, his eyes searching the source of the noise. Those dark eyes met mine from my crouched position. I was in mid-retrieval of what was actually a baking tray and his face went from neutral to livid, heknewI’d been listening. I wanted to curl up and die.

That special moment between us from my bedroom window was lost.

Connor moved towards me shooting black daggers and I shoved the tray on the side with nervous hands, my mouth opening and closing as I fought for an excuse. My twitchy eye kicked in.

He was almost upon me when my focus was pulled past him as Rachel appeared, a flushed look on her face. She paused momentarily when she saw me, her recovery swift, her expression showing no trace of concern.

“Harlow, sweetie. I was just coming to get you for dinner,” she said with a catch in her voice.

Connor stopped advancing, his fists clenched at his sides, he looked larger than life, a tight black T-shirt hugging his huge shoulders. His eyes never left my face and he didn’t turn to his mother at the sound of her voice.

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