Page 59 of The Psychopath Next Door

‘Sorry. I thought you were going to say something had happened to Rose or Dylan. But that’s ...’ She groped for the word, gave up. ‘What makes you think that?’

I told her about seeing them outside this afternoon. The embrace. The expression on Emma’s face afterwards.

‘Oh God. Poor you. What are you going to do?’

I was speechless. I had wanted her to reassure me, to tell me it was probably completely harmless. Not to sayPoor you!

‘Do you think she’s seeing him again?’ I blurted.

‘I don’t know, Ethan. Have you asked her about it?’

‘Not yet. She went back to work. At least, that’s where I assume she went. But I’m scared to ask her because I don’t want her to tell me our marriage is over. That she’s in love with him. I mean, she might be trying to decide what to do, and I don’t want to push her in his direction by acting like a ... like a ...’

‘Bitch?’

‘Yes.’

‘Or a twat?’

‘Either of those. I think maybe I should wait a little while, see if she comes to me.’

‘Hmm. And what will you do if she tells you she’s in love with him and wants to be with him?’

‘Oh God, you put it so bluntly, Fiona.’

She shrugged. ‘I can’t help it. I had a strange day today too.’

‘Really? What, with Rose? Did something happen?’

‘Oh. No.’ I could tell she regretted what she’d said. ‘I ... bumped into an old friend, that’s all. Someone who reminded me of my ex. But let’s not talk about that. I think there’s a strong possibility you got the wrong end of the stick. Maybe this Mike guy contacted Emma, told her he couldn’t stop thinking about her, insisted they meet – and she told him it was over, that she loves you and only you.’

‘I hadn’t thought of that.’

‘Or maybe he came to tell her he’s dying of cancer.’

‘Oh Jesus.’

‘Sorry, didn’t mean to get your hopes up.’

I laughed, then realised she wasn’t joking. ‘I don’t want him todie.’

‘You don’t? Oh. Well, anyway, I think ... you should wait and see. Keep an eye on her. I don’t think you should make a move until you know what’s going on. What do they say? Knowledge is power.’ She looked at me. ‘Oh, Ethan, you look so sad. Come here.’

She held her arms out and I stepped into a hug. She was so warm, her body soft, her hair even softer against my face. She smelled a little sweaty, but not in a bad way. I probably smelled worse, but she wrapped her arms tightly around me and pulled me close.

Still hugging me, she whispered, ‘Does that feel a little better?’

I moved my head back and looked into her eyes, our noses almost touching. I could kiss her, and I was sure, in that moment,that she would kiss me back. She was so pretty, and kind, and it would be revenge – sweet retaliation. And I felt it radiating through me: something dark and mean and lustful, and Fiona parted her lips and her eyelids flickered, waiting, breathing ...

And, from the corner of my eye, I saw a figure.

There was someone watching us through the window.

I jerked away, stepping back, out of Fiona’s reach, and she turned to follow my gaze. Tommy was standing on the other side of the hedge at the bottom of Fiona’s garden. He was too far for me to make out his facial features, but not so far that he wouldn’t have seen us embrace. He shook his head before turning and walking away towards the fields, his German shepherds straining on their leads.

‘It was just a hug,’ I said, as if he could hear. I wanted to run out and tell him.Just a comforting hug because I thought my wife was cheating on me.

But of course I wouldn’t tell him that.

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