Page 60 of The Psychopath Next Door

‘I’d better get back,’ I said.

‘Yes. Of course.’

Fiona showed no sign that we had almost just kissed, to the point where I wondered if it had been a fantasy. But then I knew I hadn’t imagined seeing Tommy; Tommy seeing us.

‘What are you going to do?’ she asked. ‘Are you going to talk to her, or wait?’

‘I think I’ll wait.’

In fact, I had already decided. The money from Iris, that fat bundle of banknotes, was still in my pocket. I knew what I was going to do with it.

21

The holiday resort was so new it wasn’t finished yet. I only knew about it because one of my regulars had a nephew who had helped build it. As we drove up the long, snaking lane that led to the accommodation, we passed JCBs and concrete mixers that stood abandoned as if the workers had gone on holiday themselves. Despite that, it was beautiful here; here being the Wales-Shropshire border, just outside the small market town of Ellesmere.

The cabins were arranged in a semicircle around what had been described as a lake, though it was actually a pond, surrounded by long grass that was dotted with wildflowers. We had a hot tub which had never been used before, and an outdoor table and chairs that looked like they’d come straight from a warehouse.

‘So, what do you think?’ I asked after we’d looked round the open-plan kitchen/diner/living room and checked out the three bedrooms.

‘What’s the Wi-Fi password?’ Dylan asked, opening his phone and simultaneously turning the TV on to reveal the Netflix logo.

‘It’s small,’ said Rose. She wrinkled her nose in her brother’s direction. ‘And have I got to share a bathroom with him?’

‘That’s what you do at home,’ I said.

‘Yeah, but he always stays in there forever – doing God knows what –andhe makes it stink.’

‘You’re such a brat,’ Dylan said.

Rose turned to me. ‘Please, Dad. You promised we’d have our own bathrooms.’

‘Did I?’

‘I suppose she could have the room with the en-suite,’ Emma suggested.

‘But that’s the only room with a double bed.’ The others each contained two singles. Is that what Emma wanted? To sleep in separate beds?

‘Oh my God, there’s no need to look so horrified. It’ll be nice for Rose to have her own bathroom.’

So we were rewarding bad behaviour now, were we? Rose had been awful since the moment I’d told the kids we were going away for a few days.

I’d texted Emma as soon as I’d left Fiona’s house, sick with guilt and fear, asking if she could book a long weekend off work.

Iris gave me a commission for selling that record and I think we should all go away for a few days. Me, you and the kids. xx

I had been surprised when she’d responded almost immediately, sayingGreat idea x. My instant, pleased reaction was very quickly replaced by an extra helping of paranoia. Did she think a break would give her the perfect opportunity to drop her bombshell, and tell me she was in love with someone else?

Now I couldn’t help but think she was pleased about us sleeping in single beds. Was she worried I’d try to initiate sex? Rose had handed her a chance to put a physical gap between us.

‘Are you all right?’ Emma asked, tilting her head and studying me. ‘We’re on holiday. You’re meant to be relaxed.’

Maybe I would be, I thought,if I hadn’t seen you hugging Mike.

‘Please don’t argue,’ Dylan said. ‘I can’t stand it.’

‘We’re not arguing.’ Emma and I both spoke at the same time.

I forced myself to breathe. ‘I’m going to unload the car. Do you want to give me a hand, Rose?’

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