Page 14 of The Last One to See Him

‘Yeah, I know,’ Thomas says. Dex is okay, though. I like him.’ He glances at Kate then turns back to the TV.

‘Remember your dad’s taking you to football training tomorrow,’ Kate says.

‘Is Maddy coming?’

Kate flinches. It took a few weeks, but Thomas seems to be accepting his father’s new partner, and Kate is proud of how respectful he is about her, despite his initial protests that it was Maddy’s fault that his parents’ marriage ended. It had been a shock when the two of them had ended up together after Ellis and Kate separated, after what had started as a one-night mistake.

Kate isn’t bitter about this; even though it’s hard to hear Maddy’s name mentioned, she’s glad that Thomas is at peace with it all. And she’d never had to have a difficult conversation and explain that things happen sometimes between adults. They make mistakes. And one day, when he’s older, she hopes Thomas will understand about the mistakes she has made herself.

‘I don’t know if Maddy will be there,’ Kate says. ‘But I’m glad you like her.’

‘She’s quite nice,’ Thomas says. ‘And I just want Dad and you to be happy.’ He smiles. ‘Do you think you’ll ever meet anyone, Mum?’

Jamie Archer’s face flashes into her head: alive with passion and longing, then quickly morphing into pale and lifeless. ‘I don’t need anyone,’ Kate says. ‘I’ve got all I need right here.’ She hugs Thomas, and tears he can’t see fall softly onto his hair.

Kate’s in the bath when her phone buzzes by the sink. She wants to ignore it, but the warm water and bubbles are doing little to relax her mind. She steps out of the bath and grabs her phone, getting back in to keep warm.

Instantly she regrets her decision. It’s a text message from Harper Nolan. She stares at the name, tempted to drop her phone to the bathmat and ignore it, but she’s compelled to read it.

It was lovely to meet you this afternoon. Are you and Thomas free to come over tomorrow after school? I know the boys are old enough for a non-supervised playdate, but I thought it would be great for us both to get to know the two of you.

This is too much, too soon. How can Kate possibly start a friendship with a woman whose ex-husband she slept with?

Kate types a reply:Sorry, I have plans tomorrow. Another time, though.And then she hesitates. Rather than avoiding Harper, it could work in Kate’s favour to get closer to her. There is scant information about Jamie online, so befriending Harper might be the only way she can keep up with the investigation.

Deleting the message, she replies that she and Thomas can come over after school.

A wave of regret hits her the moment she’s sent it.

She’s playing with fire. And she’s starting to believe that it’s no coincidence Harper Nolan has come into her life.

Downstairs, Thomas sits at the kitchen table, his homework book open in front of him. ‘Need any help?’ Kate asks.

‘No thanks. I’m fine.’

The doorbell rings just as Kate pulls out a chair to sit with Thomas. She pulls her dressing gown tighter around her and heads to the door.

‘Who’s that?’ Thomas asks. ‘It’s really late.’ His words echo Kate’s thoughts.

She checks the peephole, as Thomas rushes up to her. Outside their house, a white van drives off. ‘Just a delivery,’ Kate says. ‘I haven’t ordered anything, though.’

Frowning, Kate opens the door, and stares at the long cardboard box on their doorstep. ‘They’re flowers,’ she says, noticing the Bloom & Wild Logo.

‘Maybe they’re from Dad?’ Thomas says, smiling.

‘No. They won’t be from him.’ Kate picks up the box, peering once more into the street, even though the white van is long gone.

At the kitchen table, she carefully opens the box. ‘Maybe they’re from a customer at work,’ Kate says.

‘Well, you do save animals, Mum.’

But Kate freezes when she sees what’s inside. A bunch of dead lilies, crumbling and withered, coated in something black that makes them look more haunting. She gasps, shutting the box.

‘What’s happened?’ Thomas asks, his eyes wide.

‘Oh…don’t worry. I think they must have needed water and died in transit.’

‘That’s a shame,’ Thomas says, turning back to his homework.

---