Page 46 of The Last One to See Him

‘I know it’s disappointing,’ Harper says, fixing her eyes on Kate. ‘But we’ll see Thomas again soon – I promise you that.’

‘Bye, Thomas,’ Dex says. ‘Thanks for coming.’

‘Let’s definitely do it again soon,’ Harper says, ruffling Thomas’s hair. ‘Now that you two are such good friends, we’ll have to make sure you see lots of each other, isn’t that right, Kate?’

Ignoring her, Kate ushers Thomas out to the car, holding her breath until they’re driving away, and Harper’s road disappears in the rear-view mirror.

Harper has crossed a line, dragged Kate’s son into this, and the only way to win against her, to make sure she can’t harm Thomas in any way, is to bring her down.

TWENTY-ONE

SATURDAY 1 FEBRUARY

Rain splatters around them, making Harper wish she hadn’t worn jeans today. They’re already sticking to her legs, the denim feeling like cardboard against her skin. And beside her, Dexter is miserable.

‘Why are we here, Mum?’ he asks again, as if he expects the answer to be different each time. It’s a reasonable question, but one she can’t truthfully answer.

‘I just need to check with Thomas’s dad if there could be a space for you. I’m not giving up, Dexter,’ she’d says. ‘Plus, we get to support Thomas, don’t we?’

‘But it’s so boring,’ Dexter moans. ‘And why do they have to play in the rain? I don’t even like football. I mean, it’s okay, but I’m no good at it.’

‘That’s why we need you in this club,’ Harper says. ‘So you can get better.’

‘Dad loved football,’ Dexter says, so quietly it’s as if he’s speaking to himself. ‘He’d want me to play, wouldn’t he?’

‘I think so,’ Harper says, even though the truth is Jamie never pushed Dexter to do anything he didn’t love.

And now, standing at the side of the football pitch, with drizzle threatening to turn into hard rain, Harper wonders if this was a mistake. There are other ways to get to Kate, that’s becoming very clear.

Ellis walks over to her, his lips pursed and frown lines on his forehead. ‘Hi,’ he says. ‘I’m sorry, but I did say there isn’t a place for Dex. Once the kids start here they rarely leave unless parents move away. And it seems like every kid wants to play.’

‘I know,’ Harper says. ‘We’re just here to watch, aren’t we, Dexter?’

Her son nods and looks away, once again focusing on the game.

‘Sorry,’ Ellis says. ‘I’m just…it’s not been a good week.’

‘Tell me about it,’ Harper says. ‘Do you ever wish you could erase certain moments from your mind? That would certainly help.’

He smiles. ‘Yep. If only.’

They both turn to watch the game. ‘I’m sorry there isn’t a space for Dex,’ Ellis says. ‘He’s clearly passionate if he’s willing to come down here just to watch. I can let you know if a space comes up.’

Harper nods and smiles. ‘Thank you. Anyway, no rush. Dexter wants to support Thomas. The two of them have become really close.’

A strange expression crosses Ellis’s face; this might be harder than she’d hoped.

‘I really like Thomas,’ Dexter says, turning to Ellis.

‘Me too, buddy,’ Ellis says.

Harper smiles. ‘He’s a special kid,’ she says. ‘I can tell that already. I’m so glad they’re friends.’

‘Mum,’ Dexter says. ‘Can me and Thomas play in the playground after this?’

Harper glances at Ellis. Perhaps this will work out after all. ‘Yes, of course. If Thomas isn’t busy.’

‘Um, I guess it would be okay if the rain doesn’t get worse,’ Ellis says. ‘For a little bit. Um, it’s not my weekend with him so I need to get him back to his mum.’

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