Page 43 of The World Outside My Window

‘I hope she’s in after all this.’ Her grin looks more like a grimace and Ben smiles back.

‘Come on, let’s get it over with.’ He grabs her hand again and almost drags her up the path to the front door before she can change her mind, and knocks loudly. Silence hums in the air for a few brief moments as Laura stands with her eyes closed, and then the door swings open.

‘Hello, Ben.’ Jane’s gaze passes quizzically to Laura, who snaps her eyes open.

‘Hi, Jane. This is Laura.’ He pauses. ‘Jim’s wife. She wanted to come and speak to you, and I said I’d introduce you.’

Jane’s mouth stretches into an enormous grin and she sticks out her hand and shakes Laura’s vigorously. ‘Oh, Laura, it’s really lovely to meet you. Although—’ She looks over Laura’s shoulder into the street behind. ‘Aren’t you – did you—?’ She stops, suddenly awkward.

‘You knew?’ Ben sounds surprised.

‘About Laura’s agoraphobia? Yes, Jim told me.’ Jane looks back at Laura apologetically. ‘I hope that was all right?’

Laura nods briefly, strangely comforted at not having to explain herself as Jane ushers her inside. ‘Come in, come in, you shouldn’t be standing out there on the doorstep.’ The pair bustle through the door and relief floods through Laura. It might be a stranger’s house but it’s still better than being out in the big wide world. And at least she’s doing this; she’s conquering it, and it will get easier. She hopes.

A few minutes later, installed in Jane’s sparse living room with a mug of strong milky tea in her hands, Laura starts telling Jane about Jim’s disappearance. Jane likes Laura instantly and can see why Jim loves her so much.

‘So you think you might find a clue, if you go and speak to everyone in the street?’ Jane takes a sip from her mug and flinches, the hot liquid scalding her tongue.

Laura shrugs. ‘That’s the plan. I know it sounds a bit desperate.’

‘God, no, it really doesn’t. I think it’s a brilliant idea. And really brave.’

Laura smiles. ‘Thank you. Actually it makes it a bit easier, that you already know about my – condition. It turns out Jim didn’t tell many people. I wonder why he told you.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. People always seem to tell me everything. I must have a friendly face.’ A smile splits her face and lights up her eyes.

Laura laughs. ‘Maybe that’s it.’

‘Seriously though, the other day I was minding my own business queuing at the checkout in the supermarket when the woman behind me started telling me all about her divorce and why her husband was such a bastard.’ She grins. ‘I’d only popped in for some bread and milk and ended up counselling her for half a chuffin’ hour.’

Laura smiles. She could listen to Jane’s sing-song Scouse accent all day, and she can see why people might feel they could open up to her. She can see why Jim might have done too.

Jane leans forward, her elbows on her knees. ‘To be honest, though, it was a bit different with Jim.’ She looks behind her as though checking no one is listening. ‘Sorry, don’t want the kids to hear this. Jim was helping me, with me divorce.’

‘Oh?’

‘Yeah. The thing is, Robbie – my ex – was a total bastard, truth be told. He treated me terribly, beat me black and blue, sometimes even in front of the kids, but he was clever. Tried to keep it private. Got the shock of his life when I left him. Just packed me stuff while he was at work, and left with the kids. Nothing he could do about it. We came down here, rented this place, far away from him, to finally get properly away. The kids miss him, but he never bothers with them. Was all “you can’t take my kids away from me, I’ve got rights” at first but the novelty soon wore off. Besides, he’s buggered off now, left the country, gone to work in Spain. Good riddance, I say. The further away, the better.’ She turns to Ben. ‘Sorry, Ben, I know you’ve heard all this before, but I just wanted to explain it to Laura.’

‘No, it’s fine. You carry on.’ He sits back and sips his coffee thoughtfully.

But Laura is confused. ‘But Jim isn’t a lawyer. He works for a hotel chain. What does he know about divorce law?’

Jane shoots Ben a look and Ben shrugs. She looks back at Laura. ‘It wasn’t really divorce law, to be honest. He just said he might be able to help me. I – I s’pose I just assumed it had something to do with his ex-wife.’

Laura turns cold. ‘Hiswhat?’

‘His…’ Jane starts, her eyes flitting back and forth in confusion.

‘Jim’s never been married before,’ Laura says, slowly.

‘Hasn’t he? God, I’m so sorry, Laura.’ Jane looks horrified.

‘What made you think he had been?’

Jane shrugs, clearly uncomfortable. ‘I must have just assumed.’ She reaches out and presses her well-manicured hand against Laura’s arm. ‘Honestly, please ignore me. It was probably just that Jim saw I was struggling and wanted to help me. I must have misunderstood.’ She sighs heavily. ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to cause more problems than I solve.’

Laura shakes her head. ‘It’s fine. I just…’ She just what? Doesn’t trust her husband? Of course she does. Jim hasn’t been married before, he’s told her that.

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