Page 38 of The World Outside My Window

‘And you’re sure whoever it was, was following you?’

I nodded. ‘It wasn’t just that.’

‘What? What else happened? Has someone hurt you, threatened you?’

I shook my head. ‘No, nothing like that. But the night before, when I got home from work, I had a weird phone call.’

‘Weird how?’

‘I answered and whoever it was didn’t say anything but – I could hear them breathing.’

‘Perhaps it was just a wrong number.’

I let out a whoosh of air. This was exactly why I hadn’t wanted to tell anyone about the phone calls. On the surface of it, they sounded innocuous, nothing to worry about. A wrong number, an automated phone call from a sales company: easily explained away. But I felt certain there was more to it, and the more time that passed and the more I ruminated on it, the more certain I became.

‘It wasn’t the first time,’ I said. ‘It happened a few days ago too.’

He shuffled his body round and studied me intently. Then he reached over and tilted my chin up so that I was looking right into his face.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ His voice was gentle, caring, and I felt tears fill my eyes.

‘I didn’t want you to worry,’ I said, choosing not to tell him I was more concerned that he wouldn’t believe me.

He leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on my lips. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing, but I’m here now so there’s nothing to worry about.’

‘Thank you,’ I said.

‘Now come here and give me a kiss.’ Then he wrapped his arms around me and I tried to let myself forget.

* * *

It had been a long, hot shift at the restaurant, and I was ready to flop. I usually tried to arrange the nights I worked round the days Jim was away, but I couldn’t get away with it every weekend, and this Saturday night had been particularly busy. I just wanted to get home, have a shower and go to bed.

But as I walked out of the restaurant and towards my car, I saw a figure hovering beside it and I froze. Trying to control my breathing, I glanced up and down the road to see if anyone else was around, but it was silent, not even the buzz of a motorbike cutting its way along the empty street. I dug my hand into my bag and wrapped my fingers round my car key, leaving the point sticking out between my fingers. It was hardly going to defend me against an attacker, but it made me feel a little bit safer. I stood frozen for a minute more, then started creeping towards my car. As I got closer I could see in the orange glow from the nearby street light that the figure was facing away from me, head down. I wondered whether it was the person I’d seen running away from me a few days before, but they’d been slight, almost waif-like beneath baggy clothes, whereas this person was bigger, with broad shoulders, and cropped hair. I stepped closer and something must have alerted them to my presence because they turned around. And as they did, and I made out the familiar jawline, the long straight nose, the pale glow of cropped blonde-grey hair, the tension whooshed out of me instantly.

‘Jim?’ I said, stepping closer, and he whipped his head round to face me.

‘You’re done,’ he said, smiling.

‘I am.’ My body was still shaking from the adrenaline surge, and he must have seen the look on my face. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘You terrified me, standing there like that in the dark.’

He looked down at himself, then back up at me. ‘Oh God, I’m so sorry, Laura. I thought I’d meet you from work so you didn’t have to feel scared on your way home. But I’ve gone and terrified you even more by hanging round like some mad stalker, haven’t I?’

‘Well, yes. There isn’t normally a strange man hanging round my car at—’ I checked my watch ‘—gone midnight.’

He shook his head and stepped towards me, arms outstretched. ‘I’m so sorry, darling. I didn’t think. I was just trying to protect you.’ He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a squeeze. ‘Forgive me?’

‘Course I do.’ My heart was slowly going back to normal and I looked up at him, his skin glowing orange on one side, the other half of his face in shadow. ‘But what made you come all the way down here?’

‘I was thinking about what you said, about someone following you, and I didn’t like the thought of you leaving the restaurant all by yourself with some weirdo hanging around. So I thought I’d come and pick you up.’

‘But you can’t do that every night. I’ve – I’ve got to learn to get on with things.’

‘I know.’ He turned to face the car. ‘Listen, let’s get going, shall we? It’s getting chilly. Want me to drive?’

Despite myself, I couldn’t think of anything better than being driven home. I threw him the keys and climbed into the passenger seat.

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