Page 25 of My Husband's Wife
‘I think I got the gist of that phone call,’ Mum says, not noticing how flustered I feel. ‘I’m going up to have an early night. And no, Zach didn’t ask me to come. I came because I want to be here for you. We can talk more tomorrow. Are you okay now?’
I nod, not wanting her to focus too closely on me. ‘Yes, Hugo’s dead. I’m just stressed and I’m sorry.’ Mum doesn’t believe me, I can tell. Until I have evidence, I’ll pretend everything is okay, and I won’t mention Hugo or Theo again. I’ll be a good mum and just go to work, and cook food. Everything has to seem normal. ‘Mum, would you be able to look after Caiden sometimes in the evenings while you’re here? I have weddings coming up and I have to be there, and sometimes my clients can only come after office hours. Zach normally looks after him.’
‘Of course. You do what you need to do. Caiden and I are going to have lots of fun.’
‘Thanks, Mum.’
‘Right, that bed is calling me.’
I hug Mum before she heads upstairs. Freddie comes running down. He must have been up there with the boys. I’ll go and check on them in a short while. Opening up my calendar on my phone, I glance at my upcoming appointments.
Theo and Madison are getting married in just over a week, on the Saturday. I have to get my evidence before then otherwise they’ll be gone for ever. If I’m right about Theo being Hugo, I don’t know what it will do to my relationship; still, I have to know the truth. Mum has to believe that I’m not losing my mind, and I want answers from Hugo.
I try to call Zach again but like before, he doesn’t answer. I’m worried about him now so I send him a WhatsApp message, which he replies to instantly.
Zach: I’m okay, just tired. I didn’t know it was you calling. Your number is coming up as withheld. I’m really tired and I have to be up at 5 this morning so I’m in bed. I’ll say goodnight now. Love you. Xxx
When I was in Malvern and he was here, we spoke every night. This is the first time we’ve ended the night on a message when we haven’t been together in the same house. I miss his voice and I miss him saying, I love you.
Eva: I don’t know how that happened. Best sort my phone out. Love you too. Xxx
I hit send. A part of me wants to say that I saw the paperwork in the office but it’s not right to do that by message when Zach’s upset about his brother. I feel as though we’re coming apart a little. I know I forgot the upcoming anniversary of his brother’s death so I’ll need to make it up to him.
I do, however, know why I didn’t tell Zach about Theo: I don’t want to be wrong. My past will make me look like I’m losing it again and I don’t know what will happen to me. Maybe I’m not sure I trust myself. A small part of me wonders if Mum is right. As for Zach, why would he not tell me about his brother being murdered? A lump forms in my throat as I think of Zach watching while Justin was being stabbed to death. Maybe we’ve both held things back. Zach doesn’t know how bad my breakdowns were. Have we based our whole relationship on not being honest with each other and, if so, where does that leave us?
I make sure my number can be seen now and send a quick message to Nicole, to see if she’s okay, but she doesn’t reply. I had hoped she’d call Aaron to say goodnight but maybe she’s midway through an argument with her ex.
Freddie scratches and whines at the front door. That’s his way of telling me that there is someone out there. Heart pounding, I follow him. Mum comes out of Caiden’s bedroom and shouts down the stairs. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘I think so. It’s probably just a fox. I’m going to lock up and come to bed.’
I hurry to the front door and peer through the spyhole. I can’t see anyone around. I remove the chain and open the door slightly, letting Freddie run outside. A breeze fills the hallway and I shiver as I gaze into the darkness. Rain patters down. My attention darts to the rustling coming from the wall of bushes that divide our land from the footpath and coastal road, and I’m sure I hear footsteps behind it. I look down and see the slight outline of a muddy footprint trail.
Freddie barks frantically at the shrubs. I call him back, as I don’t want him to run through any of the gaps onto the road and I’m scared the intruder might hurt him. The footprints are already starting to blend into the damp driveway as the rain gets heavier. The sound of an engine roaring tells me that I didn’t imagine any of that. I run in my slippers towards the road and all I see are taillights turning a corner.
Someone was here.
Someone was lurking around on my drive, in the dark.
Someone was watching us.
Eighteen
I check every window and every door before heading upstairs. I pass the open spare bedroom door and see Aaron lying on the sofa bed. ‘Hi, lovely. Is Caiden in the bathroom?’ I try to hide the fear churning inside me, not wanting to startle the children.
He nods. A wet Freddie bounds over and starts curling up at the bottom of the sofa bed. Aaron doesn’t seem to mind. He laughs and strokes him.
‘Is Mummy going to call me? She said she would.’
I quickly check my phone to see if I missed Nicole’s call with all the commotion going on. ‘Not yet, lovely. It’s late so she probably didn’t want to wake you up.’
‘Mummy’s upset because she was arguing with Daddy.’
‘I know. Sometimes grown-ups have fights and get upset. I’m sure everything will be okay when they’ve spoken.’
‘It won’t be.’ Aaron looks down.
I walk over and sit on the bed. Aaron knows his mum and dad are fighting and I wonder how that’s affecting him.
