Page 30 of Summer at Croftwood Cinema
Patsy heard the door to the auditorium open behind her and looked round, expecting to find Marian but was instead faced with a man she had hoped she’d never have to see again.
‘Cleo. Fancy finding you here,’ he said with a self-satisfied smile.
The room shrank away as she looked at him. The builders that were just a stone’s throw away seemed to disappear and she felt a ball of anxiety lodge itself in her chest as panic began to set in and she suddenly had to fight to take a breath.
‘How did you find me?’ She wanted to know and yet she didn’t. She’d been so careful to cover her tracks. In the beginning she’d expected him to walk through the door of the coffee house on a daily basis but she’d become complacent and now it was a shock.
‘Saw you with your little venture in the paper.’ He took a step towards her and she stumbled backwards, catching her foot on a chair that was on the floor.
‘Stay away from me, Dan.’ Despite the way her heart was pounding in her chest, making her feel as if her whole body was vibrating, she tried to sound strong. She was strong now. That’s what she was willing herself to feel but the moment she’d seen him it had whipped her straight back to three years ago.
‘It’s not Dan, Cleo. It’s Marian.’
Patsy felt her chest constrict. She couldn’t breathe. He’d not only found her, but he’d duped her into meeting him. She’d let her guard down. It was her fault she was back in this situation.
‘I know what you took and I want it back.’
‘Everything alright, Patsy?’
She turned, reluctant to look away from Dan in case he came towards her, to see Matt marching up towards her from the front of the stalls. He was looking straight at Dan and from his expression, it was clear he’d heard at least part of the exchange.
‘Don’t worry,’ Dan said, backing towards the door. ‘Now I know where you are, I’ll leave you to it.’
She slumped to the floor as Matt glanced down at her in concern but carried on towards Dan.
‘I’ll see you out,’ he said, squaring up to Dan and forcing him to turn and leave without further comment. A moment later her was back. He crouched down on the floor next to her, waiting with her while she tried to regulate her breathing.
‘Thank you,’ she managed after a minute or so. She went to pull herself up and he stood and helped her to her feet, steadying her by taking her hand and supporting her with a gentle arm across her back. ‘I’m a bit light-headed.’ She allowed herself to lean into him for a few seconds.
‘Okay?’ His voice was full of concern.
‘Yes, thank you.’ She was feeling better enough to find the close proximity between them awkward, and moved back slightly.
‘Who was that guy?’
She shot a look over to the door.
‘Don’t worry. He’s gone and I’ve locked the door.’
‘He’s my ex. It didn’t end well.’ She attempted a rueful smile but knew she hadn’t managed it.
‘On the basis of that short interaction, I’d say you’re better off without him.’
Patsy picked up her bag and pulled it purposefully onto her shoulder, trying to gather herself ready to leave. But she was terrified that Dan would be waiting outside.
‘I’ll walk with you. Are you going home?’
She nodded. ‘That’d be great, thank you.’ Normally she’d have worried about putting him out.
They left together, Matt scanning the park before he locked the door.
‘Lead the way,’ he said and they strolled in silence for a few minutes. ‘So, did I hear him call you Cleo?’
Patsy looked at him. It was hard to reconcile this person who had just saved her from the worst thing that had happened to her in three years with the mostly grumpy, pernickety Matt. This Matt was listening and concerned and somehow, she wanted to tell him.
‘He’s more than my ex, he’s my husband.’
Matt didn’t look surprised at that revelation but then, he didn’t know anything about her. If she’d told Oliver that, he would have had a different reaction.
