Page 5 of The Good Neighbour
Josh sat on the window seat, staring out at the world below. It had rained for hours. Rivulets of water trickled down the glass, distorting his view.
Autumn was in full force. Soon it would be replaced by the dark days of winter. Each gust of wind robbed the trees of more of their leaves. They littered the pavements, turning them into a golden-brown mush.
Recently, Josh had spent far too long staring out at the world. He hadn’t heard from Winston since he’d left the day after his bombshell announcement. Josh hadn’t contacted him either. Winston had made it perfectly clear he wouldn’t welcome that.
Instead, time had frozen. Josh stared into the room that he’d made his breakup headquarters. Takeaway cartons littered the table along with half-drunk glasses of wine and empty coffee mugs.
Another afternoon had begun darkening into evening, casting long shadows over the room. Soon the streetlamp would bathe it in an amber glow. If he were a prisoner, he would bemarking the days off on a calendar. Instead, he found himself trapped in a cell of his own making and he had no clue as to how long his sentence was.
His eye was drawn to a figure approaching at an alarming pace. He squinted to see Madeline in a bright pink tracksuit. Even in exercise wear, every inch of her still exuded movie star. It must be exhausting.
She aimed straight for his front door. The expression on her face meant he was in for another of her pep talks.
Josh sighed and heaved himself up from the seat. His body ached even though he’d done nothing. As he ambled to the bottom of the stairs, there came a sharp knock on the door.
Madeline had been a constant presence over the last few weeks. Winston had always accused her of being a user. As a top fashion designer for twenty years, Josh found himself constantly being latched onto by people out to get cheap or free garments. It had made him wary of forming relationships. A button that Winston had never shied away from pressing.
“Hello,” he said as he opened the door.
She frowned at him. “You had that T-shirt on yesterday.”
“I haven’t been to bed.”
“Josh,” she said. “How much longer is this going to go on?”
His lip quivered. “Until I feel better. I don’t know, do I? Are you coming in? It’s freezing out there.”
Madeline shook her head. “I’m on my way to the gym. I called in to tell you that you’re coming for drinks at my place tonight.”
Josh stiffened. “I?—”
Madeline silenced him by holding up her hand. “There are to be no excuses, Josh. You’ve been holed up in this house ever since Winston left. It’s gone on long enough. I’m staging an intervention.”
Josh leant against the doorframe. Resistance would be futile. Madeline Morrison hadn’t clawed her way to the top by taking no for an answer.
“Why don’t you come here?” he suggested.
The last time he’d gone to her house it had ruined his life. Not that he blamed her. He had been a willing participant. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to retrace his steps this soon.
“I don’t think so,” she replied. “You’re becoming agoraphobic. Not on my watch. Seven p.m. sharp.”
“Who else will be there?”
“Just Mercury and Nick. Nothing too scary.”
“Fine. Seven o’clock?”
“And not a minute later. I have a key, remember. I will send my son and his hunky man to physically drag you if need be.”
Josh shook his head. “Hunky man, is it? You weren’t saying that when they first got together.”
Madeline had been against their relationship and had resorted to underhand methods to try to enforce her will. As it turned out, Mercury and Nick’s love was stronger.
To her credit, she shifted uncomfortably. “I’m woman enough to admit I may have got Nick wrong.”
“Wow,” he replied. “Shall I ringHellomagazine?”
She pouted. “This doesn’t extend to your situation. I still know what’s best most of the time.”
