Chapter 40
Outside Mike’s office, a group of children comes running down the corridor. A little girl accidentally bumps into Diana with her enormous backpack. Or I should say, Diana bumps into her because Diana can’t see where she’s going.
‘Sorry, Mrs. Sorry,’ the little girl says before running off.
When I turn to Diana, her glasses are crooked. She mumbles something under her breath and pushes them back up her nose, and I stop.
Oh, God. ‘Are you all right?’ I ask.
‘Of course!’ she says, walking briskly ahead of me. But I’m sure I saw the faintest outline of a black eye. Did I do that to her yesterday? I’d remember if I did that, wouldn’t I?
At this point, who knows? I’m losing my mind, so anything is possible.
I let it go, pretend I haven’t noticed, and we both walk back out to the car park.
‘Thank you again,’ I say as we reach her car.
She fiddles with her keys.
‘I really appreciate what happened back there,’ I say.
‘Yes, well. I was a bit over the top with everything. I know that. I’ve been through a lot.’
I nod. ‘I’ve been through a lot, too.’
She stops fiddling with her keys and turns to me. ‘I gather your husband hasn’t left you? That was another lie?’
I hesitate, but I may as well tell her. I rub my forehead with my fingertips. I don’t know when I picked up this habit but if I don’t stop soon, I’ll be scratching my skull in no time. ‘He has, that part is true. We had a huge fight, and he walked out.’
‘Walked out?’
I nod. ‘He’s done it before. I thought he was going to come back, but he’s stayed away. I’m actually really worried about him.’
In a way, this is practice for when I tell my story to the police. And judging by the look on her face, even with the sunglasses, I need all the practice I can get.
‘When did that happen?’ she asks.
‘Some time ago,’ I say vaguely. ‘I found out the woman he was having an affair with had been in touch, you see.’ I may as well throw that one in. Diana Ashford-Wells is a known gossip. She may not publish that titbit on Facebook, unfortunately, but she’s bound to tell everyone.
‘How awful,’ she says.
‘Yes. It’s been a lot.’
I notice she’s still toying with her keys and that her hand is trembling.
‘Can I ask…are you all right? Were you in some kind of accident? Because I saw…’ I bring my fingers to my eye. ‘I saw your eye before.’
She nods quickly. ‘Everything is fine.’
But I don’t think it is. Something is wrong. I can feel it.
Or maybe I’m just projecting.
I check my watch. ‘I should get home because Holly isn’t well. Although, between you and me I think she’s faking it.’
She smiles quickly, then bites the corner of her bottom lip. ‘Would you like to go for a coffee?’
I blink at her. ‘I would love to, but I have to go home.’
‘Of course,’ she says, looking like she feels just a little bit stupid. ‘I understand.’
‘No, really. I have to go home because—’ Because Holly is in my crazy neighbour’s house, deleting files on my crazy neighbour’s laptop, and I should probably check up on her. ‘I’m expecting a delivery,’ I say, ‘but I’d like to have a coffee some other time.’
She gives me a small smile. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen her smile, and it suits her. Even with the sunglasses.
‘That would be nice,’ she says.
I smile, too. ‘Let’s do it soon, then.’
There are no calls or messages from Holly when I check my phone in the car, which I tell myself is a good thing, since it means nothing has gone wrong. But shouldn’t she be home by now? She said she would come home straight away.
Something isn’t right. I want to call her, but I don’t know if I should if she’s still at Teri’s. I don’t want to put her in a position where she has to lie in front of Teri. Even if she is very good at drama.
I tell myself it’s nothing. Of course she’ll be home when I get there. She’s forgotten to text me, that’s all.