Chapter 50
CHARLIE
There’s a knock on the glass front of the restaurant, but Charlie doesn’t feel inclined to answer it.
He’s still reeling from the realization that he has to end the marriage he thought was going to last forever.
Knowing that there’s nothing that Freya can say this time that’s going to keep him tethered to her.
But a few minutes later, there’s another knock—this time on the kitchen door at the back.
“We’re closed today,” says Charlie, when he finds a man standing there, devoid of any deliveries or apparent sense of purpose.
“Oh, hello, are you Freya’s husband?” he asks, smiling awkwardly.
With his slightly nervous approach and languid voice, Charlie’s immediately on the back foot, not knowing what else Freya might be capable of.
“How can I help you?” he asks, without answering the question.
“I’m Simon,” says the man, waiting for Charlie to recognize his name. “I was the first one on the scene after your wife’s accident.”
Charlie sucks in a breath. “Oh, right,” he says, holding out his hand. “Thanks so much for everything that you did.”
“No problem. How’s she doing?”
“Yeah, she’s okay,” says Charlie. “She got checked out at the hospital, but aside from a couple of bumps and scratches, she’s in fighting form.”
“Oh, that’s such a relief,” says Simon, fishing in his jacket. “Anyways, I wanted to return this. I picked it up from the road—it must have fallen out of her bag. And it wasn’t until I got home last night that I realized I still had it in my pocket.” He holds out a brown envelope.
Charlie’s brow furrows, his suspicion never far from the surface. “How did you know where to find me?”
“Freya mentioned that you’d opened up here,” he says. “I was going to call, but then I thought I might as well bring it down. It’s not far.”
“Well, I appreciate it,” says Charlie, taking the envelope from him and running a thumb around its sharply folded edges.
“You’re welcome. Send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
“Yeah, thanks,” says Charlie absently. “Dinner’s on me, whenever you fancy.”
It’s only when the man is in his car that Charlie turns the envelope over and sees that it’s addressed to Mr. Peter Fletcher. Freya’s ex.