Chapter 50
FIFTY
Reese
By the time Victoria and I are back in her car, I can’t stop shivering. I am sick with guilt. This has all happened because of me.
We climb in and sit in silence, staring out at the dark, quiet street where everyone is asleep, not knowing that only one street away, a man just lost his life.
I have messaged Nick but he hasn’t replied. Now I message him again.
On my way home.
He hasn’t messaged me to ask me where I am but then he probably just went to sleep as he usually does, assuming that I would slide quietly into bed when I got home.
He probably hasn’t even registered that I’m not there which feels strange, odd, as though my whole life has radically changed and the man I am meant to share everything with is blissfully unaware, fast asleep.
‘Can I use your phone? Mine won’t turn on,’ says Victoria and I hand it to her so she can message Ed to let him know she will be home soon.
Has he wondered where his wife is or is he also just asleep? Probably. We’re meant to be having a girls’ night out, something we’ve done many times before, something that we always get back late from, a little tipsy, always feeling better for having spent the night together.
When she hands me back my phone, she starts the car and begins to drive as light rain begins to fall.
I watch the dark houses pass in silence and when we are close to our own homes, I know that I have to tell her. I have to tell the truth.