Silent Victim(70)

‘Mummy had a knife. She was going to get the bad man.’ Jamie raised his hand in a stabbing motion, filling me with terror. Any remnants of doubt dissipated in that second. I needed to get Jamie away and fast. I checked my watch. Soon she would be logging into the school webcam to check that he was there. ‘Did you see anyone apart from Mummy last night?’ I asked, the response being a quick shake of the head. ‘I think she just had a scary dream,’ I reassured him.

‘Playing with knives is dangerous,’ Jamie said, repeating a phrase I had drummed into him many times before.

‘That’s right,’ I said. ‘Mummy was very naughty, and she won’t be doing it again. But she feels very bad for frightening you, so perhaps we won’t talk about the knife any more. Now, what say we get you dressed for Nanny? She can’t wait to see you.’

I quickly flung our belongings into a suitcase. I could come back for the rest later, when I had Jamie safely tucked away. Mum was only too pleased to help. Not that I could tell her everything. Within half an hour Jamie had eaten and the packed cases were in the hall. I took one last glance around the house I had dreamed about leaving. I had never envisioned it would end like this. I found a piece of paper and scribbled a note.

Emma,

I’ve taken Jamie to Leeds for a break. Theresa knows everything. She will help you to sort yourself out. When you’re feeling better, you can follow on, but right now some time apart would do us all good. Jamie said you had a knife last night, and that you left him alone because you were going to stab someone. Is this really how you want your son to see you? You need to face facts. You need help.

I’ll call you later. Please, for the sake of our marriage, see a doctor. I know everything and I’m willing to work through this. But you have to make the first step.

Love,

Alex

After strapping Jamie in the back seat of the car, I dialled my mum’s number. ‘Hi, it’s me,’ I said, trying to sound happier than I felt.

‘Oh? You don’t usually call me this early. Everything all right?’

I smiled. That was my mum, straight to the point. I imagined her with a cuppa and a magazine in front of the television, waiting for Loose Women to start.

‘Not really, but it’s nothing to worry about. Listen, would you be able to put Jamie and me up for a few days? I’m leaving now.’

Her demeanour brightened. ‘Of course, I’d love to. There’s lots of room here.’

It was true; Mum still lived in my childhood four-bedroomed home. ‘I thought you’d say that. Hopefully, there won’t be any traffic hold-ups. We’ll probably stop for a break along the way, but if I leave now I should be with you by around two.’

‘Wonderful. Just enough time for me to pop out and get some shopping. I know how much Jamie loves his ice cream.’

‘Don’t go to any trouble, Mum, and not too much junk for Jamie. He’ll be bouncing off the walls.’

I could sense her hesitation on the other end of the line. ‘And Emma . . . is she coming too?’

I peeped in through the car window at Jamie, who was no doubt listening to my conversation. Leaning against the door, I briefly turned my back to him. ‘Maybe later. We’ve had a bit of a falling out. Listen, Mum; I’ll explain everything when I get there. I have Jamie strapped in the car, and we’re ready to leave. Can you do me a favour?’

‘Of course,’ she said.

‘If Emma rings, say you’ve not heard from me. The last thing I want is her turning up on your door.’

‘OK, but I’d like to know why—’

‘She’s not been well,’ I interrupted. ‘Problems with her nerves.’ I was speaking on my mum’s level now. It was a phrase she had used many times before. ‘If she knocks on the door I don’t want you to answer it. She’s not thinking clearly. I don’t want you to let her in.’

‘Really, I can’t do that, turn my back on my daughter-in-law,’ Mum scoffed. ‘Surely we can sort this out.’

‘We will sort it out, but you have to promise me. Don’t answer the door to her, or anyone you don’t recognise.’

‘Very well,’ she said. ‘But I want to know everything that’s been going on.’

‘You will,’ I said, not necessarily meaning it. Some truths were too horrific to deal with. I opened the car door and climbed in. It was time to walk away.





CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

EMMA





2017


‘Sometimes it’s not so much you choosing the dress as the dress choosing you,’ Josh said, sounding like a natural. I watched through the crack in the door from the back of the room as he coaxed our newest client.

‘We have lots of different types to select from,’ he said. ‘Silhouette, A-line, fitted, flared, you name it, we’ve got it. You’ve a figure that’s crying out for a fitted dress.’ He looked the woman up and down with the eye of someone who knew what they were talking about. ‘Then you have waistlines to consider . . .’ Material rustled as he worked his way through the hangers. ‘We have Empire, natural or asymmetrical. Then you have to decide which neckline you want – halter, strapless, sweetheart or V-neck.’

‘Gosh, I didn’t know there was so much to take into account,’ the young woman’s mother said. Josh dazzled them with a smile, acting like an old hand. ‘Some people just like to come in and pick something off the hanger, but we like to look for the wow factor, something that will blow people away. A lot of our gowns are preloved, but they’re all bang on trend. Take this rail, for example,’ he said, flashing his potential bride a smile. ‘We’ve got glamorous to simple, sparkly to vintage and everything in between. I could keep going, but I think the best thing to do is to try on some fitted dresses and see where you go from there. The wedding’s not for another nine months, is that right?’ he asked, and the young lady responded with a nod of the head. ‘Well, you don’t look like someone whose size fluctuates so at least we don’t have to worry about lots of alterations.’