The Girl I Used to Be(77)
When I heard my phone beep a second later I expected it to be a quick reply from Joe, but it was a message from Jack.
I’m sorry if I upset you, he wrote. I feel awful about that. It’s just that he was one of my best friends. About that guy—I’ve just found my old hockey fixtures. His name is David Henderson.
I felt a flash of victory at discovering David’s real name. I replied immediately: Did you see him at the party? I know he’s in the photo, but did you notice him there?
No, he replied. I didn’t notice him there at all. I would have wondered why he was there and said something to Alex.
If he had, none of this might have happened.
Desperate to speak to Rachel, but knowing she couldn’t receive a call from me at home, I sent her an e-mail she’d get at work the next day.
Rachel, I need to talk to you. Can you call me as soon as you get this? Make sure nobody can overhear you.
FIFTY-EIGHT
GEMMA
Thursday, August 17
I DIDN’T SLEEP that night. How could I? I had a long bath to try to calm myself down, but hours later, my heart was still pounding.
I didn’t get out of bed until nine A.M. the following morning. I was expecting Rachel to call me, but my phone was quiet. I had a quick shower, taking my phone into the bathroom with me, but she didn’t call. I tried to rationalize it: She’d call when things were quiet. They’d be having the morning meeting, and then she’d say she was going out to view a property and she’d call me from her car, I knew it.
I looked terrible that morning and my mum wanted me to stay in bed, but I was too agitated for that. Instead she said she and my dad would take Rory out for the day.
“Unless you want us to stay with you?” she asked. “I think one of us should. What do you think?”
I needed to have that conversation with Rachel in private, so I refused.
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’ll catch up on a box set or something and just stay on the sofa all day.”
Eventually they left, with worried glances at me as they drove off. I breathed a sigh of relief. As soon as their car had disappeared, I was on the phone to the office.
“Hey, Gemma,” said Lucy. “How’re you feeling?”
“Okay, thanks. It’s nice to be with my mum and dad.”
“I bet. It’s good for you to have a rest. But you’re missing out on something here,” she said. “That postman—you know, the surfer guy—has only gone and asked Sophie on a date.”
Despite myself, I laughed. “Oh, I wish I’d been there. I bet she’s bouncing off the ceiling, isn’t she?”
“She hasn’t shut up about it,” she said. “He only asked her half an hour ago and I’ve already got a headache.” She lowered her voice. “Are you all right? You sounded upset the other day.”
“I’m fine, thanks. I just got so tired and I thought if I went to my mum’s she’d look after me.”
She laughed. “I bet she’s thrilled you’re there.”
“Yes, she is. Lucy, I need to talk to Rachel. Is she there?”
“She’s chasing a mortgage offer for Mrs. Davies at the moment, but I’ll get her to call you as soon as she’s free.”
* * *
*
IT WAS HALF an hour later before Rachel called back. She sounded subdued. I could hear traffic in the background and guessed she was in the car park, out of sight of the office.
“It’s me,” she said. “Is everything okay?”
“I need to talk to you. Do you have time now?”
“Not really,” she said. “I’ve got Mrs. Johnson coming by in ten minutes and I need to make a phone call before then.”
I couldn’t tell her then. I just couldn’t. I dithered, not knowing what to do. She needed to know David was at the party, but how was I going to tell her when she was either at work or at home with him?
“Is everything all right?” I asked.
“I’ve decided to sell my mum’s house. I can’t use our office to sell it, though. I hope you understand.”
“Of course. Of course you can’t do that. Don’t even think about that. I didn’t realize you hadn’t sold it.” I hesitated. “How long has it been empty?”
“About ten months. My mum died last October. I’ve not been there since. I went away to France with David for a month after she died—it was our honeymoon—and then I moved to Chester.”
“It’ll be a lot of work, won’t it, sorting everything out? We can help you, Rachel,” I said. “Me and the girls in the office. You don’t have to deal with it on your own.”
She gave a strangled “Thanks,” then said, “I have to go,” and the call ended.
* * *
*
LATER THAT MORNING I got an e-mail from Rachel.
Sorry. Mrs Johnson was walking toward me so I had to go.
Instantly I replied:
I need to talk to you. Something’s come up. It’s really important.
Within ten minutes my mobile rang.
“It’s me, Rachel. I’m having an early lunch break. What’s happened?”