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‘No. I can’t go home just yet. My flatmate is entertaining her boyfriend and I told her I would be out until the evening. If you can just take me to…’ she hesitated, wondering where exactly to tell him, then chose the first place that came into her head ‘…the river.’
He shook his head as he eased the car into the flow of traffic, his mouth an uncompromising line. ‘No way. What kind of a fool do you take me for?’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Don’t you? Then let me spell it out for you: there is no way that I am taking you to the river in your state of mind. Understand?’
‘My state of…’ Her face burned with angry colour. ‘I might be upset, but I’m not suicidal! Don’t be ridiculous. Do I look like that sort of a person?’
‘You look like a woman who has just been kicked in the teeth and I know from bitter experience that that can put the craziest thoughts into the sanest person’s head. There is no way I am going to have you on my conscience if you do anything stupid, so the river is out. Think of somewhere else.’ He swung the car down a side-street, slowing as he came to a junction, and Beth gripped hold of her bag as she fumbled for the door-handle.
‘I’m getting out. I’ve had enough today to last me a lifetime and I don’t need you hurling insults to complete the picture!’ She tugged on the latch, but the door refused to open despite her efforts.
‘Save your strength. It’s on a central-locking system. It won’t open until I release it and I have no intention of doing that just yet.’ He took advantage of a gap in the traffic to cross the junction, picking up speed as the road cleared.
Beth sat back and closed her eyes in despair. It was all too much to deal with, this virtual abduction coming on top of the shock of Andrew’s deceit. She just didn’t have the strength to argue any more.
‘Have you thought of some place else you’d like to go?’ The man’s voice was softer now, the deep tones less abrasive, and she felt a ridiculous lump come into her throat. She swallowed hard and shook her head, keeping her face averted. He swore softly and pulled the car into the kerb, then stopped the engine. Beth could feel him watching her, but she refused to look at him, refused to allow another human being to witness the naked despair which must be etched in her eyes.
‘What’s your name?’
She swallowed against the choking lump, her voice muffled when she finally answered. ‘Beth.’
‘Well, Beth, I know this must feel like the end of the world for you right now, but you will get over it in time. It hurts like hell, I know, but the pain will become tolerable after a while.’
She shook her head. ‘It won’t. It isn’t that simple.’
‘It is.’ He took her hands in his, smoothing her cold fingers in a way that was oddly comforting. ‘You’re better off without this guy…what was his name?’
‘Andrew.’ It hurt even to whisper the name, to remember all the other times she’d said it in joy, in love, and a tiny dry sob escaped her lips.
His fingers tightened around hers, warm and hard, but they couldn’t melt the ice that was flowing through her and after another moment he let her go. ‘Look, Beth, I don’t know the full story, but it was obvious from what little I heard that Andrew has been spinning you a line and that you had no idea he was married.’
‘No, none at all. I would never have gone out with him if I’d known.’ It seemed strangely important that he believe her and she opened her eyes at last to look at him. ‘You do believe me, don’t you?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, of course I do. I would have needed to be blind not to see the shock on your face when that woman told you who she was. But can’t you see that you’ve had a lucky escape? I know you’re hurt and upset and that it must feel as though the world has ended, but it’s better to find out the truth in the end than go on living a lie.’
‘I…’ She looked away, staring at the traffic as it drove past where they were parked. So many people going on their way, their lives undisturbed, while here she sat with her life in tatters. It wasn’t fair!
