AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Okay.’
I see Sarah to the door and give her a hug.
‘I’ll let you know how he is,’ she says, before I close the door.
And I can tell – despite what I’ve just told her – that she’s still wondering why I appear not to care.
I’ve just finished brushing my teeth when Sarah texts.
He didn’t answer. No lights on. I can’t tell if he’s there. His car’s still on the drive, but that doesn’t mean much as he hasn’t been driving since the attack. Messaged him again but no reply. Can you check on him in the morning?
How can I possibly tell Sarah that there’s no way I want to walk into that house if Max is in there? That I would be walking into a trap? I sit staring at my phone for a moment, starting and deleting messages before I settle on one:
Yes
TWENTY-ONE
Poppy grips my hand tightly as I walk her to school. Traffic on Fulham Palace Road was slow-going, and the only place I could park the car was at my house. The blinds were closed, and Max’s car sat outside, exactly where it was when I followed him to that flat in Wimbledon.
Poppy had cried when she saw the house, begging to go inside to see Daddy, so I had to tell her he was away for a few days. She’d taken that well, and started suggesting all the places Max could be taking a holiday.
‘Myah’s mummy and daddy aren’t together either,’ she says, as we approach the school gates. ‘And she said it’s nice having two homes. She gets to spend loads of time with her daddy. Will I, too?’
I pull her close to me and wrap my arms around her. ‘That’s the plan,’ I say. I long to tell her that of course she will. More than she ever has before; because isn’t that the way it should be? But I won’t make her that promise when there’s no way it will happen. Not with everything Max is guilty of. And once I’ve paid the money and spoken to that man, I’ll have everything I need to go to the police.
‘Can we stay at home now?’ she asks. ‘If Daddy isn’t there? Please, Mummy!’ Tears stream down her cheeks, and it feels as though my heart is being wrenched from my body. I hug her tightly, and tell her I can’t promise anything, but I’ll try my best to see if there’s a way to do that.
And now my own tears blur my eyes as I watch her trot through the gates, her bunches swinging. She turns around and waves, and I blow her a kiss, waiting until she’s disappeared before I rush away. I don’t want anyone asking me if I’m okay.
I walk home, though my house no longer feels like my own. I promised Sarah I’d check on Max so I have no choice now. Besides, I don’t think he ever planned to hurt me himself, otherwise that man in the silver Golf would never have shown up in my life.
I pull out my key and open the door, calling his name. Most of the time it’s obvious when houses are empty, and I know it now as soon as I step inside.
In every room, I open the blinds, taking in every detail. Max’s slippers tucked under the sofa, where he always leaves them. The books on the coffee table neatly placed. Everything is tidy, exactly where it should be.
It’s the same in the rest of the house. And there’s nothing in the kitchen sink or the dishwasher. Upstairs, the bed is made, and all of Max’s clothes hang in the wardrobe.
But downstairs, his coat, wallet and keys are missing. So, too, is his laptop.
I pull out my phone and call Paula. It rings for so long that I’m about to hang up when she finally answers.
‘Hannah. Hello.’ Her voice is laced with impatience.
‘I’m sorry to bother you, but have you heard from Max?’
‘Not since he came into work the other day. Why? What’s happened?’
‘No one’s heard from him, and it looks like he didn’t sleep at home last night.’
There’s no response, other than a deep sigh. ‘Is he with someone?’
‘I don’t know. But I’ve left him, so I’m not worried about that. Poppy needs to know where her dad is, though.’
There’s a pause. ‘If I hear from him, I’ll let you know. I have to go now – I’m in the office about to go into a meeting.’
We end the call, and I notice it’s nearly half past nine. I should have been in the shop well over half an hour ago, and I still need to get to the bank. I message Cole to tell him I’m running late but I’m on my way.
I feel like a criminal standing in line at the bank. Silently I remind myself that it’s my money, and I’m free to do with it what I like. But that does little to ease my anxiety. I prepare myself to be interrogated, but to my surprise, the young bank teller barely raises an eyebrow. I have all of my identification, and within minutes the money is in an envelope inside my bag.
