AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘What about when I go back to Italy for a few weeks?’ Connie asks. ‘I found out yesterday that Paul cancelled the care worker agency I’d organised to visit her each day, claiming he’ll be looking after her. Some of the neighbours have promised to look out for her. What else can I do?’
‘You’re free to give them my direct line if that might put your mind at rest.’
‘Thank you,’ she says. ‘Do you think I’m wrong to be worried? Is this all in my head?’
I choose my words carefully. ‘Your mum is very fortunate to have someone looking out for her like you are. I see many, many people like Gwen who don’t have anyone on their side. You might not believe this, but she is one of the fortunate ones.’
I rise to my feet but Connie remains where she is, visibly deflated. We say our goodbyes and, as I cross the road outside, I turn to look over my shoulder and catch her through the window. Her head is in her hands.
I desperately hope Connie is wrong and that Paul can be trusted to care for her mum. But my gut instinct tells me she has every reason to be worried. And I hate my job for allowing me to only act on the facts.
CHAPTER 21
CONNIE
‘They’re in a relationship,’ I tell Mary. ‘He has moved his stuff into her bedroom. His clothes, his toiletries. I’m at my wits’ end. I don’t know what to do.’
Our neighbour is literally my last hope. The tears stream down my face as I stand on her doorstep waiting to be asked to come inside. But the invitation doesn’t arrive. Mary is normally friendly, but no more than one rung past a pleasant acquaintance. But today, there’s a coolness about her. She’s curt when she speaks.
‘So it was you who reported them to social services?’ she asks.
I think I’ve misheard. How could she know about that? ‘Pardon me?’
‘Paul told us someone had been sent to interrogate them. And that it was probably you.’
‘Well, yes ... Wait, so you know about him and Mum?’
Mary’s face gives her away. Of course she already knows this. Nothing happens in this village without her then telling everyone about it.
‘It was a very distressing experience for Gwen,’ she says. ‘I saw how scared she was.’
‘When?’ I say.
‘Gwen and Paul dropped by soon after it happened,’ Mary continues. ‘The poor woman was petrified social services were going to take her away and put her in a home. She couldn’t sleep properly.’
I shake my head. ‘No one wants to take her from her home. Paul may just have put that idea in her head because that’s what he does, he manipulates people.’
She and Paul have yet to acknowledge the visit in the thirteen days since it happened. I’d expected it to have slipped out by now, from her though, not him. He’s too clever to make mistakes.
‘Paul brought your mum around here because he knows I don’t judge,’ Mary says. I hold back a snort of laughter. ‘He hoped I could convince her she was safe while they were together.’
‘Which of course you told him was wrong because they shouldn’t be together.’
‘I did no such thing. What people do behind closed doors is their own business.’
‘It’s disgusting!’ I say. ‘You must see that.’
‘Like I say, I’m not one to judge.’
‘But that’s precisely what you’re doing to me. Only, you’re judging me for wanting to protect Mum.’
She folds her arms and I have to stop myself from grabbing her shoulders and shaking some sense into her. It would do no good. Paul has launched his charm offensive and Mary has bought into it. At home his behaviour has been even worse. He has been finding new, subtle ways of creating more distance between her and me. He now does their shopping and washing, he cooks her meals and he’s organised a weekly cleaner, all of which gives me fewer reasons to be at her house. My only role in her life now is as a daughter. And lately, when I appear at her door, I don’t get to see her. He claimsthey’re just about to go out somewhere or that she is napping. On occasions, he doesn’t even bother to answer in person and we speak only through the doorbell camera.
‘What other lies has Paul been telling you?’ I ask Mary.
‘I don’t like to gossip.’
Like hell you don’t, I think. I try a different approach: flattery, like Paul has obviously used on her.
