AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She turned back towards Stacey. ‘How long has this been going on?’
‘Two months,’ Stacey admitted, moving towards her.
‘I just don’t know how you could have kept something so terrifying and creepy to yourself. This is beyond disturbing.’
Stacey took a step closer. ‘Dee, I’m sorry I lied.’
‘Too soon, babe,’ Devon said, stepping out of her way. ‘I need some space. Too many emotions, and I don’t wanna say the wrong thing.’
Devon headed for the hallway and grabbed her jacket.
‘Dee, please, let me explain,’ Stacey begged, following behind.
‘Babe, I know you need my support and understanding, and you’ll get it, but first I’ve got to get some space to blow out the lies and deceit. Something in you couldn’t trust me enough to share this, and I gotta see how that lands.’
Stacey heard the catch in her wife’s voice and understood the level of hurt she’d caused.
She knew there was no point in trying to prevent her leaving, but as Devon reached the front door, Stacey couldn’t hold back.
‘You told me nothing could break us. You said we could put anything back together.’
Devon hesitated in the doorway.
‘Every type of glue needs time to dry,’ she said before closing the door behind her.
FIFTEEN
The conversation with Curtis was still on Kim’s mind when she poured her second coffee from the machine as the clock hit 10p.m. All the way home, she’d been trying to recall any situation where a father and his daughter’s ex-boyfriend had remained so close after the breakup. She couldn’t help wondering if Eric had known all about that weird dynamic. It might have been one of the reasons he hadn’t relished spending time with Teresa’s family, or maybe he really was just a violent bully who liked to smack women around.
‘Okay, boy,’ she said, patting the sofa. ‘Come and tell me all about your day.’
Barney looked at her, looked at the sofa and was about to jump when his ears perked up and he headed for the door.
‘Buddy, you’re losing it. Ain’t nobody visiting at this time of—’
Her words were interrupted by the barking which immediately preceded a knock at the door.
‘Who the hell is that?’ she asked no one as she got up.
She didn’t need to look through the peephole. The figure was recognisable even through the distorted glass panels.
What on earth was he doing here at this time? she wondered, opening the door.
‘Bloody hell, Bryant, shouldn’t you be tucked up in bed with your Horlicks by now?’
‘Hate the stuff,’ he said, stepping past her and offering Barney an apple.
The dog took it to his chewing rug, happy for their visitor to stab her and take all their possessions as long as he’d brought the favoured fruit.
She did a quick assessment in her head as she walked towards the kitchen. Normally, visits to her home, where she was Kim and not guv, were preceded either by them having had words or from her having done or not done something he didn’t agree with but was professional enough not to raise in front of the team.
Ah, there it was. She knew why he’d come.
‘Bryant, I’m not talking to Stacey again,’ she said, taking his mug from the cupboard. ‘I know you’re concerned for her, but after today’s fiasco, it wouldn’t be a welfare chat so…’
‘I’m not here about Stacey. I know you’ve done your best there. We’ll know when we know.’
‘Oh, okay,’ she said, running the rest of the day through her head. Who else had she pissed off?
