Page 16 of The Best Friend
‘Are you sure?’
I nod. I can tell the different between being drunk and eating a piece of dodgy fish. I bite back any further comments. My husband is worried about me. We’ve argued enough tonight. And besides, I know I’m about to have a horribly uncomfortable night ahead.
I spent most of last night throwing up, and most of today lying on the sofa in my dressing gown. I was supposed to be writing my column today, but I can’t get myself motivated so I decide to drag some clothes on and go for a short walk around the block – perhaps a change of scenery will inspire me. Despite the persistent drizzle, this cool, fresh air is exactly what I need. I gulp down lungfuls of the stuff, trying to clear my head and soothe my tender body. Beth will be dropping Joe back home from school in about an hour so I can’t be out for too long. The back roads are quiet, just the wind in the trees and the infrequent hiss of a car cruising by on the rain-slick tarmac.
I decide to head to the local park. I’ll walk once around the field and then head home again. I try not to think about last night. About the fight I had with Jared. He was so sweet to me while I was throwing up, so I can’t stay mad at him.
A woman with two black Labradors strides past me towards the park. She’s wearing a sensible raincoat and wellingtons. The field will most likely be a quagmire. I should have worn boots rather than trainers. Never mind. I don’t care about a bit of mud. I push open the park gate and walk in. The concrete path is covered with wet leaves, and extends along one side of the field, but I ignore it and choose instead to walk on the other side, away from the dogs. I want to be alone.
As my feet squelch through the grass, I gaze up at the trees flanking the park. At the horse chestnuts, oaks and sycamores swaying in the breeze, their soggy leaves swirling down around me, bright against the slate sky. Joe would love it out here in the rain.
Up ahead, someone steps out of the woods. A man. He pauses, scratches his beard, looks right, and then left, in my direction. After a beat, he turns and begins walking purposefully towards me. I stop dead and my skin goes cold.
It’s him again.
Eight
What should I do? Should I turn and run? Or should I carry on walking like nothing’s wrong? What if he means to do me harm? He’s walking towards me, but he’s not looking at me any more, his head is down, his hands jammed into his pockets. I’m not taking any chances. The woman with the dogs is just a blur on the other side of the field. There’s no one else around. And, after my bout of food poisoning, I’m too weak to run or to even attempt to fight anybody off. I spin on my heel and head back the way I came.
I’m tempted to throw a glance over my shoulder, but I daren’t. What if he’s running after me? What if he’s right behind me? My breath is loud and ragged. I can’t hear any footsteps other than the thud of my own heavy feet on the muddy field. I reach the park gate and fumble with the latch. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the man is still a way behind me, walking at a steady pace. He doesn’t appear to be in pursuit. I push my way through the gate, letting it bang behind me, and continue along the pavement. My knee aches and my poor delicate stomach isn’t happy at my hurried pace, but I can’t pause to rest. I have to lose that guy.
Could he have followed me? He came out of the woods so how would he have known I was headed to the park? Or is it all just a crazy coincidence? He could simply be a local guy who I just happen to keep bumping into. I know that’s wishful thinking. I’ve seen him too many times for it to be a coincidence. The way he looks at me, and then quickly turns away again. He’s not subtle. I can’t tell Jared about him – he’ll go mental. Probably want to kill the guy. Should I call the police? Maybe. Probably. I’ll talk to Beth. She’ll know what to do.
The roads are getting busier. The school traffic heavy because of the awful weather. Surely he wouldn’t try anything on a busy street. I must be quite safe by now. I stop and turn. He’s not behind me. Perhaps I was mistaken and it wasn’t even him. No. I know it was him. He had the same sandy beard, the same fisherman’s hat. I would know that man anywhere.
I slow down and give an involuntary shudder. My legs have turned to jelly. It was a mistake to come out this afternoon. I should have stayed at home on the sofa. My body trembles and a clammy trickle of sweat slides down my back. I need to get home.
I’m so shaken up, it takes three attempts to fit my key in the lock. I’m constantly whipping my head from side to side, checking the man is nowhere in sight. Does he know where I live? Has he been watching the house? Now I really do sound paranoid. I push open the door and stumble into the hallway, slamming the door behind me. I kick off my muddy trainers, hang up my coat and pad into the front room. The heavy clouds have darkened the skies, but I don’t switch on the light. Instead, I creep over to the window and swivel the cord to close the venetian blinds. I leave them open just enough to peek through and see what’s happening outside on the rain-drenched street.
My heart thumps. A couple of cars go by. A woman with a flowery umbrella strides past the window. I peer up the road, but no one is there. I stare down the road. My heart stops for a millisecond when I see a man in a hat. I exhale. It’s not him. This man is older, stooped, walking slowly. I can’t see anyone else. No longer drizzling, the rain now falls in sheets. I close the blinds properly and leave the room, turning on the hall light. I should get out of these damp clothes and dry my hair. Beth and Joe will be here soon.
I’m suddenly fighting fatigue. Last night is catching up with me. My empty stomach gurgles, but I dare not eat anything. I tramp up the stairs as a car door slams outside. I pause on the landing. The doorbell rings. I’m still shaking. If that’s Beth with Joe, I need to pull myself together. I can’t let Joe see me like this. I trudge back down the stairs. For a second, I think that it might be my ‘stalker’ at the door. I needn’t have worried – I can hear my sister out there talking to Joe.
I open the door and the wind catches it, slamming it backwards against the wall. Joe hurls himself at me, flinging his skinny arms around my body.
‘Is he okay?’ I mouth at my sister.
She shakes her head and makes a sad face.
‘You coming in?’ I ask.
‘I won’t, thanks. Megan’s in the car. How are you? Feeling any better?’
‘Much better, thanks.’ I want to tell her about the man with the beard, but now isn’t the time. She’s obviously in a hurry and there’s something up with Joe. ‘What’s happened?’ I ask, glancing down at the top of my son’s head.
‘Something to do with invitations,’ she says. ‘I’m not sure. He mentioned it and then clammed up.’
I heave a sigh and give Beth a smile. ‘Okay, well, thanks so much for picking him up.’
‘No probs. Glad you’re feeling better.’ She leaves the shelter of the porch and dashes back to her car.
I wave to Megan through the car window and blow her a kiss, before closing the front door and peeling Joe off my body. ‘How was last night? Did you enjoy your sleepover with Tyler?’
‘Mm. I s’pose.’
‘Want something to eat?’ I ask.
He shrugs.
