Page 18 of The Wife
‘She looked like your sister?’
I nod. ‘The spitting image.’
‘Oh, love.’ Celia comes and puts an arm around me, giving me a brief, comforting squeeze before sitting back down. ‘Did you stop the car? Speak to her?’
‘That’s the thing.’ I clasp my hands behind my head and push out a breath. ‘I wasn’t concentrating on the road, and that’s when I drove into the car in front. The driver was livid; it was a brand new car.’
‘Oh you poor thing.’ She gets up again. ‘Let me finish making us that coffee. I’ll put some sugar in yours.’
‘So by the time I’d exchanged details with the other driver, my sister had gone. I’m so annoyed with myself for not going straight after her.’
‘Did she see you?’
‘No, at least I don’t think so. Although the crash was quite loud, so I suppose she might have looked over. But even if they did see the crash, they didn’t stick around. As soon as I could get away, I scoured the roads nearby, but there was no sign of her or the man she was with.’ I let out a frustrated growl. ‘Why did I have to go into the back of that car?’
‘No good worrying about that now. What’s done is done. Have you told Toby yet?’
‘No, I came straight here. I think I should call the police, tell them there’s been a possible sighting of my sister.’
‘Good idea. But, Zoe…’
‘What?’
‘Try not to get your hopes up too much. I remember what it was like back when she went missing. I don’t want you going through that stress again.’ She brings our drinks over to the table.
‘Thanks, Celia.’
‘Do you want to give the police a ring now, while I’m with you?’
‘I could, but I think I’d rather go to the station in person. I think they might take it more seriously if they talk to me face to face.’
‘Shall I come with you?’
‘I don’t want to put you out. I think I’ll just have this coffee and then pop down there.’
‘It’s okay, I’m not working until this afternoon. I’ll come along with you. Unless you want to be on your own? Don’t want to be a pushy mother-in-law!’
‘Don’t be daft. That’s the last thing you are.’
‘Good, that’s settled then.’
We finish our drinks in record time and Celia peers out the window. ‘Looks like it’s going to pour down any minute; we should take the car. Shall I drive? You probably still feel shaky after your prang.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Wouldn’t have offered otherwise.’ She pats my arm. ‘Come on.’ I follow her into the hall, where she pulls on a pair of tan leather ankle boots and grabs her raincoat off the bannister.
We slide into her car just as the first heavy spots of rain begin to splat onto the windscreen. ‘Thanks for doing this, Celia.’
‘It’s no problem at all, love. How are the plans for the party going?’
My shoulders drop. ‘Slow. There’s so much still to organise and not much time to do it. Especially now that…’ I tail off.
‘What? What is it?’
I find myself explaining about how Madeline has been acting strange around me – cancelling my nieces coming over at the weekend and snubbing me. I was planning to tell Celia about Toby meeting up with Madeline in our house, but when it comes to it, I can’t quite find the words. At the end of the day, Celia’s his mother. And part of me feels ashamed that this has happened, even though I know it’s totally irrational to feel that way. Also, if there does turn out to be an innocent explanation, then it will look like I don’t trust my husband.
‘Are you sure you’re not reading more into this than there actually is?’ Celia glances over at me as she pulls out of the driveway. ‘You do seem quite tense lately, Zoe. Which is absolutely not surprising given the stress of Christmas and work and the party. But maybe it’s like Madeline said and she was only thinking of you – taking some of the pressure off so that you could have a clear weekend.’
