The Forgotten Village. Lorna Cook

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СКАЧАТЬ article was short and fairly tedious and Melissa got up to make a cup of tea, feeling strangely disappointed. One month after they had left Tyneham, Albert Standish had stood down as an MP. Perhaps it was a protest at having his home requisitioned. Perhaps it was just a perfectly normal thing to do, quit when you no longer lived in your own constituency. Perhaps Albert and Veronica had gone to live in London after all, happily ever after.

      She sipped her tea and sat back down on Liam’s terribly stylish, uncomfortable sofa. The article was unsatisfying. There was no mention of Veronica, but then why would there have been? If it wasn’t for the fact that Veronica had looked a bit odd in the photograph, Melissa wouldn’t care that there had been no information about the couple on the boards in the church. Perhaps that was just Veronica’s un-photogenic smile and Melissa was barking up the wrong tree. But no, she knew she wasn’t. She wished she’d taken a picture of the photo on her mobile phone. Remembering Veronica’s face, even a few hours later, was difficult, but it had been fear on her face. Veronica looked utterly frightened, that much Melissa could remember.

      Melissa closed the laptop lid and then looked at her phone again. She tapped her fingers on the table and looked around guiltily. Even though she knew she was alone, she was embarrassed by what she was about to do. Melissa reopened the laptop and when the screen lit up, she typed ‘Guy Cameron’ into the internet search engine and waited for the results to load.

      Then, suddenly, the front door opened and Liam walked in, stopping when he saw her.

      ‘Oh, hi, you’re home,’ he said.

      Melissa jumped. ‘I thought you’d still be surfing,’ she blurted.

      ‘Not today no. Too much wine yesterday. Thought a day out of the sun was wise.’

      The wine. The table for two. And where had he been today if not surfing? Melissa took a breath.

      ‘Listen, Liam, I need to talk to you.’

      ‘Why are you looking him up?’ Liam interrupted, moving closer to Melissa’s computer. ‘That bloke off the telly,’ he clarified.

      Melissa was flustered. She’d not seen Liam long enough to even mention Guy to him. She’d spent two days with another man and hadn’t so much as told her boyfriend where she’d been or who with. She realised now it was also because she’d been worried, not wanting to get into an argument. But it wasn’t like Liam had asked either. She felt even guiltier when she realised the two days with Guy were the nicest days she’d had in ages and certainly the best she’d had on this particular holiday.

      Liam nodded towards the computer screen as a row of attractive, smiling press shots of Guy littered the page. ‘He does those boring history programmes on TV.’

      Melissa looked at the screen. ‘Oh, right, yeah. I wouldn’t know. I haven’t watched any.’ She shut the laptop quickly and turned to face him again.

      He shifted from one foot to the other and she dared a question.

      ‘Where have you been today, Liam?’

      It took her boyfriend of eight months a few seconds to respond.

      ‘You’re right.’ He ignored her question, sinking down on the sofa opposite. ‘We do need to talk. This, us, I’m not sure it’s working anymore,’ he said, looking sheepish.

      ‘You’re seeing someone else.’ It was out of her mouth before she could stop herself. But the moment she said it, she knew it was the truth.

      ‘Shit.’ Liam reddened. His head shot up to meet her gaze. ‘How do you …?’

      ‘For how long?’ Melissa demanded.

      Liam ran his hand through his hair. ‘Don’t take it personally,’ he started.

      Melissa’s eyes widened. ‘What? What do you mean by that?’

      ‘It’s not you,’ Liam started.

      ‘Are you serious?’ Melissa raised her voice. ‘It’s not you it’s me,’ she mimicked. ‘Exactly how long has this been going on?’ she asked again.

      ‘That’s why you shouldn’t take it personally.’ Liam looked at the floor. ‘A while.’

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