He Will Find You: A nail-biting and emotional psychological suspense for 2018. Diane Jeffrey

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СКАЧАТЬ There are dirty frying pans and utensils stacked up next to the draining board and the tiled floor is filthy. I sneak a peek at Alex, biting my lip. I know how much he likes everything to be tidy, but if the chaos in his kitchen annoys him, he doesn’t show it.

      Jet, who seconds ago didn’t want to let Alex into his own house, is now trying to earn his forgiveness by licking the skin off his hand. Alex pats him on the head.

      ‘What a nice surprise,’ he says to Hannah and Julie. ‘What can I do to help, ladies?’

      Without waiting for a reply, he washes his hands and dries them on the tea towel, which has been draped over the back of a kitchen chair. As he hangs up the tea towel in its place on the hook next to the fridge, he flashes his winning smile at my sister, who is soon issuing him with instructions to chop the onions and set the table.

      I sit down at the table next to my dad, who, half-moon glasses at the end of his nose and pen in hand, is doing the crossword in the newspaper. I observe Alex, Hannah and Julie as they chat and laugh amiably while preparing the meal. I wish I could be as cheerful. All morning, I’ve been feeling as if there’s a snake uncoiling in my stomach somewhere behind Chloe or Liam, its writhing eclipsing the baby’s kicking. For now at least, the snake is dormant. The baby seems to be asleep, too. I haven’t felt it move for a few hours now.

      But last night’s events are still replaying on a confusing loop in my head. I want to discuss what happened with Hannah and Julie. I get my chance after the meal while Oscar, Archie and Daniel are playing football in the garden and my dad is dozing in an armchair in the living room. Alex has gone to pick up our stuff from the hotel, and Julie, Hannah and I are clearing up in the kitchen.

      ‘So, how was last night?’ Hannah asks with an attempt at a lascivious wink.

      ‘Not too much info, please,’ Julie says. ‘You’re my little sister and I’d rather you didn’t fill me in on the details!’

      When I don’t join in their banter, Hannah says, ‘Is something the matter?’

      ‘Well, yes. When we got up to our bedroom, Alex had a kind of … meltdown.’

      ‘What do you mean?’ Julie asks, the smile vanishing from her face.

      ‘He got really angry about the necklace I lost.’

      Only now do I realise I can’t tell them the whole story. The necklace Julie lent me is broken. I can’t tell her that.

      ‘Maybe that’s understandable,’ my sister says. She puts the dishcloth down and turns to face me.

      ‘Yeah, I’m sure he was tired after such an emotional day,’ Hannah agrees.

      If anyone uses the word ‘emotional’ again, I might throw a tantrum myself. I can feel my head moving up and down automatically like one of those toy dogs on the rear shelf of a car. I sit down on a wooden chair.

      ‘What did he say?’ Julie asks.

      ‘I can’t remember his exact words,’ I say, furrowing my brow. ‘He was very upset that I’d lost it and embarrassed that I’d roped you all into searching the house for it. Oh, yeah, then he asked if one my ex-boyfriends had given me Mum’s necklace as a present.’ I sigh wistfully, reminded of the K&K necklace Kevin gave me long ago. ‘Alex fell asleep while I was in the bathroom, so we didn’t get to … you know …’

      Hannah snorts. ‘Sorry! Sorry!’ she says, holding up her hands as though I’m about to shoot her.

      I know what she’s thinking. The same thing occurred to me.

      ‘I’m making a big deal out of this unnecessarily, aren’t I?’

      Now it’s Julie’s turn to do the plastic dog nod. Then she turns back to the sink and starts to wash up a saucepan.

      ‘Aww. Don’t worry, sweetie,’ Hannah says. ‘You’re bound to have a few teething problems.’

      Alex seems to be thinking along similar lines as we get ready for bed that evening. ‘You know, I think we’re coping pretty well with the situation,’ he says. ‘Most couples get to know each other, then they move in together, and if that works out they start to think about getting married and finally they start a family. We sort of did all that at once.’ He grins at me. ‘We’ll get there.’

      I return his smile. It has been a lovely day. Alex has been a hospitable host to my family, and he has been attentive and affectionate to me. So, why do I still have this uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach? Is it groundless fear or gut instinct?

      It all but disappears as we make love that evening. But when it’s over and Alex wraps me in his arms, I realise with a jolt that I haven’t felt the baby move for a while. When was the last time Chloe or Liam kicked? I try to remember. For a few minutes, I rub my stomach, making circular movements, hoping to stimulate the baby. But nothing happens.

      ‘Alex?’

      There’s a grunt in response, but he’s almost asleep. That’s probably just as well. He’d say we shouldn’t have walked home. Perhaps he was right.

      ~

      I sleep through the night, which is unusual for me as I’ve been getting up nearly every night to pee since I found out I was pregnant. I’m surprised I’ve been able to sleep at all, what with worrying about the baby not moving. I must have been very tired from my sleepless wedding night.

      I reach out my hand for Alex, but he’s not there. I’m reminded of the very first morning I woke up – alone – in this strange house. I hear voices from downstairs and wonder if he’s having breakfast with my family. I get up and put my dressing gown on.

      As I am closing the bedroom door behind me, Julie comes out of her room.

      ‘Good morning,’ she says. ‘Did you sleep well?’

      ‘Yes, I did.’ I’m about to ask her the same question, but I hear myself saying, ‘Julie, I haven’t felt the baby kick for a while now. Is that normal?’

      ‘When was the last time you felt it move?’ she asks.

      I have to think about that. I remember the baby was very active while I lay awake all night in the hotel. Was that the last time? No, it wasn’t. My tummy rumbles and it comes to me. It was just before breakfast at the hotel.

      ‘Yesterday morning. It was a very gentle kick, though.’

      ‘Well, that’s only twenty-four hours ago,’ my sister says. ‘The baby could be sleeping or it might have moved into a position that means you can’t feel it dancing about so much.’

      ‘OK,’ I say, but I don’t sound convinced.

      ‘Don’t worry.’ Julie takes my arm and guides me towards the staircase. ‘If you still haven’t felt it move this afternoon, go to the hospital. They’ll set your mind at rest.’ I’m not sure if it’s my big sister or the nurse talking. Either way, Julie’s words don’t put me at ease.

      There’s no sign of Alex downstairs, either. According to my dad, who got up early to walk Jet, he’d said he had an errand to run.

      Alex is gone a long time. СКАЧАТЬ