He turned around and placed his firm hands on her shoulders. ‘What’s going on, Cherie? You can talk to me.’
A thud came from above and Cherie wiped the tears that had spilled from her eye. She hadn’t told anyone about the tablets, and she hadn’t wanted to. ‘I just keep getting these moments where I can’t breathe, like when I’m in the shops or sometimes when I’m working. I need to get out or I feel as though I might die.’ He dropped one of his hands and squeezed her shoulder a little. ‘Tonight, I sat in the car staring at the fields from a layby. I needed to think.’ Some of that was true. She gazed up into his eyes.
‘You should have said something. I can do more. I could have gone shopping or if you need time alone, you can always go up to bed or take a walk while I occupy the kids. You love lying in the bath, maybe you could try that. You love reading, maybe you should do that more. But don’t shut me out.’
She gripped him in a tight embrace until the ceiling lampshade began to shake.
‘Come on.’ He kissed her on the nose and stroked her damp brown hair. ‘The kids are coming down and you need to dry off before you catch a chill.’
Bella and Oliver burst through the kitchen door. ‘Where were you, Mum? You were meant to help me with my homework.’ Bella opened the snack cupboard. The ponytail on the top of her head was tufted like a black pineapple top.
Oliver began picking through the shopping bags before pulling his earphones off and looping them around the back of his neck.
‘Hey, you two. It’s late.’ Cherie grabbed the crisps from Bella and threw them back into the drawer. ‘I’m sorry about your homework, kiddo. Maybe I can help tomorrow.’
‘It’s okay. Dad helped me with it. I’m hungry.’
‘No you’re not, we had dinner not long ago.’ This was the chaos Cherie was struggling to cope with. Her face began to heat up and she felt her breath quicken. She was either going to shout at them or cower and cry.
Christian could see her angst. ‘Come on, kids. It’s gone nine. I want you both in bed. Go up and I’ll be there in a minute to say goodnight.’ He smiled at Cherie.
Again, she could see that he was trying so hard.
They all stopped as the security light on the drive flashed on, followed by three loud thuds on the door.
‘Don’t answer it.’
‘What?’ Christian hurried across the kitchen floor and into the hall. After removing the chain, he called back, ‘There’s no one there.’
She ran to the window and stared out. The row of houses opposite were displaying nothing unusual, then three faces clad in green and bloodied make-up appeared at the window. Her heart began to thrum as blood pulsated around her body.
‘Brilliant,’ Christian called out as the teenagers shouted trick or treat. ‘Did you buy any sweets when you were out?
Bella and Oliver ran to the front door.
Cherie almost slid on the floor tiles as she ran and slammed the door closed. ‘Go away! Leave us alone,’ she yelled as she leaned against the closed door.
‘You’re overreacting. They’re just kids having fun.’
‘Mum. I wanted to see their costumes.’ Bella tried to push through to open the door.
‘Get to bed. Get to bed, now.’
‘But, Mum’ Oliver whined, his bottom lip protruding.
The hallway began to sway a little. She undid the buttons of her coat and began to gasp.
‘Mum can’t breathe. Mum.’ Bella pushed through and held her mum’s hand.
‘She’s okay, kids. Just go up. We’ll be there in a minute.’ Christian kissed his children on the head and ushered them away.
Bella let go of her mother’s hand and followed her brother back up the stairs.
‘Come on, love. It’s okay. Just breathe.’
Chants of trick or treat came from the other side of the door. The kids outside opened up the letterbox and began feeding a worm on a piece of paper through the gap.
Cherie gasped as she ran under the stairs and cowered in the corner. ‘Make them go away.’
