Christ,he was becoming paranoid. Reminding himself that he didn’t need to feel that way any more, that it didn’t matter where she was or who she was with, he headed back to the hall and opened the front door, sucking in a breath as he stepped into the corridor. Her perfume was cloying. Everything about her had been cloying, he remembered. Their whole relationship had been about her and her needs. Granted, the sex had been difficult to walk away from. It had been spectacular, but it had been just that: sex. No affection. No love. He wasn’t sure she actually knew what love was. For her it was more about possession. Everything had to be done her way or no way. He had no doubt it had been her pulling the strings in her relationship with the hotshot, had the man but known it. He’d obviously woken up to that fact, just as Joe had. She was beautiful, undeniably, potent – and lethal.
Taking the stairs in favour of the lift, which took forever to arrive, he tugged his ringing mobile from his pocket. It was Courtney. He rejected the call. He would get back to her at some point. Meanwhile, if it was urgent, he guessed she’d ring again. He needed not to be at her beck and call, he’d decided, for her sake and definitely for his own. He was about to pocket the phone when it beeped with a text. He checked it and stopped dead.Someone’s broken into the house, he read.
Fuck!Racing to his car, he yanked the door open, threw himself inside and immediately called Sarah back. ‘When?’ he asked as soon as she picked up.
‘While I was out at work,’ she answered shakily. ‘I’ve just picked Ollie up from nursery and …’ She stopped, a sob catching in her throat.
Christ.Joe breathed in hard. ‘Have you called the police?’
‘I’m calling you, Joe,’ she answered, her voice strained. She was trying hard to hold back the tears. ‘I didn’t know what I should do. I wasn’t sure they would come straight away and … I’m scared, Joe.’
‘I’ll call it in now,’ he said. ‘Don’t touch anything. Stay wherever you are and … No, don’t.’ Had she checked all the rooms? There was a possibility someone might still be there, though he tried to reassure himself it was unlikely. ‘Go round to one of your neighbours,’ he instructed, working to keep the panic from his voice. ‘Stay there until I get there. I won’t be long.’
‘Okay. Thanks, Joe,’ she said, her voice small.
Gunning the engine, Joe cursed liberally, wishing to God he could get hold of the bastard who’d done this to her. He’d rip their fucking head off. What thehellwas he doing here? Yes, Courtney had needed support. He didn’t doubt that. But his priority should be Sarah.WasSarah. And he was never bloody there when she needed him.
Forty-Two
Laura
‘Where were you?’ Steve asked the second Laura walked through the front door.
Her heart sank in despair. He was constantly on tenterhooks around her, watching her all the time, treating her as if she were made of glass. Truthfully, she felt as if she was. When she looked at her reflection in the mirror sometimes, it seemed distorted. As if the glass had been shattered and she’d been put back together with part of her missing.
‘Just out walking. I needed some space,’ she answered vaguely. Then, noting his worried frown, she grew irritated. ‘I can’t be answerable for my every move, Steve,’ she snapped. ‘I am capable of looking after myself, you know. I don’t need a bloody chaperone.’
He looked shocked for a second, then he sighed wearily. ‘I never thought you weren’t capable of looking after yourself. I was concerned about you, that’s all.’
‘Butwhywould you be concerned?’ she asked him. Why wasn’t heangry? His life was turning into a catastrophe, and still he tried to be the soul of understanding. What was the matter with him? Did he honestly think he could fix things for her? That in monitoring her moods and her every move, he could make things right? Did he imagine that he could somehow mediate between her and her mother? Hecouldn’tfix this. Didn’t he see?
‘Why are you so caring, Steve? I mean, don’t you sometimes feel frustrated with all of this?’ She eyed him uncomprehendingly. If he would only vent his frustration occasionally, it might allow her to vent hers. Didn’t he realise that?
‘Yes, I’m frustrated,’ he answered, his tone calm. She saw a flash of humiliation in his eyes, though, and that just made her feel worse. He was doing his best, she knew he was, but she couldn’t deal with being constantly watched, frightened to put a step out of place lest he start believing the lies her mother had been feeding him. She couldn’t breathe. ‘I’m not sure it would help the situation if I gave in to it, though, are you?’
‘Nor does interrogating me help the situation,’ she pointed out tersely.
He massaged his forehead. ‘I wasn’t interrogating you, Laura. You’ve been gone a while and …’ He stopped, emitting another heavy sigh. ‘Your mother came here. About an hour ago.’ He looked warily back at her.
‘Right.’ She felt her jaw clench. ‘And I suppose you invited her in for a cup of tea and another cosy chat aboutme.’ She eyeballed him accusingly.
Steve held her gaze. ‘In actual fact, I didn’t let her in,’ he said, clearly working now to hold onto his patience. ‘I told her she wasn’t welcome.’
He’d stood up for her? Laura looked at him in surprise.
‘About what you heard us discussing, your mother and me …’
‘My going for therapy.’ She felt herself tense.
‘Don’t you think it might be worth considering?’ he asked. ‘Family therapy, maybe?’
‘What?’ She baulked. He couldn’t be serious, surely?
‘You and me, I mean,’ he clarified quickly. ‘I know you’ve been before, but it might help.’ He shrugged hopefully. ‘It might be useful for me too. At least then I’d know how I could help you, assuming you want me to.’
Laura had no idea what to say. She was being unfair. She knew she was. He wasn’t interrogating her. He didn’t want anything from her other than for her to be healthy and happy, less troubled. He wanted her to be able to confide in him. He wanted to be able to confide in her. To sleep soundly in his bed without having to worry about finding her wandering about in the garden in the dead of night. A normal relationship was what he wanted. How could he ever have that with her?
‘I don’t want to lose you, Laura,’ he said gruffly, ‘but …’ He shrugged and trailed off pointedly.
