‘No thanks, love, I’m fine. George has made sure of that.’
‘Great. Goodnight, both. See you in the morning.’ Alison blows us a kiss and closes the door behind her, then I hear her going up the stairs.
‘Are you positive you’ll be okay down here?’ George asks as he helps me into bed. ‘You can manage going to the loo by yourself?’
‘Definitely,’ I tell him. ‘Now off you go.’
He gives me a big hug and a kiss, reminding me to phone him if I need him, and goes off to bed. I lie for a while going over the events of last night.
I’ve never felt dizzy like that before. Alison said it must be the stress of the wedding but I hadn’t felt stressed. The weddingwent really well and everyone got on great. Lizzie was a bit strange though, she seemed awkward around Alison. Whereas Nick was the opposite and chatted away. Especially to Alison. Like tonight.
I think back to last night. George had to remind me to take my blood pressure tablet. I was sure I’d taken it in the morning, but then I was busy getting ready for the wedding. Is that what caused me to go dizzy, because I didn’t take it at the right time? Although the doctor at the hospital had said my blood pressure was low – which was unusual. It doesn’t make sense.
I close my eyes as weariness comes over me.
14
Well, that was easier than I thought it would be, I think to myself as I sit in my room this evening, my mind going over the events of last night. It’s so satisfying when a plan starts to come into place. You plot and scheme, try to think of all the things that could go wrong, wonder if you can pull it off. Then bingo! It’s working.
There’s a long way to go, of course. This is only the first stage but I can’t believe how easy it’s been. How gullible she is. They all are.
I get my list up on the notes app on my phone and scan it, although the next stage is imprinted in my mind. I almost started to put it in action today, but I know that I have to take my time and not rush things.
It all has to appear believable, logical. I don’t want any probing or asking questions. As much as I’m longing to rush in and get it all over, now I have to be patient and continue building up trust. I’m going to make her pay for what she did, rip apart her family like she did to mine. I know she was a child. That’s no excuse.
I bet she’s forgotten all about it, got on with her life, never giving a thought to what she took away from me. Well, see how she feels when I take away everything she loves.
MONDAY
15
LIZZIE
‘Is Nanny’s foot better?’ Isaac asks the next morning as we set off for school.
‘Not yet, it will take a little while but Aunty Alison is looking after her and I’m going to see her when I’ve dropped you off at school.’
‘I want to see Nanny too,’ Grace protests.
‘You can in a couple of days, darling. I tell you what, when you come home tonight why don’t you both make her a Get Well card and I’ll take it around to her tomorrow. She will love that.’
‘I’m going to put hearts on mine,’ Grace says.
Isaac rolls his eyes. ‘Girls!’
‘You can do whatever you want. Nanny will love it.’ She will too, Mum adores Isaac and Grace. ‘Now let’s get into the car or we’ll be late.’
After dropping the kids off I stop at the supermarket to get a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates then go to see Mum. I’m a bit disappointed to see Alison’s hire car parked in the drive, I was hoping to get some time to chat to Mum alone. Never mind, it’s a good thing someone is with her, she must still be a bit unsteady on her feet, I remind myself.
I search in my bag for the door key then remember that I gave it to Alison, so I ring the bell. It doesn’t work. Frustrated, I knock on the door. No one comes. I knock again. It takes a while before Alison opens the door, and she looks surprised to see me. ‘Oh hello again, Lizzie. You’re an early bird.’
‘I came straight from dropping the kids off at school,’ I reply.
She looks at the flowers. ‘They’re beautiful. Are they for Mum? I’ll make sure she gets them.’
She’s blocking the door. I’m not sure if it’s on purpose, but I hand her the flowers. ‘No, they’re for you, to thank you for looking after Mum.’
Her eyes widen in surprise and as she takes a step back, I squeeze past her into the hall. ‘I’ve got a box of chocolates for Mum, to cheer her up,’ I say as she closes the door behind me. ‘By the way, the bell doesn’t work.’
