‘Let me get it for you…’
I shake my head. ‘No, thank you. You’ve been marvellous, you really have and I appreciate you looking after me, but I needto pull myself together and get up and about. I’ve got a fractured ankle but that shouldn’t stop me living my life.’
‘Just be careful. You’ve been so depleted. We don’t want you to have another mini stroke.’
‘I won’t. I’ll grab myself a drink then go and have a shower.’
I can feel her eyes on me as I go over to the fridge. Am I imagining it or is there almost an air of panic about her?
I open the fridge, take out the carton of orange juice and pour myself a glass. Then I put the empty carton in the bin. As the lid flips open I see an empty bottle of antihistamine. I frown and turn to Alison. ‘You use a lot of that, don’t you?’
‘Yes, I have a few allergies, luckily not as lethal as Mum’s were.’
A worm of suspicion wriggles into my mind.
Antihistamine can make you feel sleepy. And if you added it to a drink it would probably give it a strange taste. She looked panicky when she saw that I hadn’t drunk my tea or taken my tablets. Has Alison been putting some in my food to make me ill? Or been giving me a stronger strength tablet than I need?
But why would she do that? Why would she want to harm me?
I like Alison, she’s warm and caring, but I don’t actually know her well, do I? We had a few FaceTime calls, and now she’s living in my house, making my food, giving me my medication.
Have all my years of reading Agatha Christie books made me too suspicious or could Alison be responsible for my exhaustion and fatigue?
I have a shower and get dressed, politely but firmly refusing all Alison’s attempts to help me, and go out in the garden. My progress is slow with the walker but I manage it. I need to put some distance between me and Alison. I need to think.
There are so many coincidences. George’s wife died on Lizzie’s school trip, Nick and Alison worked at Arthur’scompany. Alison is a nurse and her contract ended just in time for her to look after me when I had a fall.
Are they coincidences or is something more sinister going on?
45
LIZZIE
Jodie and I sat up quite late talking last night, she listened to all my fears and agreed with my decision to tell Mum, and Nick when he comes back home, everything. ‘It’s the only way you’re going to get closure on this,’ she told me. ‘And they will all understand, no one will blame you for something that happened when you were Isaac’s age.’ She’s used Isaac as an example on purpose, to drive it home that I was very young and didn’t know the results of my perfectly normal childish actions. And she was right.
I’ve just drained my coffee cup the next morning when a message pings in from Mum, telling me that she feels a lot better today and could I pop in and see her at some point.
‘Here’s your chance to tell her everything.’ Jodie reaches across the table and squeezes my hand reassuringly. ‘The kids will be fine with me. You’ll feel a lot better once you’ve got this out in the open.’
I look at her gratefully. ‘I know. Thanks for the pep talk last night and for looking after the kids. Are you sure though? You’ve got your own kids too and Freddie’s being so fretful.’
‘The more people are around the better he is. Besides, Rob will be home after lunch and he’ll help. And no, he won’t mindyou being here,’ she adds, pre-empting my next question. ‘Now get a shower and off you go. You’re doing the right thing.’
So half an hour later, I’m driving to Mum’s house, determined to tell her everything and hoping she will understand. She’s the only one who can help me with this. Thank goodness George is at work so there’s no chance of him overhearing. Of course the whole bloody family might be there, but hopefully we’ll find a way for us to talk alone.
Alison looks surprised when I let myself in. ‘Mum said you were coming, Lizzie, but I wasn’t expecting you so early. She’s in the garden again getting some fresh air,’ she adds.
‘Thanks, I’ll go out to her,’ I say already heading over to the back door. Obviously Mum wants to talk in private, but I doubt if Alison will leave us alone for long.
Mum smiles up at me, and I lean over and kiss her cheek. ‘How are you, Mum?’
‘I’m feeling stronger.’ Her eyes meet mine and I can see urgency in them. ‘I need to talk to you, Lizzie.’
I’m immediately alarmed. What’s so important that Mum needs to talk to me? She does look stronger though, there’s a bit of colour to her cheeks.
‘What is it?’ I ask. She shivers as a breeze blows past. ‘Do you need a blanket?’
‘I’ve got her one. I do think you should come inside, Mum, there’s a nip in the air today,’ Alison says, rushing over to us with a blanket. Having a private conversation with Mum is going to be difficult as my new stepsister obviously intends to stick around.
