How could Nick have anything to do with that? Dad was supposed to be away at a conference, he’d come back for his notes and for some reason had decided to photocopy something.
That mystery messenger is trying to cause friction between us. Maybe that’s what all this is about, everything that’s happened, it’s as if someone is trying to push us apart.
Could it be Alison? Does she still hold a torch for Nick? I accept that I was wrong when I thought she was trying to get her own back on me for her mother’s death. Wide of the mark, in fact. But there had been something between her and Nick all those years ago, and she’s alone, no real family. And she’s admitted that she was over-pally with Mum because she wanted to be part of the family. Maybe she sees our happy life and wants the same. Maybe she wants to take Nick from me.
I decide to talk to Nick about it tonight, show him the message. Whatever is going on I have to be strong and face it, for our kids’ sake.
When Nick comes in a little while later he looks agitated.
‘Where did you get to?’ I ask.
‘Just for a walk, I needed to clear my head.’
It doesn’t look as if he’s cleared his head. He looks really strained. ‘Want a cappuccino?’ I ask, filling up the water tank of the coffee machine.
‘Yes, please.’ He nods. ‘I’ll pop up and say hello to the kids.’
When he comes back down I pass him his coffee, and we both take our mugs into the lounge. I wonder what Nick would say if I told him about the text. We said we wouldn’t have any more secrets from each other, and here I am, keeping another one. If I don’t show him and he finds out later, he will think I didn’t tell him because I believed it.
I don’t. Do I?
I study him thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on his cup. Then I reach for my phone and open the message. ‘This came when you were out. It’s from a withheld number.’ I hold it out so he can read it.
He slowly lifts his head and his eyes shoot to my phone screen. They widen and the colour drains from his face. ‘What the hell? Who sent this?’
‘I don’t know, but it’s someone who has my number. I wasn’t sure whether to tell you but we said no secrets.’
He looks really shaken up. ‘I don’t know what’s going on here, Lizzie. Why would anyone say such a terrible thing? Especially now, your dad’s been dead nine years.’
‘It’s one thing after another since Mum and George got married. I feel like our life has been turned upside down,’ I tell him.
He runs his hand over his face. ‘You think it’s connected? But if it is, who’s responsible for this and what are they hoping to achieve?’
I consider it. ‘If you think about it, it’s only been since Alison came back from Spain that all this has happened.’ I chew my bottom lip. ‘You don’t think she still fancies you, do you, and she’s trying to split us up? Has she made a pass at you?’
‘God no,’ he says emphatically. ‘Honestly, Liz, it was one night years ago. A sort of goodbye thing. Alison went off abroad and I never saw or heard from her again until the wedding. I had no idea she was George’s daughter.’
I believe him. ‘Well, someone is trying to cause trouble. First that receipt in your coat pocket and now this.’
Nick reaches out and squeezes my hand. ‘We can’t let them, Lizzie. We need to stick together.’
‘You’re right.’ I nod. ‘We have to find out who’s doing this, Nick. We don’t know how far they will go. They’ve sneaked into our house…’ I shudder at the thought that we might all be in terrible danger.
Suddenly my phone rings and we both jump with shock. I look down at the screen. It’s George.
‘I hope nothing else has happened to Mum.’ I press answer, and George’s voice says shakily, ‘I thought I’d better tell you, love. Alison has had an accident.’
62
LIZZIE
‘Oh my God! Is she okay? What happened?’ I ask, my voice shaking.
‘Lizzie? What is it?’ Nick has got up now and is standing by me. I put George on loudspeaker so Nick can hear too.
‘She went out for a walk earlier and didn’t return home. Later, we had a call to say that someone found her by the garages, lying on the floor unconscious. It looks like a heel of her shoe broke, causing her to trip, and she hit her head on a brick. She’s all right, apart from a few bruises. She isn’t hurt but she has mild concussion, so they want to keep her in for observation, at least overnight.’
I can’t take it in. Another thing that’s happened that’s an accident. It’s all too much of a coincidence.
