‘I regret to inform you, we are here to repossess your property.’
I stumbled backwards. ‘Is this a joke?’
‘I assure you, madam, this is a serious attempt to recover the monies owed by one Robert Simmons. Two-million-three-hundred-and-fifty thousand pounds, to be exact.’
‘What? I don’t understand?’
‘We have sent numerous communications informing you of this course of action.’
‘But I haven’t heard anything. What communications?’
‘Letters.’
‘But I haven’t seen any letters!’
‘I assure you, your husband is fully appraised of the situation. We require your permission to enter the property. However, youshould be aware that if you refuse to comply with the court order,’ the man held a piece of paper aloft, ‘then we shall be forced to call in the police for support.’
My mouth opened and closed like the tropical fish Rob kept in a tank in his office.Police?I pictured Jasper turning up on my doorstep in a course of action which would mortify us both. ‘It’s fine, come in.’
‘Thank you, madam. I appreciate your compliance.’
‘Sorry, but could you explain what this means?’
‘It means you’ll need to vacate the house as soon as possible.’
‘Can I take anything with me?’
‘As long as it’s nothing of any value.’
I pushed down an inappropriate desire to laugh. Value? It looked as though Rob had already cleared anything out of value and left me and Bertie with the dregs. ‘I’ll pack some bags.’
‘Thank you.’
As I packed up whatever would fit in the two suitcases Rob had left, my eyes remained dry. I was on autopilot, wandering around the house as though in a dream, or having worked through a bottle of red. ‘I think I’m done,’ I told the bailiff, heaving my suitcases towards the door.
‘Thank you. I’ll need to take any house keys you have, and also those for your car.’
‘My car?’
The bailiff studied his clipboard. ‘Yes, I’m afraid so. The car is registered to your husband, and therefore forms part of our inventory.’
My chest filled with a cold wave of fear. What could I do without a car? How would I be able to pick Bertie up from school? My breath quickened as I handed over the keys to my life. The bailiff closed the door behind me, and I stood in our driveway, trying to unscramble the mass of thoughts swirling through my mind. Cass. I needed Cass.
‘Hey, how’s it going?’
The sound of my sister’s voice loosened something inside me, and I choked on my words.
‘Oh my God, Liv. Are you OK? What’s happened?’
‘I… Rob… I need to see you. Are you at work?’
‘No, I’m on the night shift, so home all day.’
‘Could… could… you help me out with a taxi fare if I come to yours?’
‘Of course, but, Cass, you’re scaring me. Please tell me what’s going on. Is it Rob? Have you two split up?’
‘I’ll tell you when I see you,’ I said, hanging up the phone. Had me and Rob split up? There was plenty of evidence to suggest we had, but as his phone had gone to voicemail during my repeated attempts to call him in the past hour, there was no way of knowing what was going on.
