Page 124 of Love Letters on Hazel Lane

‘Sorry for me? Pah.’

‘Although not sorry enough to stop me reporting you.’

‘I knew that’s what this was about. Bloody Sarah.’

He was speaking more loudly now; not shouting exactly but Jo saw several people glancing round.

He clenched his right fist and thumped the palm of his left hand several times. Jo wondered if he was imagining thumping her.

‘And that damn Scrabble festival,’ he growled ‘That’s how she tracked you down. That bloody game. I never have understood why you’re so obsessed with it.’

‘You’ve never understood me at all, Si. I’m grateful to Sarah. I’m glad she got in touch. I’ll be making a statement to the police. It’s something I should have done a long time ago.’

With that, she stood up and left. Without a backwards glance.

46

‘And he let you have your say?’ said Kate.

‘Eventually. After a few minutes of trying to convince me that it had all been for my own good.’

It was Saturday morning. They were walking through some woodland on the slopes of a steep-sided valley a couple of miles from Hebbleswick. Jo’s initial scepticism had faded now; she had to admit that the combination of exercise and getting outside in the fresh air definitely made her feel better.

In fact, she was feeling fantastic. She had done something she’d fantasised about doing for ages and confronted Si. She’d reported him to the police, who’d been far more sympathetic than she’d expected. There was a chance – although no guarantee – that they might press charges against him. Having statements from two women who’d been married to him – rather than one – might make all the difference, they’d said.

She felt like everything was finally coming together. David had been suitably remorseful when she told him she was leaving Pop! Productions and said he didn’t know how they would manage without her. And best of all, Razz was taking her to a fancy restaurant in Leeds that evening – not too fancy, Jo hoped – to celebrate her new job and the new Scrabble club venue. Jo couldn’t remember when she last felt this good about life. About herself.

‘I wish I could have seen you in action,’ said Kate. ‘And seen evil Si getting his comeuppance.’

‘He hasn’t got his comeuppance yet. In fact, the CPS haven’t decided yet if they’re going to pursue the case. And even if they do, a jury would have to find him guilty. He might still get away with it.’

They reached a stile and Kate went ahead, climbing over first. ‘Yeah, but I bet this has scared him a bit. He’ll think twice before bullying someone again.’

‘Maybe.’ Jo wasn’t too sure. In any case, Si needed therapy rather than a criminal conviction if he was to have any chance of changing his ways. But that was something he needed to realise for himself. And perhaps he never would.

This really was the perfect morning. The leaves were such vibrant shades of green. The river was babbling away below them and a chiffchaff was singing its characteristic song somewhere nearby. The sun was shining and the air was warm; warm enough, in fact, that Jo thought she might soon take the plunge and remove her cardigan.

‘It’s far too nice a day to be talking about my ex,’ she said as they strode along. Rays of sunlight streamed down through the trees, dappling the path ahead of them. Crepuscular, Jo thought, 17 points. Not that you could ever make an eleven-letter word in Scrabble, but if you could, it was a good one.

‘How are things with Matthew from Scrabble speed-dating?’ she said. ‘Are you still seeing him?’

‘A bit,’ said Kate. ‘And he’s lovely but he’s a bit geeky.’

Jo punched her friend gently on the arm. ‘Oi, I’m a bit geeky. And isn’t your friend Emily a bit geeky too? She runs two board game cafés so she’s bound to be. Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with geeky.’

‘No, but I’m not geeky. And I’d rather not date a geeky man. He bangs on and on about computers. He’s even building one. He spends hours on it. I mean, why would you build one yourself when you can pop into Currys and buy one?’

‘Perhaps he enjoys the challenge. So you’re not that keen on him then?’

Kate sighed. ‘That’s the problem. I am. Super keen. I wish he paid me as much attention as he pays his hard drive. I’ve had blokes in the past who were devoted to their mothers, but this one is devoted to his motherboard.’

Jo laughed. ‘Talk to him about it, Kate. Tell him how you feel.’

Listen to yourself, Jo thought, full of relationship advice when you aren’t even in one yourself.

Yet.

But fingers crossed, tonight would go according to plan.