Nova

Nova watched as Arthur bowed his head and let out a long, low wail.

Without stopping to think, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. This seemed to trigger something in Arthur, and he began sobbing, his whole body shaking. Nova didn’t say anything and just held him as he cried.

“I’m sorry,” he gulped after several minutes. “I haven’t cried since the day it happened so…” He trailed off, hiccupping.

“Please, don’t apologize. Believe me, I know how you feel right now.”

“I’m sorry about lying to all of you; I just wasn’t ready to admit she was gone. I still talk to her at home and imagine her replies in my head.”

“That’s completely understandable, Arthur. You and Esi have been together for so long.”

“I kept promising myself I’d tell people soon, but the longer it went on, the harder it’s become.”

“Does anyone know the truth?”

“A few, but no one at the community center, and I liked it that way. I could come down here and carry on going to my Carers Support Group and the book club, and everyone assumed Esi was still alive. While I was here, I wasn’t a widower grieving the loss of his wife but just plain old Arthur. That makes me sound like a fraud, doesn’t it?”

“Of course not. It makes you sound like a man who lost the love of his life and has been in shock.”

“It’s why I read the romance books too,” Arthur said, wiping his eyes with the back of his sweater sleeve. “When I started reading them to Esi, I thought they were so daft. But over the years, I’ve come to love them as much as she did. And now I read them as a way to stay connected with her. When I’m with the Bridgertons or any of her other favorite books, it’s like she’s still here with me.”

“Oh Arthur, I understand. I still wear my red coat because it makes me feel close to my dad.”

He smiled, his eyes bloodshot from crying. “I know I need to tell everyone the truth. It’s not like the lie’s going to bring Esi back, however much I want it to. I have to start being honest with people.” He exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. “I’m sorry. We were here to talk about your wedding, and I’ve just sobbed all over you.”

He pointed at the damp patch on her shoulder and Nova smiled.

“That’s okay. But let me find you a tissue.”

She stood up and began to look round the office. There was always a box on Sandy’s desk, but given all the recent upheaval, it looked like she’d used them all up.

“Hang on, Lauren usually has a pack.”

Nova opened her colleague’s drawer but there were none there. Then she spotted Lauren’s coat hanging on the hook.

“Excuse me,” she said, reaching past Arthur and putting her hand in Lauren’s pocket. Sure enough, she felt the familiar plastic of a tissue pack and pulled it out. As she did, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. Nova handed Arthur a tissue and then reached down to pick up the paper. She was about to put it back in Lauren’s pocket when she spotted what was written on it and stopped.

“Everything all right?” Arthur asked.

“Yes, fine. It’s just…Why does Lauren have my computer password written down in her pocket?”

“I don’t know. Did you give it to her?”

Nova shook her head, trying to work out why this was bothering her so much.

“I’m sure there’s a simple explanation,” Arthur said.

“Maybe.” But as Nova said this, she reached forward and put her hand into Lauren’s other pocket. She felt something cold and metal, and her heart sank before she’d even pulled it out and confirmed her suspicion.

“The sports cupboard keys,” she said, staring at them in disbelief. “The keys I supposedly lost.”

“Lauren must have found them again,” Arthur said.

But Nova wasn’t so sure, her mind whirring. The lost keys. The messed-up community center bookings and forgotten messages. All this time, Nova had thought the mistakes were her fault; that she was being forgetful and disorganized. But what if that wasn’t true?

“I think Lauren has been trying to sabotage me,” she said, wincing at how strange the words sounded coming out of her mouth.

“Why would she do that? She’s your friend, isn’t she?”

“She is; or at least, I thought she was. But what is it Phyllis always says? If all the facts fit your theory, then it must be the right one. And look at the facts: the keys I supposedly lost are in Lauren’s pocket, along with my log-in details that would allow her to go onto my computer and change diary bookings under my name.”

“But still, what’s her motive?” Arthur said, sounding as bewildered as Nova felt.

“I don’t know. Maybe she wants to get me fired? Lauren knows better than anyone how financially precarious this place is. Maybe she thought if I lost my job, hers would be safe?”

“Goodness, that’s properly evil, especially from someone who pretends to be your friend.” Arthur stopped, his nose wrinkling. “You don’t think she’s behind the stolen money, too, do you? What if she took it from the office, knowing you’d be blamed because it happened during your book club?”

“Oh my God!” Nova said, looking at Arthur with wide eyes as her mind raced ahead. “But I didn’t get sacked, did I? So, what if she then had to try harder. Shit, what if Lauren’s the one who attacked Sandy to try and frame me?”

“Bloomin’ heck,” Arthur said, exhaling. “If that’s true then we need to report her to the police now. She’s clearly unhinged.”

“But we don’t have any evidence. Finding the keys in her pocket is hardly proof, plus Lauren can always deny all knowledge and say I planted them there to frame her .”

“You’re right, we need something more concrete.” Arthur said. “We need to find a way of getting her to admit what she’s done.”

“But why would she do that? If our theory is correct then now that I’ve been suspended, she’s won. She’s hardly going to suddenly confess all for no reason.”

“There has to be something we can do,” Arthur said, frowning. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wish Phyllis were here right now. She’d know exactly what to do.”

Nova stopped pacing and looked at Arthur.

“You’re absolutely right. I think it’s time we call an emergency meeting of the St. Tredock Community Book Club.”