Page 73 of The Girlfriend

She was silent.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re . . .”

Daniel frowned at her. “What?”

“Alive.”

“Yes. Last time I looked.”

“I don’t understand. . . .”

“Do you need some water?” He sounded impatient, like he wanted to get on and for her to leave.

She continued to stare at him, a hurt expression on her face. Tears welled up. “You could’ve just told me it was over.”

She struggled to get up and open the front door, but he put out a hand to stop her.

“What did you just say?”

“If you didn’t want to see me anymore. I could have handled it, you know. Being dumped. No need to let your mum do your dirty work. Was it her idea or yours?”

He looked baffled. “What are you talking about?”

“So, what? You’re just going to deny it now? Sorry, but I deserve better.” She gulped back some tears and tried again to wrench open the door.

“Cherry, will you please tell me what’s going on?”

She stopped and looked at him. “Your mum. Telling me you were dead.”

The hallway fell silent.

“Say that again.”

Cherry frowned. “She phoned me. Back in March. She told me you’d died when I was away.”

Daniel stared. “She didwhat?”

Cherry felt it wasn’t really necessary to repeat it. His face was fixed in utter astonishment.

“Cherry, do you have time for a coffee?”

She did. He started toward the kitchen.

“Not here, though,” she said quickly. “If it’s okay with you, I’d rather not be . . .” She looked around uncomfortably and he understood.

“Let me just get my things, put my work away.”

“May I use the bathroom?”

“Course.”

Daniel disappeared into the hub of the house, and after a couple of seconds, when she could no longer hear him, she slipped upstairs and into Laura’s bedroom. Closing the door softly, she glanced at the desk and saw the notepaper she’d spotted on her tour, when she’d come for dinner all those months ago. Embossed with Laura’s name and address. Silently she moved across theroom, noting how the thick carpet muffled any squeaks or footsteps. She took a few sheets and slipped them into her bag; then seeing a handwritten note, something about a woman having a strenuous time looking after her grandchildren, she took that too. It must’ve been no more than two or three minutes before she was back downstairs.

“Ready?” said Daniel, appearing from the kitchen with his jacket.

She nodded.