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NINE

FRIDAY 24 JANUARY

No matter how prepared she’d thought she was for this moment, now that Harper is in her house, a cyclone of nausea twists around Kate’s stomach.

‘The other mums at the school don’t like being around me,’ Harper tells her. She’s sitting on the sofa, her back ramrod straight and her legs crossed. Today she’s wearing a long, black ribbed jumper dress with a turtle neck, and her hair hangs in loose red waves around her shoulders. And even though her skin looks paler than before, almost translucent, it’s clear that she’s made an effort for this visit, despite her grief.

‘Why do you say that?’ Kate asks, sipping bitter green tea she doesn’t want.

‘Because they don’t know what to say to the grieving widow.’ She smiles. ‘But you’re different. You seem…comfortable around me.’

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Harper has wormed her way into Kate’s life, and Kate’s only allowing her in so that she can find out what Harper wants, and what happened to Jamie.

Upstairs, Thomas and Dexter are playing with Thomas’s Harry Potter Lego, their muffled voices drifting down to the living room. ‘Maybe you just need to give people time to get to know you?’ Kate suggests. ‘You’ve only been at the school a couple of months. How about I call Aleena?’ she says. ‘She could come over too so you could get to know her. I’m sure Dex would love Theo. He’s a lovely boy.’

Harper raises her eyebrows. ‘Bit short notice, don’t you think? I’m sure she’s busy, so maybe another time? I’m still getting to know you, aren’t I?’ She smiles, placing her mug on the coffee table. ‘Have you been at work today?’

‘Yes.’ The lie falls easily from Kate’s mouth. She doesn’t work on Fridays; they are her days for therapy with Rowan, and because she works every Saturday, she needs this day off in the week.

The cat prowls into the room, making her way straight to Kate. Harper reaches out to beckon her but Lula arches her back, scurrying to Kate and nestling against her leg. ‘Sorry, she’s a bit wary of strangers,’ Kate explains. ‘She was a rescue cat. Barely alive when someone brought her into the surgery. I knew the second I saw her I had to give her a home.’

‘How lovely,’ Harper says, but her gaze feels heavy. ‘And no need to apologise. I don’t take offence easily.’ She studies Kate. ‘I spoke to your ex-husband yesterday. He was lovely.’

Her words thunder around the room, even though she’s speaking softly.

Kate stares at her. ‘What?’

‘About football. He runs the junior’s team, doesn’t he? I only realised when I noticed his surname. And Ellis isn’t a common name, is it?’

Kate’s mind whirs. Did she mention Ellis’s name to Harper?

‘I’m trying to get Dexter signed up. He told me they were full, but said he’d see what he could do.’

It takes her a moment to process what Harper is telling her. Usually with Ellis it’s very cut and dried – either there’s space or there isn’t. He’s never been known to negotiate. There’s nothing he can do if they’re full to capacity. ‘I thought Dex didn’t like football,’ Kate says, recalling Thomas’s words.

‘Of course he does,’ Harper says. ‘What boy their age doesn’t like football?’

‘It’s a very popular club,’ Kate says.

Harper nods. ‘Yes, that’s what he said.’ She reaches for her mug again. ‘What’s Ellis like?’ she asks. ‘He sounded so…kind.’

‘He’s…he’s a good dad. And you’re right – he is kind. He’s the kind of man who’s always got things under control. Never flustered. Just kind of…calm under pressure, I guess.’ Kate’s not sure why she’s providing Harper with so much detail about Ellis.

‘He sounds like a catch,’ Harper says. ‘Forgive me for asking this, but what happened?’

Despite not wanting to talk about any of this to Harper, Kate’s glad she’s asked; it will help her work this woman out. ‘He had an affair.’

Harper’s eyes widen. ‘Oh. That’s awful. I’m sorry. Wow. That must be really painful.’

‘It was, but…people make mistakes, don’t they? We’re human – we don’t always get it right.’ Kate’s breath catches in her throat. Graham White’s face plasters itself in her head, quickly blending into Jamie’s.

‘Sounds like you’ve forgiven him?’ Harper says.

‘I have. But that doesn’t mean our marriage could ever work. I had to walk away; I’m just not going to be bitter about it. He’s Thomas’s dad, and despite what he did, he’s always been there for me. Still is.’

Harper sips her coffee, studying Kate. ‘That’s very big of you. Not sure I could do the same.’

‘We all have to do what’s right for us, don’t we?’ Kate says, turning away from Harper’s loaded gaze.

‘I would never have forgiven Jamie if he’d had an affair. Never. Oh, I know it’s not healthy and blah, blah, blah, but what goes around comes around, doesn’t it? Justice should always be served.’

Harper’s words turn Kate’s blood cold, and she puts down her cup, unable to trust her hands to continue holding it.

‘But I wouldn’t just blame him,’ Harper continues. ‘It’s the woman’s fault too. And I’d definitely never forgive her either.’ She studies Kate. ‘You’re very blessed.’ Harper turns away, glancing through the window. ‘And you have a lovely home.’

Before Kate can respond, Thomas and Dexter fly into the room, asking if they can play on the green opposite the house.

‘If Harper doesn’t mind?’ Kate says.

‘How lovely to have all that green space out there.’ Harper stands and peers out of the window. ‘We just have a view of houses.’ She sighs. ‘You’re so lucky, Kate. You have everything.’

‘Except my husband,’ Kate says, without forethought.

‘Well, it seems like you’re dealing with your divorce remarkably well.’

Unsure how to respond, Kate ignores her comment. ‘It’s very safe,’ Kate says. ‘In case you’re worried. All the kids on the road play out there, and the parents can watch from their windows.’

‘I’m fine with them going out there,’ Harper says, but the way her eyes flit to the window every few seconds tells a different story.

They both watch the boys for a moment, and Kate notices that Dex hangs back, unsure of what he’s doing, barely managing to kick the ball in the right direction. Harper was definitely lying.

For the next hour, Harper doesn’t mention Jamie or Ellis, or anything else that puts Kate on edge, and she begins to wonder if Rowan is right and she’s being paranoid, if guilt has skewed her view of what’s going on. No. It’s not paranoia. There is definitely something off about this woman. How she’s fixated on me so quickly.

Harper talks about growing up in Cornwall, and how being by the sea is her happy place, and Kate hangs on to every detail, hoping for something she can use to catch her out in a lie.

Despite the way their conversation flows, Kate’s relieved when Harper finally says it’s time she got Dexter home.

At the door, they call across to the boys, who are deep in conversation, sitting on makeshift swings one of the neighbours erected for the neighbourhood kids, their football game abandoned.

‘How lovely to see that,’ Harper says, lightly placing her hand on Kate’s arm. ‘What a blessing.’

Once again, Kate has no idea how to respond. She’s in the dark about what Harper is doing, and only knows she needs to put an end to it.

‘Thank you so much for having us,’ Harper says, wrapping her thin arms around Kate.

Kate’s smiles, but doesn’t suggest they do it again.

A red Renault Clio pulls up outside, stopping right in front of the house. ‘Expecting anyone?’ Harper says, turning back to Kate.

‘No,’ Kate says as she watches Maddy climb out of the car. She glances at Harper. ‘That’s the woman Ellis cheated on me with. They got together properly a couple of months ago.’ Kate recalls the first time she saw Maddy– at Ellis’s work Christmas party two years ago. That night, she hadn’t taken any notice of Maddy, hadn’t spotted a single sign that something might happen between her and Ellis.

‘Oh,’ Harper says, staring at Maddy as she makes her way towards them.

‘Hi,’ Maddy says, briefly glancing at Harper before focusing back on Kate. Sorry, am I interrupting?’

‘Not at all,’ Harper says. ‘I was just leaving. The boys have just had a playdate.’

‘Sorry,’ Maddy says again, turning to Harper. ‘Do we know each other? You look very familiar.’

Harper frowns. ‘I don’t think so. I’m sure I’d remember – I’m quite good with faces.’

Maddy inclines her head. ‘Oh, okay. Sorry. I’m just sure I recognise you.’ Maddy continues to stare at Harper.

Before Harper can respond, the boys walk back to the house, Dexter hanging back when he realises there’s someone he doesn’t know there.

‘This is Maddy,’ Thomas says. ‘My dad’s girlfriend.’

Maddy’s cheeks redden. ‘Hi, Thomas,’ Maddy says, smiling.

‘Is something wrong? Is Dad okay?’

‘He’s fine,’ Maddy assures him. ‘I was just dropping off this. Thought you might need it.’ She hands Thomas a plastic bag. ‘It’s your school library book. You left it at your dad’s.’

‘Oh, thanks.’ Thomas takes the bag.

Harper takes Dexter’s arm. ‘Come on, time to go. Thanks again, Kate. See you soon.’

Maddy turns to watch as Harper gets into her car. ‘I’ve definitely seen her before.’

‘She didn’t seem to remember that.’ Kate says.

‘I know she said that, but I definitely know her. I’m sure of it. I don’t forget faces, Kate. I just can’t think where I remember her from.’ She sighs. ‘Oh, well. It will come to me.’

Maddy glances back as she drives off, and her words ring in Kate’s ears. As much as Kate wants it to be a coincidence that Maddy recognised Harper, she knows it can’t be.

Kate’s eyes snap open as she’s woken by a noise, something that doesn’t belong in their house. She sits up in bed and glances at the time on her Echo Dot. Two fifty-seven. It must have been the cat, but when she turns on the torch on her phone, she sees Lula curled up at the end of her bed.

Kate slips out of bed and steps into the hall, where she can see the light from Thomas’s room seeping through the gap in his door. She rushes over and opens it wider, relieved to find him sleeping soundly.

She makes her way downstairs, checking everything’s as it should be. There’s nothing out of the ordinary until she approaches the kitchen and hears a tap running. ‘Thomas?’ she calls, though she knows there’s no way he could have come down without her noticing.

Holding her breath, she makes her way into the kitchen, and sees the tap on full, water cascading into the sink. Kate rushes over to it and turns it off, scanning the room. She is alone. The windows and doors are locked.

Rushing upstairs, she opens Thomas’s door; he’s fast asleep, snoring gently. Kate nudges him awake. ‘Thomas?’

He mumbles and turns over, but his eyes stay closed.

‘Sorry to wake you. Did you leave the tap running in the kitchen? Did you get up for water?’ Even as she asks this, she knows it’s not likely. Once Thomas is asleep nothing stirs him, and Kate always has to force him up in the morning.

Thomas rubs his eyes. ‘No. I’ve been sleeping.’

‘And you didn’t get up for anything at all?’

‘No. Why?’

‘Don’t worry. Go back to sleep.’

Back downstairs, Kate checks the front door again and the windows. She’d left her keys in Jamie’s flat, and now someone has been in her house.

Someone is sending her a message. And Kate’s sure this is only just the beginning.