Page 61 of The Perfect Son

For a second I wonder if I should tell Sam about the man who chased me and the person who came into our house when I was out, but I don’t. Shelley has been by my side this whole time and even she doesn’t believe me. I picture her now, standing in the dining room doorway when the stupid electronic voice told me my messages were all gone. Her face said it all. And if she isn’t sure, then what chance have I got of convincing Sam?

“It’s Jamie’s birthday in a couple of weeks,” I say instead, turning my gaze toward the village and farmland below. The river has burst its banks and spilled out across the fields in one giant lake.

“I know,” Sam says from behind me. “Will you be all right?”

“I guess so. It’ll be hard.” A stone settles in my chest thinking of Jamie’s birthday without you. “I’ll invite Shelley over.” She’ll make it more of a celebration than I ever could.

Sam doesn’t reply but I sense he wants to say something, and I turn to face him. “What?” I ask.

“Look, don’t shoot the messenger here, OK?”

“What?”

“It’s just, remember that bloke that was hanging around Mum after Dad died?”

“Of course I do. He wouldn’t leave her alone.”

“You made me have a man-to-man chat about his intentions toward her.” Sam pulls a face that makes me smile. “And it turned out he’d been in love with Mum for years and was desperate to step into Dad’s shoes. Mum was horrified when we told her. She thought he was just being a good friend.”

“So? What’s that got to do with Shelley?” I feel myself bristle.

“Probably nothing. Look—I’m glad you’ve got a new friend helping you right now, but I just want you to be sure she’s not after something else, that’s all. You could be a wealthy woman now, Tess, and I don’t want anyone taking advantage of you. Don’t you think it’s odd that she’s asking Mum and me to call her rather than you? We’re your family, you know.”

“Only because I asked her to,” I reply.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.” The truth is I can’t remember, but if it was Shelley’s idea to speak to Mum and Sam for me, then it was only because she was trying to help.

“OK then, but I’m still going to call you, whether you pick up or not.”

I smile and we hug, long and tight. “I will answer, I promise. You don’t need to worry. Shelley is a good friend, that’s all. She doesn’t want to fill Mark’s shoes,” I try to joke. “Ian gave me the same warning, by the way.”

“Ian, Mark’s brother?”

I nod. “He’s been hounding me to get Mark’s estate sorted out.Apparently Mark borrowed some money from Ian and now he needs it back.” A shiver travels over my skin thinking of Ian. I’m sure it was him who came into the house when I wasn’t there.

“Would Mark have done that without telling you?”

I shrug. “Maybe. I’ll figure it out.”

“You will let me know if you want to talk about it or need help?” Sam asks, opening his car door. “I’m here for you, Tess. Please say you’ll think about coming up to Nottingham for a visit?”

“Maybe in the summer. Let me get Jamie’s birthday out of the way and we’ll put a date in the diary.”

Sam nods but I can tell he’s still worried.

“You’d better hit the road,” I say.

“Get in then.”

“It’s OK. I’ll walk back.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’ll do me good.” I’ll walk slowly and take the long way around the village, and then it will be time to collect Jamie from school.

“Take care of yourself, sis.”