Page 87 of The Perfect Son

“Hello.” Ian nods at Mel, then Shelley.

“This is Mark’s brother, Ian. Ian, Shelley and Mel,” I say, waving a hand between them.

“We’ve met,” Shelley says, without any hint of her trademark grin.

“Thanks for your call the other day, Tess,” Ian says, sounding strangely formal. “Can we talk privately for a few minutes, please?”

Nois what I think, but Ian’s eyes—your eyes—are imploring, and I find myself nodding.

“Do you want me to come, Tess?” Shelley asks, holding my arm as I try to move. She shoots a look at Ian.

“It’s fine. Can you keep an eye?” I nod to Jamie and Indra. Indra is dabbing purple glitter gloss on her lips, making Jamie giggle.

Confusion crosses Shelley’s face for a moment but she nods before shimmying through the people until she reaches the makeup counter and Jamie.

I follow Ian toward a space by the windows, but my eyes keep drawing back to Jamie. He’s looking up at Shelley with such adoration, such love, that my chest pulls tight and I gasp.

“Tess?” Ian’s voice is sharp, swiping at my thoughts, and they’re gone. “Tess,” he says again, “are you all right? You seem distracted.”

“I’m fine.” I hug my arms to my body and try to focus on Ian. “What are you doing here?”

“I was worried about you,” he says, stepping closer. “I came by the house the other night to check on you. I was worried you might’ve...” His voice trails off.

“Killed myself?” I pull a face.

“Well.” He shrugs. “But you weren’t in.”

Yes I was.

“There’s something I need to tell you.” Ian shuffles his feet and finds a spot on the floor to focus on.

He’s nervous.

A young couple bustles past us, their hands loaded with bags. I catch the glint of a diamond on the girl’s ring finger.

“Can we go somewhere quiet? Please, Tess. I really need to talk to you. It’s about the money.”

Part of me wants to go, wants answers, whatever they might be. But I hate how Ian has turned up like this. I might not have answered the door the other night, but it doesn’t mean we couldn’t have spoken another time. He didn’t need to track me down while I’m on a shopping trip with Jamie.

“I do want to talk about the money,” I reply. “But now isn’t the right time. Let’s meet next week. We’ll go for coffee.”Somewhere neutral,I think. “Or I’ll come to the offices. I need to meet with Jacob anyway.”

“Oh,” Ian says. “I thought I—”

“I’m Mark’s executor. I’m going to sort it out. I told you, I just needed a bit more time.”

Ian says something, but my focus has moved back to the crowded shop.

“Are you listening to me?” I hear Ian ask.

I can’t see Jamie. Shelley has disappeared too.

I dart forward and it’s me now pushing through the shoppers, knocking people’s bags with my shoulders, ignoring the tuts as I fight to reach Indra.

“Hey, where’s Jamie?” I ask, stepping up alongside Indra.

She jumps and looks up at me. Gloss shimmers on her lips, but her eyes are blank as if she doesn’t know me, as if we didn’t meet twenty minutes ago, as if she hasn’t been walking arm in arm with my son.

“Indra, where is Jamie?” I ask, slowing down my words. My fists bunch together and I have to fight the urge not to shake her.