and pull the shoes out of the way before being able to push the door wide and enter the property.
It gave Jade peace of mind. She’d been bugged over the locked cat flap last week, even though the reality was it had likely malfunctioned. However, it was good to set a trap so that if Greg ever dared to secretly use the spare key he’d refused to hand over, then Jade would know for sure he’d been around.
Jade knew that her neighbour had absolutely no need to let himself into Number 3 when she was out. Reason told her that. Paranoia told her something else. Suspicion was always nagging at her brain. Gut instinct told her not to trust the guy. After all, her neighbour was beyond creepy. Jade had yet to catch sight of Greg’s mother… if “Mother” even existed.
Sighing, Jade walked over to her bed. Puddles was curled into the side of her pillow. She dropped a kiss on the cat’s head.
‘See you later,’ she said, before gathering up her handbag and coat.
Downstairs, having placed the running shoes in their usual position, she slammed the front door, pausing only to double lock it.
‘Morning,’ called a familiar voice.
Jade looked up to see Brad Grimshaw coming out of Number 5.
‘It’s feeling a lot warmer this morning,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Almost like spring.’
He pointed a finger upwards indicating Jade look at the cornflower-blue sky with its weak lemon-coloured sun.
Jade nodded politely before walking the short distance to her garden gate. She didn’t give a toss about the weather. It could hail, thunder or snow for all she cared, just so long as the elements left her alone in her world of Prozac and paranoia. Brad seemed like a nice guy. It was obvious he was trying to get to know her better, but she wasn’t interested. Making small talk with the hunk of Gresham Terrace wasn’t on her ‘to do’ list.
Brad reached his garden gate at the same time as Jade. He tried again.
‘I heard from Greg that we have a new neighbour arriving today. She’s moving into Number 4.’
‘Oh really?’ said Jade disinterestedly.
Brad strolled over.
‘Yeah,’ he nodded, ignoring the negative signals Jade was giving off. ‘Greg seems to know everything that goes on around here.’
‘More’s the pity,’ she said disdainfully.
Brad’s face registered surprise.
‘Really? Personally, I think it’s a good thing having someone keeping an eye on our road. Greg seems like a nice chap.’
‘You reckon?’
Jade’s tone indicated she wasn’t in agreement.
‘I’m guessing you’re not one of his fans,’ Brad smiled.
‘You guess right. I think the man is beyond odd.’
Brad laughed and then shrugged.
‘I suppose he does look a little odd. In all truth, I feel a bit sorry for him.’
‘Whatever for?’
‘I think he’s lonely. He has a very solitary life. After all, it’s just him and his mum.’
‘Ah, yes. Mother,’ Jade sneered. ‘Is she even real?’
For a split second Brad looked astonished at Jade raising such a question.
‘There’s definitely an old lady living with him. About a month ago, an ambulance came. Mrs Good apparently had a funny turn. The doctor kept her at the hospital overnight for observation.’
‘Oh.’
Jade suddenly felt stupid for voicing aloud her doubts about Mother’s existence.
Brad noticed the young woman’s embarrassment and immediately made to gloss over it.
‘Hey, perhaps our new neighbour will be about our age. Maybe we can all get together one night? Have a drink, or something.’
She stared at him. There it was. The invitation for a drink, dressed up as something ultra-casual. Welcoming a new neighbour but getting to know her better. Brad had made the first move. Taken that initial step to the possibility of something developing. It would be a suggestion for dinner next which wouldn’t include Number 4’s new resident, of that Jade was sure. She gave him a non-committal smile.
‘Maybe.’
Brad looked pleased at Jade not instantly shutting him out. He got the impression she wasn’t a pushover. The barriers might be invisible, but he could nonetheless sense them. This female might as well have a ring of barbed wire around her. He wondered what it would take for her to let him in. He wasn’t going to be able to hurry things with Jade. She needed a softly-softly approach. That was fine. He could do that. He’d been friendly this morning, which was a starting point. It was time to back away. For now.
‘I’d better get a move on. Work,’ he explained. ‘It was nice talking.’
He made to move but, before turning away, gave her his “special” look.