Or maybe a completely different scenario had unfolded. Perhaps Deanna had gone berserk and raided the kitchen drawer, extracting a vicious knife – the type used to slice the Sunday roast – and instead of cutting the beef, she’d carved out Tom’s treacherous heart?
Jade had blanched. Dear God, no. In a state of mounting agitation, she’d texted Tom a second time.
Are you okay? Please reply. I’m going out of my mind with worry. If you don’t reply in one minute, I’m driving over.
Tom had replied in one second.
Sorry, babe. It’s been traumatic here for completely different reasons. Deanna’s father dropped down dead this afternoon. Cardiac arrest. She’s in bits. So are the boys. I can’t walk out on her this weekend. She’s beside herself. If nothing else, I need to think of Daniel and Scott. Know that I love you. We will be together just as soon as things are calm again.
It had taken Deanna a whole year to get over her father’s death. Then her mother had died, so Jade had felt like she was reliving the past twelve months all over again. Tom had recounted tales of Deanna hurling herself at her mother’s coffin and traumatising the twins.
More leaving-day plans were made. Each came and went, always with cast-iron reasons why Tom couldn’t get away. The much-loved family dog had suddenly died, and Deanna and the twins were hysterical. Ditto because the cat had been run over.
Time passed. Suddenly the twins were taking their GCSEs. Then A Levels. Revision was all. Passing exams was everything. Nothing must upset Daniel and Scott.
Finally, the boys went to university. Jade was certain that this time Tom would leave Deanna. But no. Deanna was struggling to cope with the boys’ absence. Then, when she’d adjusted to their being away from home, she’d discovered the twins were messing about with recreational drugs. Once again, Deanna was distraught and in a fragile mental state. Tom insisted he would leave… but not yet.
But then something unexpected had happened. Jade had, quite by chance, discovered that Deanna had left him. But still Tom hadn’t moved in with her. The bastard.
Chapter Two
Jade paused in the open doorway of 3 Gresham Terrace, then turned to look back at the outside street’s huddle of houses. They were all crouched over pocket-sized front lawns, some of which had been concreted over to provide parking for a single vehicle.
Like a black and white photograph, the road was drab and cheerless. Her eyes snagged on splashes of colour in some of the bay windows. Valentine cards. She’d clocked them yesterday when the property agent had handed over the keys. A couple of window ledges even sported vases of red roses. Jade’s mouth disappeared into a thin line.
The shops had been full of lovey-dovey nonsense. The local supermarket had sported shelves loaded with cuddly toys all clutching tacky plastic hearts in stitched-together paws. Yesterday had supposedly been the most romantic day of the year. Jade had loathed every single second of it, even more than she was hating every moment of today.
She was desperately trying to be upbeat about the future, but positivity was eluding her. Only one thing stood her firm and that was her decision about no longer needing a man. She was done with them. Anyway, she had Puddles now. She lifted the pet carrier over the threshold of Number 3 and stepped into the hallway.
‘Home,’ she said to the fluffy black-and-white cat. He glared at her balefully from within the confines of his cage. ‘I’ll let you out in a minute,’ she assured. ‘Let me get this case in first.’
Jade tugged on the suitcase handle, but the wheel was caught on something, impeding movement. Irritated, she looked down, scowling at an uneven step. Suddenly, and seemingly out of nowhere, a hand lightly touched her on the shoulder. Startled, a half-cry escaped her lips. A man was standing behind her.
‘Sorry,’ said the stranger. ‘I didn’t mean to scare you.’
His voice was gentle but peculiarly at odds to the almost thuggish features.
‘You surprised me,’ said Jade, recovering herself.
‘I live next door and happened to be sitting by my window when you arrived. I thought it would be nice to say hello.’
Jade gave him the once over. Somewhere in his fifties. Balding. Fat. Scruffy. She took an instant dislike to the guy. Who sat by their window watching the world go by? Surely only old people did that? Or maybe he was out of work and had nothing better