The End of Her - Shari Lapena

Prologue

January 10, 2009

Creemore, Colorado

THE SNOW HAS fallen heavily, relentlessly, for two days now, and shows no sign of letting up. It’s madness to go. But the ploughs are out, Lindsey reminds herself. She stares moodily out the window, feeling trapped and restless. Trapped by the mountains surrounding her in this small Colorado town thirty miles from downtown Denver. Trapped by the endless snow. Snow brings such silence. Sometimes the silence makes her want to scream.

Her husband enters the tiny, crowded living room behind her; the space is cheaply furnished, the teetering bookshelves held together with screws.

‘All set?’ Patrick asks as she turns and looks up at him, her hands resting on her huge, pregnant belly. They’re still being careful with each other, after last night’s argument.

She’s glad to be getting out of here, where her sense of isolation is so complete. Snow or not, they’re going to visit her mother and sister in Grand Junction for a few days, where the weather is more moderate. Their bags are packed, and standing by the door. She longs to be back in the bosom of her family – she’s hungry for the much-needed company and attention. She didn’t know this would be so hard. She’ll stop in familiar coffee shops, and meet up with the friends she’d left behind. They’ll smile and exclaim over how big she is, and want to touch her stomach; they’ll be excited about the impending baby. And Lindsey will feel better. Better about everything. And then she’ll be able to face coming back.

Or maybe she will stay in Grand Junction.

‘I’d better start shovelling the car out,’ Patrick says, and puts on his boots and coat. He adds a hat and gloves, and says, ‘I’ll warm up the car for you.’

She nods and turns back to the window.

CHAPTER ONE

August 2018

Aylesford, New York

HANNA BRIGHT PUTS little Teddy in his baby swing on the front porch and sits down to read her novel. It’s going to get hot later, but in the morning it’s nice here on the porch, out of the sun. She notices two cars parked at the house across the street and a couple of doors down. The house is for sale; someone must be looking to buy.

She soon becomes engrossed in her novel, but looks up a little while later when she senses movement across the street. A heavy-set man in a suit whom Hanna recognizes as the real estate agent is in the driveway talking to a woman. Hanna watches them, idly wondering if she is a serious buyer. The house hasn’t been on the market for long, and this is a desirable neighbourhood; she imagines it will sell fairly quickly. She hopes it goes to a young family – she wants lots of friends for Teddy, who’s six months old. There’s a pair of four-month-old twins with a really nice mom – Stephanie – directly across the street whom Hanna’s become friends with. This woman looks to be alone – no husband or kids in tow.

With a final handshake, the woman turns away from the agent and heads for her parked car. As she reaches the street, she looks over at Hanna on her porch and stops. Then, to Hanna’s surprise, she crosses the street and walks towards her house. What does she want? Hanna wonders.

‘Hi there,’ the woman calls out in a friendly voice.

Hanna can see that she’s probably in her early thirties and is certainly attractive. She has shoulder-length blonde hair, a good figure and enviable posture. After a quick glance to check that Teddy is content, Hanna stands up and walks down her porch steps. ‘Hi, can I help you?’ she asks politely.

‘I was just looking at the house across the street,’ the other woman says, making her way up the drive. Hanna walks over to meet her, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand. ‘Do you mind if I ask you a bit about the neighbourhood?’ the woman asks.

So, she’s a serious buyer then, Hanna thinks, a bit disappointed. ‘Sure,’ she says.

‘My husband and I are interested in this area – is it a good place to raise children, do you think?’ She nods towards the baby swing on the porch and smiles. ‘I see you’ve got a baby.’

Hanna warms to her then and describes the neighbourhood with enthusiasm. Maybe the woman is already pregnant, but not showing yet.

At the end of their chat, the woman thanks her and walks back to her car. Hanna realizes she didn’t get