Читать книгу Obsession: The bestselling psychological thriller with a shocking ending - Amanda Robson, Amanda Robson - Страница 34

Saturday lunchtime. Jenni, you are sitting opposite me in the wine bar, your large cowpat eyes trying to drown me. We have ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio and a plate of tapas. But you’re not drinking. You’re not eating. You’re sitting still, hands clasped together on your lap as if you are praying.

Jenni Rossiter. Praying mantis.

‘You’ve got too much to lose if you break up this relationship,’ I tell you, finishing my third glass of wine and helping myself to some more tapas. ‘It can’t be much fun for children being shunted between different homes at weekends – particularly when they get older. And what about the finances? One home is far less expensive to maintain.’

You don’t reply; you sit in front of me, bereft and sanctimonious. Eventually, you speak.

‘You talk of practicalities. Don’t trust and faith mean anything these days?’ you ask.

‘Surely it shows trust in the strength of a relationship to let someone go and then welcome them back?’

‘I didn’t let him go. He just went.’ There is a pause. ‘The thing is, I can’t imagine what this woman must be like. She picked him up at the Travelodge apparently. Asked him if he would help her park her car and then invited him to bed. I can’t understand why he went.’

‘Is that really what happened?’ I ask, surprised at the contortion Craig has given you.

I try to top up your glass, but you put your hand firmly across the top of it.

‘What sort of woman would do this?’ you ask, eyes spitting towards me.

How can I explain that I was trying to chase away the shadow that is burying me? The shadow that, however hard I try, I cannot push away.