“It’s nothing for you to worry about Mum,” said Caleb. “Honestly.”
“I hope to God you’re right,” she said, hand going to the small silver cross she always wore around her neck.
“I am,” he replied, forcing a smile.
Rose knew he was only trying to spare her feelings but she didn’t push it. If she discovered the truth she would lie awake all night worrying and she’d already done enough of that. She looked from Faith to Vance, who were glancing at each other even though they were sat at opposite sides of the room. They seemed to find it very difficult to keep their eyes off each other. It was a wonder to Rose that no one else had noticed but then again, she was the only one who knew their filthy secret, apart from Rose’s ex-friend, Carol Kirwan, mother of Vance’s arch-rival in prison. Carol and her son Alfie had guessed the truth of Faith and Vance’s relationship after observing them together during visiting time at the prison. Rose herself had ensured that neither of them would ever speak about it again but the fear was always at the back of her mind that one day Carol or Alfie would let something slip. The day Alfie was released from prison was the day her hold over them both disintegrated. She consoled herself with the fact that there was no proof of her children’s incest. Technically it wasn’t incest as they weren’t related but no one would see it that way. She couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that one day their family’s skeletons would be dragged out of the closet for all to see and judge.
“Mum, you okay?” said Jason.
She jumped out of her reverie, smiled and patted his scarred cheek. He liked to tell the ladies he’d got that scar in a knife fight when in truth he’d done it to himself opening a tin of corned beef.
“I’m fine sweetheart,” said Rose. “I just drifted into my own world there.”
“You really don’t need to worry about us. Everything’s fine, honest.”
“I believe you,” she said sweetly.
Rose glanced at Faith, who looked back at her coldly. It pained her to know that, if it came down to it, Vance would choose Faith over her, his own mother. Something else she feared was that one day he would have to make that choice and her family would be torn apart.
Faith drained her cup of tea in record time, scalding her mouth a little in her eagerness to escape Rose’s presence. She plonked her mug down on the coffee table and got to her feet. “Right, I’m off home. I’m knackered.”
“Already?” said Rose. “You just got here.”
“It’s getting late and I need an early night.”
Rose’s sharp blue eyes flicked to Vance, knowing Faith’s early night would involve him.
“I’ll come too,” he said, also getting to his feet.
“And me,” said Caleb.
“Why don’t you all come round for tea tomorrow?” said Rose. “I’d planned on cooking a big roast, there’ll be plenty for everyone. Faith, I’ve got some tofu for you.”
“Rather her than me,” grinned Kevin.
“What time Mum?” said Caleb.
“Half five.”
“We’ll be here,” he said, replying for them all. “See you tomorrow then.”
“Bye dears,” called Rose as her three older children left. When they’d gone, she breathed a sigh of relief. Sometimes she wished Vance was back in prison and Faith was still in Scotland. Life had been a lot simpler then.
“What’s wrong?” said Vance when Faith hesitated by her car, keys in hand, looking up and down the street.
“It felt like someone was watching me,” she replied.
Caleb and Vance whipped round, looking in opposite directions but the street appeared to be empty.
“We’ll check it out,” said Vance. “Wait here Faith.”
“What? No, I…”
They jogged off in opposite directions, leaving her standing in the middle of the darkened street, watching them vanish into the shadows. As it was a chilly autumn night, the cold soon started to seep through her thin jacket. She wrapped her arms around herself and stomped her feet in an effort to keep warm. It was tempting to get in the car but she felt she would be abandoning them. The feeling of being watched had passed. No doubt it was her imagination. That was what she wanted to believe anyway. It wasn’t the first time she’d felt like this lately.
A couple of minutes later they both jogged back.
“Well?” she asked them.
They shook their heads.
“Then I imagined it,” she said. “Let’s go, I’m freezing.”
The three of them hopped into the car, Faith and Vance up front, Caleb in the back.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve thought someone was watching you,” Vance told her as she started the engine and turned the heater up to maximum. “In fact, it seems to be becoming a regular occurrence.”
“It’s probably after Marlow snuck up behind me in the street and stabbed me.” She sounded matter-of-fact but the memory never failed to make her feel sick. She’d had no idea he was even there until the blade had been plunged into her back.
Vance noticed her hands shake slightly as she started the engine and pulled away from the kerb. “I’m unwilling to dismiss this so easily. I want to be sure someone isn’t stalking you.”
She stifled the shiver the word stalking breathed down her spine. “I am not being stalked. When you’re being stalked you know about it.”
“Not necessarily. You were a soldier Faith, you’ve been trained to be observant and I think your instincts are telling you something’s wrong.”
“Vance is right,” said Caleb. “We should look into this deeper.”
“It’s a waste of time and we have more
