‘I changed my mind,’ Beth said. ‘And don’t speak with your mouth full!’
Beth heard raucous rock music as Peter’s bedroom door opened and he came bowling down the stairs.
‘Woah, Mum, you look hot,’ he said, a cheeky smile on his face.
Charlie laughed. ‘What do you want, Peter?’
‘Can’t I pay my beautiful mother a compliment without you thinking I have an ulterior motive? That hurts, Dad, really.’ Peter clasped his hands to his heart and pulled a sad face.
Beth didn’t say a word. Charlie wasn’t sure she was even listening. She stared towards the back door, a distant look in her eyes.
‘Really, Pete. What do you want?’ Charlie joked.
‘Can Zoe come over tonight?’
Charlie looked at his wife, waiting for her to decide. But she didn’t say anything.
‘Beth?’ Charlie said.
‘Sorry, I was a million miles away.’
‘Your son was asking if his girlfriend can come over tonight while we’re out.’
Beth looked at Peter, then back towards Charlie.
‘Yes, I suppose so.’
Charlie frowned.
‘Really?’ Peter couldn’t hide the surprise from his voice.
‘Yeah, really?’ Charlie echoed.
‘Yes. Margot is coming over so it’s not like they’ll be unsupervised.’
‘Great!’ Peter exclaimed, bounding up to his room and shutting the door.
The doorbell rang.
Beth stood petrified. The hairs on her neck tingled. She glanced nervously out into the hall.
Charlie raised an eyebrow, then walked past her and opened the door.
Margot stood on the doorstep.
Beth didn’t realise she had been holding her breath until she let it out again. A long, relieved sigh.
‘Margot!’ Beth pushed by, opening the door fully to let Margot in.
‘Am I too early?’ Margot asked, checking her watch.
‘No, not at all. Come in.’ Beth stood aside and Margot breezed into the hallway wearing an all-in-one black playsuit, a fuchsia cashmere pashmina draped loosely over her shoulders. She gave Charlie a large, exaggerated kiss on each cheek.
‘Hello, you gorgeous hunk of a man!’ she said flirtatiously.
‘Right back at you!’ Charlie replied.
‘God. I need to up my HRT dosage if you think I look like a man!’ she retorted.
Charlie blushed. ‘No, what I meant was–’
‘Oh shush, I’m teasing you, darling.’ She dismissed him with a flick of her wrist.
Daisy stood at the kitchen doorway, looking shyly out.
‘My dear… look how big you’ve got!’
Daisy didn’t reply. Beth crouched down to Daisy’s level.
‘You remember Margot, don’t you?’
Daisy stuffed her thumb in her mouth and fiddled with her skirt with the other hand.
‘I’ve got something you might like to play with,’ Margot said in a sing-song voice, while rummaging frantically in her small handbag. She pulled out an expensive-looking lipstick, holding it out in front of her.
Daisy’s eyes flicked to her mother’s face. Beth smiled and Daisy took the lipstick, beaming.
Beth placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. ‘What do you say, Daisy?’
‘Thank you,’ she muttered.
‘Don’t open that unless Aunty Margot is supervising, okay?’
Daisy ran off into the kitchen. Charlie opened the hall cupboard, fishing out his jacket and pulling it on. The familiar smell of his aftershave drifted into Beth’s nostrils and almost made her feel safe. Almost made her forget about the terrifying prospect of someone waiting outside her house. Almost.
Beth’s head began to spin. She wobbled, steadying herself against the wall. Sweat began to form on her brow again.
‘Are you okay?’ Margot cocked an eyebrow.
‘Actually, I’m not sure I’m feeling that well.’
‘Oh nonsense. You look fabulous.’
‘Thanks. But I really don’t feel it.’
Charlie approached the front door with his car keys in one hand, and a bottle of red wine in the other.
‘It’s too late to cancel now. Derek would be so pissed off. You’re gonna have to suck it up.’
‘Really, Charlie, maybe you should go by yourself.’ Beth looked at her husband.
‘Beth.’ The tone of Charlie’s voice, the look on his face… Beth knew this wasn’t up for discussion. And for a moment she resented him.
Perhaps she should tell him about the text messages?
But then he would insist on calling the police. And Beth didn’t want that. Too much hassle.
‘Okay.’ She turned to Margot. ‘I’m sure we won’t be late. Thanks again for this. You’re a lifesaver.’
‘Be as late as you like. I’ll be fine.’
‘Daisy’s bedtime is eight thirty. She’ll kid on that she’s not tired, but you have to be firm. You won’t see much of Peter. His girlfriend is coming over so they’ll be upstairs all night. Make sure the door is open.’
Margot nodded, then ushered Charlie and Beth out.
* * *
As an engine started outside, Margot glided into the kitchen. Daisy was sitting by the back door, trying to apply lipstick to a small toffee-coloured spaniel, who wore a pale-blue-and-white polka-dot bandana.
‘Right, my darling. That lipstick is far too expensive for a dog to wear,’ she said, as Daisy looked up, grinning.
‘Cooper is a boy, but I don’t care.’
Margot raised her eyebrows. ‘I can tell we’re going to have fun tonight.’
A knock drew her away from the kitchen. She opened the front door to reveal a young, pretty redhead standing in the driveway. She looked confused as she eyed Margot up and down.
‘Oh… hi,’ she said. ‘I’m here to see Peter.’ The inflection in her voice made it sound more like a question than a statement.
‘You must be Zoe. Come in, dear, come in.’ Margot stood aside, and the girl stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind her. She wore a yellow top with spaghetti straps that should have clashed with her hair but somehow worked. She stood with her phone in one hand.
‘I’m Margot, I’m sitting with the kids tonight while Beth and Charlie are out.’
Zoe’s face instantly relaxed, and she smiled, making her appear even more attractive. Peter has done well for himself, Margot thought. She could see why Beth liked this one.
‘Go on up, you know where you’re going, I’m sure.’
‘Nice to meet you,’ Zoe shouted as she skipped up the stairs.
Margot stood on the bottom step and craned her neck to hear. ‘Door open, please!’
Hearing the latch click gently shut, she sighed. Teenagers will be teenagers. She walked back into the kitchen, deciding
