‘Is Mum all right?’ Peter asked, sitting down opposite his father at the island.
‘She’s a bit shaken, that’s all.’
‘Yeah, I know. But… how she reacted… Dad, the way she flipped out. It wasn’t normal. Totally over the top. I’ve never seen her like that before. She was manic. A different person. Like that time we were in town a few years ago and that news crew filmed us. She went mental because the cameraman hadn’t asked her permission first. Remember that?’
Charlie nodded as he recalled the day.
‘Like that…’ Peter continued, ‘But literally a million times worse. I wondered if there was… something going on with her.’
Charlie frowned. His wife was usually quite a calm person. He often marvelled at her ability to remain composed in a crisis. When Peter had fallen off a climbing frame when he was three, and split his forehead open, Beth had been like a machine. She sprang into action without panicking, while Charlie had been useless, the sight of all the blood making him feel a little faint. He looked at the pale scar on Peter’s brow, shaking his head.
‘I don’t think so. She hasn’t said anything to me. I’m sure she was just scared for Daisy. You won’t realise this yet, but when you have kids of your own, there is nothing quite like the fear when you think harm has come to them. It’s… awful.’
‘You’re not getting divorced, then?’
Charlie laughed. ‘Of course not! Why would you say that?’
‘Russell’s mum and dad got divorced and his mum went a bit psycho while it was all going on.’
‘No, we are definitely not getting a divorce.’
Peter nodded, then paused for a second. ‘It freaked me out. Not only what happened to Daisy, but Mum. She was really scary. Her eyes were wild. She looked ready to kill someone.’
‘I’ll keep an eye on her, but don’t you worry yourself about it too much.’
The sound of the doorbell ended the conversation, as Peter sprang up from his stool. ‘That’ll be Zoe,’ he said, hurrying out to welcome her. Charlie watched with a smile on his face as his son greeted his girlfriend. The pair started their usual hugging and kissing, as if they hadn’t seen each other for days, rather than hours. They walked down the hallway holding hands and Zoe smiled, waving at Charlie as they stood in the kitchen door. Her long ginger curls in a loose plait hanging down over her shoulder. She wore a short green sundress, and white trainers.
‘Hey, Mr Carter,’ she said, polite as ever. As she smiled, her freckles seemed to dance around her cheeks.
‘Hi, Zoe, how are you?’ Charlie asked.
‘Yeah, I’m okay, thanks.’
Peter pulled her by the hand, dragging her up the stairs.
‘See you later,’ Charlie said as they made their way up to Peter’s bedroom. ‘Pete. Door open!’ he shouted towards their backs.
‘I know,’ Peter replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.
He heard a key in the front door and looked up to see Cooper scurry in. Beth entered more slowly behind the spaniel.
‘Nice walk?’ Charlie asked.
Beth took a mug from the cupboard and poured herself a coffee. Nodding before sitting beside her husband.
‘Are you all right?’ Charlie continued, a concerned tone to his voice.
‘Not really. I thought someone had taken her. It was terrifying.’
‘Yeah, I bet it was horrible. Is that all? You’ve been a bit off today.’
Beth shrugged. ‘Yeah. I also didn’t sleep that well last night. I’m tired, that’s all.’
‘Okay,’ Charlie said. ‘But you’d tell me if anything was wrong, wouldn’t you?’
‘Yes, Charlie. I would definitely tell you. Like I said, I’m exhausted.’
‘Okay. Zoe’s upstairs.’ Charlie changed the subject casually.
Beth stood and leaned into Charlie. ‘I’m sorry. I’m aware I’ve been a little grouchy today. I’m shattered. And then all that with Daisy in town didn’t help. The whole situation was awful. Made me feel like a terrible mother. I felt sick. And then it really pissed me off that she’d taken something from a stranger. I was… disappointed, I suppose. I thought she was smarter than that. I’m sure tomorrow everything will be back to normal.’ She gave her husband a reassuring smile.
Charlie didn’t feel too convinced.
‘Okay. I’m going to have a shower. I need to wash today away. You can join me if you like?’ He winked mischievously at Beth from the doorway.
‘You go ahead, Romeo. I’ll pass.’
Charlie walked out into the hall, pausing at the bottom of the stairs. He looked back towards Beth, sitting in the kitchen, holding her coffee in her hands, staring through the patio doors. Completely unaware that she was being watched. Lost in her thoughts. Charlie followed her gaze, but she was looking out into space.
6
Sunday passed, uneventfully. Beth felt pleased about that. Things between herself and Charlie were tense. Despite her best efforts to convince him not to worry, he wasn’t buying it. Both her children gave her a wide berth for the rest of the weekend after the episode in the town. She couldn’t blame them. She’d totally lost it. They both eyed her with caution and avoided talking to her where possible. If she looked up from what she was doing, their eyes would dart away speedily, as if Beth had caught them doing something they shouldn’t. Even Zoe acted strangely towards her. Peter had clearly told her his version of events; his deranged mother flipping out and showing him up. Beth wondered if he’d mentioned the two pretty girls from school, twiddling their hair, while he leaned up against his mother’s Range Rover trying to act cool.
As Beth drove to work on Monday morning, she recalled a brief conversation with Zoe the night before. Beth had been watching TV with Charlie, when she heard Zoe come down into the kitchen to get a drink. Charlie, as usual, had been snoring on the sofa, so Beth slipped out to make a coffee. She enjoyed
