Me. Her. Him - Chapter Eleven

Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried.

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‘Who were you on the phone to, Ange?’ Paul asks, as I close the patio doors behind me. The click the door makes, bounces around inside my head.

‘Oh, just Kirsty from work,’ I lie, kicking my grass stained shoes off by the back door.  

I can’t tell him I’ve been on the phone to Michelle. Michelle was always so prickly with Paul when we first got together; it took a long time for them to really get to know one another, and for Michelle to relax around him.

Paul props his arm on the back of the sofa.

‘You were talking about the new guy, I take it?’ he asks, raising an eyebrow.

He’s probing me for further information to see how I’ll react to his questions. I take in a deep breath. He’s trying to go about it in a roundabout way.

‘Yes,’ I say, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. ‘We were having a chat about how he’s getting on.’

In my head I hear myself stumbling over my words.

‘D’you think he’s doing okay?’ Paul asks.

Saliva pools in my mouth. Why can’t he switch his attention back to the episode? It’s obvious he hasn’t been sitting there enjoying it.

‘He seems fine. He’s only been with us a day so far. We’ll only really know what he’s like after a couple of weeks or so.’

A silence passes between us as I plonk my wine glass in the sink and grab a fresh glass from the cupboard.  

Although the television’s on, the ticking of the clock on the kitchen worktop by the sink is getting louder in my head, even when I turn on the tap to pour myself a glass of water.

I look over my shoulder at Paul briefly, before focusing my attention back on the running tap. He’s still looking at me. I switch it off.

‘Rebecca’s worried about you,’ Paul says.

I take a long gulp of my water as I think of what to reply. I’d always thought Rebecca would come to me if something was bothering her. ‘Is she?’ I say, my voice coming out in a squeak.

‘She spoke to me yesterday. We’ve both agreed you’ve been a bit distant since the beginning of last week. I know you’re having trouble sleeping at night. Something’s happened at work, hasn’t it, to make you like this? Come on, Ange, you can talk to me. I want to help,’ he says, keeping his voice calm.

My neck aches as I tip my head back; I’m going to end up spraining myself at this point. I face forward again, my eyes locking with Paul’s.

‘It’s stress, Paul. There’s nothing to worry about, she honestly shouldn’t have bothered you with it.’

‘Okay, whatever you say, amigo,’ he says, although the tone of his voice says he’s far from convinced.

Had he been able to hear any of my conversation with Michelle outside? Tension prickles my skin.

‘Do you want a cuppa?’ I ask, in an effort to try and lighten the mood.

He turns back round to face the television. ‘No, don’t worry I’m fine.’  

There it is. That iciness has returned to his voice. He’s fed up. I want, so badly, to tell him what’s going on, to unburden myself. For a brief, terrifying moment, I almost do.

This is all William’s fault. I blame my colleague for leaving in the first place.  

I keep my eyes fixed on the back of Paul’s head. Paul still isn’t focused on the television. There’s a car chase going on, on the screen. It should be one of those moments where you can’t bear to turn your eyes away, but instead he’s looking into his lap. His phone’s resting on his knee. He’s texting someone.

I want to peer over his shoulder to see who he’s messaging. I hold myself back and grip tight onto the end of the work surface.

He finishes off whatever he’s typing, shuts the phone down, and places it in his pocket. He’ll have been talking to a friend, one of his work colleagues. That’ll be it. Nothing to worry about.

Then I remember the other night at the pub. He’d kept his focus on his phone all evening.

‘Who were you texting?’ I ask, trying to sound as though I’m just trying to make conversation.

He looks over his shoulder. ‘What?’ he says, as though he’s just risen from a deep sleep.

‘Who were you texting, just now?’ I ask, my voice coming out a little more forceful.

It seems to take an age for him to reply.

‘No one, just a mate,’ he says, before stretching his arms. ‘I’ve had enough of watching this, think I’m going to hit the hay, it’s been a long day. I’ll see you in the morning.’

He kisses me on the cheek, before he goes upstairs, but the kiss feels cold, it doesn’t leave a tingle like it normally does. I rub my cheek.

The floorboards upstairs creak, and then I hear him saying goodnight to Rebecca. I flinch at the sound of the bathroom door slamming shut.

I turn around, resume making my tea, and convince myself that Paul’s told me the truth.

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Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist 

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter 

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend 

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend) 

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend 

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend 

Hayley - Angela's former friend

Lauren - Angela's former friend