Neve couldn’t remember a time when she had felt so happy after making love to Kit. Well, not for many years anyway. Not since the thorny subject of having a baby had become an issue. Although they hadn’t actually spoken about it before, the fact that Kit hadn’t protested about not wearing a condom was, in Neve’s eyes, as good as agreeing they should have a baby.
She snuggled up to him and dropped a small kiss on his lips. ‘We’d better get up before Poppy comes pounding at the door.’
Kit gave something between a groan and a sigh. ‘We need a weekend away,’ he said. ‘Once things have settled down, maybe my mum will look after Poppy.’
‘That would be lovely.’ She smiled at her husband as she began to get dressed. ‘I’ve got to pop out for half an hour,’ she said, glancing at her watch and ensuring her tone was casual.
‘Really? Why’s that?’
‘I told Lucie I’d drop in and see her,’ said Neve, not meeting Kit’s eye. ‘Just to let her know that everything’s all right. I’ll take Willow with me and give her a run too.’
‘Can’t you do that over a text?’
‘She has something she wants to give me apparently. And as far as I know, there isn’t an app to walk your dog; that’s something we still have to do manually.’
‘Right, OK. Don’t be long though,’ said Kit, pulling her back onto the bed. ‘I thought maybe we could all go out for some tea. Me, you and Poppy.’
‘That would be lovely,’ said Neve, wriggling free from his arms. ‘I’ll be as quick as I can.’
Looking in on Poppy as she went, Neve hurried out to the car. It would be quicker to drive as she had to take a detour and go via the post office. As she pulled out onto the road, she saw Heather coming along with her daughter Libby. Neve slowed down and undid the window.
‘Hi, Heather,’ she called.
‘Oh, hi, Neve! We were just passing and thought we’d call in to see Poppy. Libby has made her a card.’
‘Oh, that’s sweet. She’ll be really pleased to see you. Kit’s at home. I’ve just got to run an errand, but I won’t be long.’
‘I don’t want to get in the way, but Libby was insistent.’ She gave a small grimace.
‘Honestly. It’s fine,’ said Neve. She liked Heather and Libby; it was easy being in their company. They didn’t query Poppy’s behaviour or social graces, they were in the same boat and appreciated social norms weren’t always observed.
Neve headed off to meet Lee, stopping at the cash point outside the post office to withdraw her daily limit of five hundred pounds. Then she drove on towards the river, grateful that Willow was with her. It certainly acted as good cover for her regular trips down here or across the fields.
Before that though, she pulled up outside the cafe and leaving the window down a fraction so Willow could poke his nose out, Neve nipped into the shop.
‘Hi, Lucie,’ she said, pleased to see the shop was relatively quiet.
‘Hiya! Wasn’t expecting to see you,’ said Lucie, the surprised expression giving way to one of concern.
Neve approached the counter and lowered her voice. ‘I think Kit and I are going to be able to work things out.’
‘That’s great news. I’m really pleased for you.’ She reached over and squeezed Neve’s hand.
Neve couldn’t prevent an excited little smile settling on her face. ‘It’s like all that’s happened over the past week or so has made us both realise what we could lose. It’s put everything into perspective.’
‘Any news of Jake?’
‘No. I went to see him yesterday,’ said Neve. ‘He looked bloody awful.’
‘He’s lucky he’s not dead,’ said Lucie matter of factly. ‘One of his students was in here yesterday saying how touch and go it had been.’
‘It doesn’t bear thinking about,’ said Neve, resisting the urge to put images of Jake’s blooded face and Kit’s shirt in her mind. ‘He doesn’t remember a thing about it, apparently.’
‘I hope they catch who did it. I hate the thought of someone running around capable of doing something like that,’ said Lucie.
‘It’s awful. He had his wallet stolen. They didn’t take the card or his phone, just the cash.’
‘Seems a bit odd, I mean, no one really keeps large amounts of cash on them these days.’
Subconsciously, Neve found herself stroking the strap of her handbag. ‘Look, I just called in to let you know everything was OK,’ she said, refocussing. She scanned the glass counter. ‘Can I have that sponge cake at the back, please?’
‘One slice?’
‘No. The whole thing.’
‘Wow, someone isn’t calorie counting,’ said Lucie. She boxed up the cake and passed it over.
Having paid Lucie for the cake, Neve went back to her car and drove down towards the river. She let Willow out and then hurried along the muddy path towards the bridge.
‘Willow! Come on, Willow!’ called Neve. Willow gave a small bark and was on the verge of running back along the path. ‘Oh, no you don’t.’ Neve caught hold of the collar and hooked on the lead. She stopped and gazed back to see what Willow was barking at. A sudden notion that someone might be watching her came to mind. She shook her head. She was overreacting. She looked back at Willow. ‘There’s nothing there, you silly old doggy,’ she said out loud, possibly to reassure herself more than anything else. She stood perfectly still, her eyes scanning the surrounding bushes. A squirrel scrambled up the tree and Neve let out a sigh of relief. ‘Ah, squirrels. Is that what you were after? No time for chasing them today. Come on, good girl.’
Lee was leaning against the boathouse, just as he had been when she’d seen him before. Smoking what looked like a joint, he smiled as she approached.
‘Finally, thought you weren’t coming. Did you bring the money?’
Neve pulled the wad of notes from her handbag and passed it over. ‘Oh, and just in case you’re interested, Poppy is fine.’
Lee grabbed the money and fanned it out between his fingers. ‘I know. I saw her watching the television.’
‘You’ve been spying on us?’ Neve shivered at the thought.
‘Just checking up on my interests,’ said Lee. He looked up at her. ‘How much is here?’
‘Five hundred.’ She thought for a minute he was going to complain. ‘It’s all I can get out at one time. Besides, I hardly have any money left.’
‘Business is tough,’ said Lee. He separated some twenty-pound notes and folding them in half, slipped them into the front pocket of his jeans. The rest of the money he separated again, this time into four equal parts, putting them in various places of his rucksack. One pile into a side pocket. One pile into an inside pocket and the other two piles into a sock and the bottom of a pair of trainers. ‘Less chance of it all getting stolen at the same time.’ He stood up and hooked his bag onto his shoulder.
‘Where are you going?’ asked Neve.
‘Brighton, I think.’
‘I went to see Jake yesterday.’
‘And?’
‘He’s in a bad way.’
‘Serious, then. Shame, I liked the guy.’
‘We’re quits now,’ she said. ‘I’ve never told a soul you were there that day on the beach with me and Megan. That you were the one who supplied the drugs. I did you a favour then, you’ve done me a favour now. One that I’ve paid you for, I think it’s fair to call it quits.’
Lee looked at her for a long moment. ‘Yeah, we’re quits.’
Neve stood under the bridge for a long time, watching Lee trudge along the riverbank and eventually disappear out of sight. He hadn’t looked back once. Lee was so much like her. Always moving forwards. Never going back. And she had to do the same.