Kelly woke with a start.
At first, she didn’t know where she was. Then, after a few moments, and her eyes adjusting, she realised that she was in her new house, in her new bedroom, with new bedsheets.
She laid back luxuriously and stretched. She looked at her window and the sunlight beyond and sank deeper into her pillow. She felt at peace. But soon, reality hit and she remembered that she had to drag herself out of bed and get to work.
She turned her head, Johnny’s chest rose and fell rhythmically. She’d got in late. Very late in fact, but Johnny said he’d still come over. He’d brought takeaway, and they’d sat on crates. Her bed was the first thing to be delivered, the sofas would take weeks.
She looked around the room: her clothes were all over the floor, together with Johnny’s. Well at least they’d had a bed this time. She smiled and stretched again. The thought of hauling her body out of bed was completely unappealing. She supposed that her new coffee machine might be a consolation. Johnny still hadn’t moved, so she slipped out of bed and went to the bathroom for a shower. When she came back to the bedroom to get dressed, the bed was empty and she heard noises downstairs. She opened her windows and looked down at the river. She’d never get bored of the view. Perhaps she could bring Mum over later to sit on the terrace. Wendy was out of hospital again and every time she came out, she seemed to bounce right back.
Kelly hadn’t seen Nikki all week, and for that she was thankful.
She towel dried her hair and got dressed. Her bedroom had built-in wardrobes and they were full already. She selected a white blouse and a patterned skirt. It wasn’t a frivolous pattern, but it was a little more interesting than just a single colour. The skirt was a sensible check, and she matched it with brown leather sandals. The stairs were wood with no carpet and her heels clunked noisily on them. The space was lavish compared to her mother’s terrace and she felt extravagant.
‘Good morning,’ she said, as she joined Johnny in the kitchen.
‘I thought you’d be up and out early,’ he said. ‘I’ve made you an omelette.’
‘You spoil me! Thank you very much, are you joining me?’
‘I’m making another one now.’
‘I’ll wait then.’ She got cutlery from the sink (she only had two of everything, donated by Wendy, so far), and took it, and her omelette, outside. More crates had been turned upside down, and she used one as a table and pulled up two more as seats. It was warm already, and it was only seven a.m.
Johnny joined her and they ate in silence.
‘You make a good omelette.’
Her phone buzzed and she looked at the screen. It was Matt, Nikki’s husband.
‘Oh God, I’m ignoring that.’
‘Who is it?’ Johnny asked.
‘My brother-in-law. It won’t be important. My sister will have put him up to it.’
‘Why would she do that?’
‘It’s a long, boring story. Let’s just say, we don’t get on.’
‘I’m an only child, it’s a lot less complicated.’
Kelly’s phone rang again. She tutted, it was Matt again.
‘You better answer it, it doesn’t look like he’s going to stop trying,’ Johnny said. She did so.
‘Kelly Porter.’ She was always formal with Matt because she didn’t know how much poisoned honey Nikki had fed him, so she kept a distance.
Johnny watched as Kelly’s demeanour changed. She sat upright and then stood up. Now she was pacing. He watched her. Families, he thought. Such a pain in the arse. But then he wondered if Josie would ever feel like that about him, and be irritated by his phone calls.
‘Matt, calm down. I think you’re over reacting. Look, she’ll be with a friend.’ Kelly shrugged her shoulders towards Johnny, who began clearing away. He had to get going as well. Kelly listened.
‘Yesterday she was supposed to meet a friend, she didn’t show up. She didn’t come home last night, and she’s not answering her phone.’
‘Who was she supposed to meet, and what time?’
‘Her friend, Katy Crawley. Around four o’clock.’
‘So, when was the last time you saw her?’
Kelly searched her memory and played her days back, trying to work out what day it was. It was Friday.
‘Before that, about two o’clock,’ Matt said. ‘The kids are in meltdown, your mum hasn’t seen her either.’
‘How did she seem, Matt? Was she stressed or upset about anything? You know Katy Crawley can be a bit of a drain, did you know that Nikki has been giving her money?’
‘I sort of knew, Kelly, but I don’t see what that has to do with her going off and not being here for her kids.’
‘I know, I’m just thinking aloud. Are you sure Katy is telling the truth? Maybe Nikki wanted a break and is getting her to cover for her?’
‘Why would she do that?’
‘I don’t know, Matt. I’m just thinking like a copper would.’
Thinking like a copper would…
‘Matt. Will you let me make some calls and I’ll get right back to you?’ They hung up. Kelly rang her sister’s phone. The tone was dead. Then she rang her mother.
‘Mum, I’ve just spoken to Matt.’
‘I’ve been up all night, Kelly. She wouldn’t go off and tell no-one where she’d gone. She wouldn’t leave the kids, and Matt, and…’ said Wendy.
‘Has Matt spoken to the police?’ Kelly asked her mother.
‘No, I don’t think so, do you think we should?’ Wendy sounded more alarmed.
‘I’ll do it, leave it to me.’
‘Do you think she’s ok, Kelly?’
‘I don’t know, Mum. I’ll keep you updated, I promise. Has she done this before? I mean, had she been acting strangely or saying she wanted to get away for a bit?’
‘No.’
‘When is the last time you spoke?’
‘Yesterday. She was going to get the rest of my things from the hospital. I forgot to tidy my cupboard. I’m such a fool.’
‘Alright, Mum. Listen, I’ll get back to you, alright?’
She hung up.
Working backwards, Nikki’s last known trip was to the hospital.
A shadow crept over Kelly’s day; a day that had started so perfectly.
‘I’m making a move,’ said Johnny. Their goodbyes were always rushed and she felt regret.
‘Right, of course. Thanks for breakfast, and er… dinner,’ she said.
He walked over to her and put one hand on her jaw and cupped her face. He bent over to kiss her and she allowed him.
‘Let me know when you’d like to do it again,’ he said.
‘I will. Soon.’
‘Good.’ He left and Kelly watched his back. She stood like that for a few seconds after the door had banged, and then she remembered what she had to do.