Hearing Steve and Lauren arguing downstairs as he came out of the spare room, Luke guessed he’d outstayed his welcome. It was clear that it was him they were arguing about. He should go, though where to, he had no idea. His mother would put him up for a while if he asked her, but that was the last thing he wanted to do. He didn’t get on with her partner. The bloke was a loser, treating her like a skivvy, sponging off her and boozing away her money. The way he was feeling, Luke doubted he could hold his temper for long around him.
He’d have to try to find somewhere else. A room to rent near Bernard’s house, hopefully. He wanted to stay close to Ella. Desperately wanted to see her, check how she was and reassure her he would always be there for her. That day in the park when she’d got it into her head he might go away forever had almost torn him apart. He also needed to see Claire, try to talk to her. She was ignoring his texts, refusing to answer his calls. Why? His stomach twisted with anger and frustration. She was obviously taking Anna’s word over his about the crap she’d texted her, and considered him some kind of threat.
He couldn’t help thinking she was being influenced by someone. Gemma, maybe, who was probably her closest friend? The half-sister she’d found – a development Luke couldn’t get his head around? Where the hell had she popped up from? Had Claire had some kind of previous contact with her? If she had, Luke had no idea how or when. She’d been caring for her father twenty-four hours a day recently. He had no idea what was going on.
His heart heavy with despair, he heaved out a sigh as the argument escalated downstairs, Lauren’s agitated tones drifting up from the kitchen: ‘We’re newly married and we have an uninvited lodger in the house,’ she pointed out tetchily. She was attempting to keep her voice down, but Luke could hear it as plain as day.
‘Not uninvited, Lauren. I invited him,’ Steve said, in Luke’s defence.
‘Yes, before asking me,’ Lauren hissed.
‘I asked you before I brought him in,’ Steve argued, exasperated. ‘You could have said no.’
‘How? He was standing right outside the front door.’ Lauren’s voice went up an octave.
Steve didn’t answer. There wasn’t a lot he could say to that. Luke had indeed been standing outside the door. Lauren had been put on the spot.
‘Three’s a crowd, Steve.’ Lauren now sounded utterly pissed off. ‘We don’t have any privacy. We can’t talk. We can’t even have sex without worrying about him overhearing. It’s uncomfortable. I’m uncomfortable with him being here after what he’s done, especially if he’s here when you’re not around.’
That hit Luke like a low blow to the stomach.
A loaded silence followed, then, ‘He hasn’t done anything, Lauren,’ Steve said tightly. ‘I’ve known Luke for ages. He’s just not that type.’
‘Right,’ Lauren sounded unconvinced. ‘And this is why he was questioned for hours at the police station? His girlfriend went missing! Running scared of him, no doubt.’
‘It’s bullshit,’ Steve countered angrily. ‘I’m telling you, Lauren, whatever this nutjob is accusing him of, it’s all lies. I know Luke.’
‘You don’t know who he is behind closed doors. There’s no smoke without fire, Steve. Something bloody well happened if the police were that involved.’
‘He hasn’t been charged with anything,’ Steve reminded her wearily. ‘They were questioning him, that’s all.’
‘Exactly. Why would they do that unless they thought he’d got something to answer for?’ Lauren asked. Luke supposed she had a point. ‘You have to tell him to leave,’ she went on, finally getting to the crux of the argument. ‘I know he’s your best mate, but I just can’t do this. If he doesn’t go, then I will. I’ll stay at Mum’s or something. At least until he’s gone.’
Time to make an exit, Luke decided, feeling sick to his gut as he descended the stairs. He couldn’t just walk out without telling them he was going, though. That wouldn’t be fair on Steve, who’d tried to be there for him.
‘Today, Steve,’ Lauren called after him as Steve came out of the kitchen to answer the landline in the hall, which had rung twice over the last ten minutes.
‘All right. I’ve got the message, Lauren. I’ll tell him,’ Steve said over his shoulder, and then stopped, his face flushing with embarrassment, as he almost walked into Luke. ‘Sorry, mate,’ he mumbled, reaching for the phone. ‘She doesn’t mean anything by it. She just…’
‘Wants her space back,’ Luke supplied as Steve tailed off awkwardly. ‘It’s okay. I get it.’ He forced a smile. ‘I was going to let you know I’d decided to crash at my mother’s for a while anyway.’
He did get it. Mud stuck. He was learning that fast. As far as Lauren was concerned, he was an abusive excuse of a man and she didn’t want him anywhere near her.
Steve looked relieved as he pressed the phone to his ear. Then troubled. ‘Who wants him?’ he asked, his gaze gliding warily in Luke’s direction.
A second later, he handed Luke the phone. ‘I think it’s her,’ he said, shooting him a warning glance as he turned to walk back into the kitchen.
Luke didn’t have time to speak before a female voice growled, ‘Serves you right, you bastard.’ And then she was gone. Anna. Undoubtedly her. Ringing for what purpose other than to fucking well torment him? She’d destroyed his marriage. She was trying to destroy him. Alienating him from everyone around him.
Claire. Luke felt his blood run cold. Why was Anna contacting her? Solely for the purpose of poisoning her mind against him? Or was there more to this?
‘That was quick,’ Steve said, coming back from the kitchen, plainly thinking he needed some support. ‘Was it her?’
‘It was her,’ Luke confirmed, biting back the fury rising inside him. ‘Did her details come up on the caller display?’ he asked, praying that they had. He had tried to contact her repeatedly, but she had clearly ditched the phone he’d had the number for. The only hope he had of proving she was alive and well and making his life hell was the text she’d sent Claire, and that depended on the police being able to prove it had come from Anna.
Steve shook his head. ‘Number withheld,’ he said.
Luke clenched his jaw hard. ‘I need to go,’ he said, swinging back up the stairs to grab his stuff. He had to see Claire, whether she wanted to see him or not. If she wouldn’t take his calls, wasn’t at the house, then he’d go to the care home. She had to turn up somewhere sooner or later. He’d wait in the car until she did. He had to make her listen.