4 Riverside Close by Diana Wilkinson

Author:Diana Wilkinson [Wilkinson, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781913419431
Publisher: Bloodhound Books - crime, thriller and mystery
Published: 2020-03-29T16:00:00+00:00

It takes about thirty minutes before Susan contrives an opening to steer the conversation on to a more intimate level.

‘Marriage isn’t easy,’ she says. ‘It seems ages since I was single and having fun. I love the kids but they’re hard work.’ At this point she stands up, excuses herself and heads off to the toilet.

‘Won’t be a minute,’ she calls back through the open door. I check my phone. Jason’s called twice but I’m keeping it on mute for now. I watch Susan also check her phone which is sitting on the hall table. I know from her anxious expression that Jason will have texted her recently and she’s most probably reading his message. I suspect this was the real reason for the trip to the bathroom.

‘I know what you mean about marriage. It’s bloody hard work.’ I carry on once she’s come back. ‘Ever been tempted to have an affair?’ I get up and move away from the table and perch high at the breakfast bar to be nearer my hostess who is flitting skittishly round the kitchen.

Susan doesn’t answer at once then suddenly stops and looks at me. ‘Yes. Actually I have.’

She leads me out into the back garden and through the small wooden portal at the end. The sun is trying to poke through the clouds which are moving steadily across the sky. I shiver. A ghost is passing overhead. Susan lifts the latch which squeaks loudly and she bemoans how Roger never fixes anything around the house or garden. She’ll find the oil later, once I’ve gone, and loosen the hinges herself.

The riverbed is wider than I’d imagined and the stream babbles actively downstream. The undergrowth all around is wild and untamed. We stand for a moment or two and then decide to turn back. Next time, perhaps when we are neighbours, we’ll laugh, we’ll wear our boots. As she recloses the gate and secures the latch, she turns to me with a wild look in her eye.

‘His name’s Vince, by the way.’

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