My Partner's Friend: A gripping psychological thriller by Mark Hurst

Author:Mark Hurst [Hurst, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mark Hurst
Published: 2024-04-20T00:00:00+00:00

33

Melissa - Martin’s Bothy

Wednesday, 24th April

I’m not sure how he will react to me just turning up unannounced like this after nearly two weeks of avoiding his calls and messages; I’m hoping he can put my behaviour aside and be pleased to see me. Our last conversation was not the best, and I don’t want to leave it like that, in fact, I now know I want more. We could be good for each other and good together. We’ve lived through the same trauma, experienced the accusations and intrusions into our personal lives and the comments of family members and friends, but what do they know, really? What can they possibly know not having gone through those experiences and had the same happen to them?

I’d forgotten how remote his Bothy is; the road up and around Kielder Water has hardly any vehicles on it, especially at this time of day when the sun is low, looking to fall behind pine forests and hills to the west. I cross the English-Scottish border, and instantly, I am surrounded by tall pine trees in a managed plantation. The road width drops to a single carriageway with vehicle passing places and, slowing, I recall that the turn-off is just a few hundred yards past the blue “Welcome to the Scottish Borders” sign. The turn-off to my right is onto a narrow stone track, and I crawl along, keeping my tyres aligned with the parallel gravel tracks. The twists and turns in the forest make this a truly remote place, and as I break through the far side of the woods, I see his Bothy in front, to the right of the track. His Land Rover is parked at the side, beside the stone chimney breast, expelling a thin, wispy trail of smoke to the clear blue sky, slowly rising vertically. Turning to park my car alongside his, the front door of the old Bothy opens, and Martin is standing there with his arms folded, his body language indicating this is possibly not the good idea I thought it to be.

By the time I switch the engine off, Martin is standing by the driver’s door, and he opens it.

‘Hello, and what are you doing here? Have you lost your way?’

‘Hi, well, yes, I was passing and thought I’d drop in,’ showing a cheeky smile trying to disarm the situation.

‘Oh, you often drive about thirty miles from a decent road, do you, up here in the Scottish Borders, a hundred and fifty miles from home. It’s a good job I’m home then.’ His smile is welcoming and a relief. I know I shouldn’t have interrupted him in his work, but I had to see him without all the usual distractions. I step out of my car and stand upright in front of him, smiling. He throws his arms around me, and we hug tightly, each feeling the warmth of old friends reunited.

As we release, I look up into his face, ‘I was a little worried I wouldn’t be welcome,’

‘Nonsense, you are always welcome,’ and he kisses me on my cheek.

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