Not My Affair by Pamela Fudge

Author:Pamela Fudge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 2016-01-21T17:25:22+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

My first thought was to question my own stupidity in forgetting the safety in numbers ruling that we had all been so meticulously applying in order to avoid just this very scenario. I wanted to turn and run – run as far away from this weird woman as I could get. I wanted to run, but seemed totally incapable of moving so much as an inch.

My second thought was to recall the advice my mother had read out that very morning that under no circumstances should you try and talk to the person harassing you. However, it was advice that could be more easily followed on a busy street or over the telephone, but less simple when the person in question was standing right in front of you and you were both tucked away out of sight. However, so far I had managed to remain silent.

Iona held out the ball again, and I noticed with vague satisfaction that the mud from it had spread onto her beautifully manicured hands and under the blood red nails.

‘Go on,’ she said her tone cold with dislike and distain, ‘you can take the ball from me, but,’ she added, ‘don’t think for one minute that you can take Jack away from me. We’re soul mates, we belong together, and there’s nothing you can do about it.’

It was too much, this calm certainty of hers that it was me stopping Jack from being with her, and suddenly all thoughts of the good advice not to respond to her taunts flew out of the window.

‘All this time,’ I told her, meeting her scornful gaze steadily, ‘I have done nothing to keep Jack with me – that has been entirely his own choice. In fact, I threw him out at one point and he still didn’t come to you.’ I paused to let that piece of information sink in. ‘Oh, didn’t you know that? He’s a free man, free to go wherever he chooses and with whomever he chooses. The fact that he hasn’t chosen to be with you all this time surely must be telling you something. He doesn’t want you, Iona, it really is as simple as that. ’

‘You’re lying,’ she hissed, but I could have sworn I saw a brief flash of uncertainty in those cold grey eyes.

Perhaps unwisely I decided to push on. ‘Am I? Am I really, Iona? I think you need to ask yourself why he might be seeking a solicitor’s advice at this very moment on taking out an injunction against you. Stalking and harassment are arrestable offences, you know.’

‘You’re lying,’ she said again, raising her voice.

I knew immediately I had gone too far, especially when she took a step towards me but, before I could move or make a response in any way, there was a low growl. I looked down to find Gemma standing close by my side. Gone was the gentle-natured Lurcher with soft brown eyes, who I could have sworn wouldn’t have it in her to so much as hurt a fly.

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