Pretty Polly by Abby Davies

Author:Abby Davies [Davies, Abby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-One

“Geez. Why on God’s green earth haven’t you told me any of this?” Eimear says.

I sip at the rich hot chocolate she’s made me, my feet tucked under my bottom on the squishy blue sofa. Her house is small but cosy and ever-so-warm. Flames flicker in the Victorian fireplace casting soft light into the small living room, onto the framed photographs of Pippa and Rosie and the fluffy rug which lies atop oak floorboards. The house feels lived in and well-loved, and smells of family, of little girls and clean sheets and chocolate. The gentle click of a turquoise, heart-shaped clock sitting on the mantlepiece is mellow and calming. My eyes feel heavy. I stifle a yawn.

“I didn’t want to make a fuss. I hoped it would just stop. That whoever wrote that message on my coffee table would decide they’d gotten their message across and leave me alone.”

Eimear sighs and shakes her finger at me. “Next time, tell me. Okay?”

“Yes, boss.”

She smiles and slurps her own hot chocolate. She looks like a big cuddly pink teddy bear in her fluffy pink robe and slippers. The girls are sound asleep in bed, safely tucked up with their night-teddies. It’s nine ‘o clock. I yawn again and this time Eimear follows suit.

“So, are you going to do it?”

“Do what?”

“Get cameras installed?”

“I’m definitely going to change the locks, but -”

“Do it, Jess. Get the cameras. I know it’ll be a pain having workmen all over the place, but you’re going to have to get people in to sort out the mess anyway.”

“I’m worried it’s going to cost the earth.”

“Yeah, but it’ll be worth it. For peace of mind if nothin’ else.”

I know she’s right, but paying for security cameras on top of everything else feels like I’m giving in. As if my tormentor has won. I begrudge having to fork out a load of money for something like this. But I keep these thoughts to myself, knowing Eimear will tell me off.

“Imagine if you caught the nasty little sod? How amazing would that be?”

“How long do you think he’d get?”

“I dunno, but he deserves to go down for this,” she stops, looks me dead in the eye, “and you’ve absolutely no idea who he is? Why he’s doing this?”

“Haven’t a clue,” I say, which is almost true.

“You’re staying here tomorrow night as well. You’re staying as long as it takes to fix your house.”

“Thanks. Oh shit. I forgot – I need to let Mark know whether I want to see a film with him. I’m saying no. There’s no way I’m going to feel up to it.”

Eimear perks up and beams at me. “Oooh? Decided to give him another chance, have you?”

“Yeah. We met for lunch yesterday. He sent me flowers today.”

“Really? God, he’s keen.” Eimear’s tone betrays something critical, which I understand.

“Think I’m ready for bed,” I say as another yawn attacks.

“Me too. Try to get some sleep, hun.”

She plants a motherly kiss on my forehead and leaves the room, yawning all the way to the stairs.

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