I Let You In: A BRAND NEW compelling and emotional domestic psychological thriller by J.E. Steeples & Jill Steeples

Author:J.E. Steeples & Jill Steeples [Steeples, J.E. & Steeples, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-08-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Nineteen

Waking up the next morning with the sun filtering through the bay window of my bedroom, my anxiety from last night had lifted. Everything seemed better in the coId light of day. I would speak to Ollie later, reassure him that I was here to talk and hopefully we might clear the air. My relationship with Jack was in its very early stages so there was no need to over analyse our every interaction. If it worked out then all well and good and if it didn’t, well that wouldn’t be the end of the world either. And Rob? It was just a matter of time before we got used to living alongside each other.

I was just piling my hair on top of my head when the doorbell rang and, forgetting about my new doorbell app, something else that would take some getting used to, I ran down the stairs and along the hallway, half expecting to find a delivery man on my doorstep.

‘Frank?’

‘Hi Mand, is it a bad time? I can come back later if that’s better for you.’

‘No, come in.’ Something inside lifted and it occurred to me that I was relieved, happy even, to see Frank standing there. ‘I’ll pop the kettle on.’

In the kitchen he had the decency to look sheepish.

‘Look, sorry about last night. We were talking and the time ran away from us. I thought afterwards you were probably worried out of your skin.’

‘I was.’ He knew me too well. ‘As long as Ollie’s okay though, that’s the main thing.’

Stay calm. Relax. Don’t bombard Frank with questions.

Trouble was my internal dialogue was getting me twitchy.

‘Did he get to school on time?’

‘Yes, I made sure he did. He mentioned that you were called into the school?’

I grimaced.

‘You should have told me, Mand. We could have gone together, presented a united front. You don’t have to do everything on your own, you know that?’

It was a different Frank sitting at the table today. While he’d been staying, he’d been playful, sometimes over-familiar, trying to recreate the easy banter we’d once shared, occasionally over-stepping the mark, and plunging us into old territory and patterns of behaviour. Now, he was polite and respectful, and I was grateful that we were talking, honestly and openly.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t think.’ I handed Frank a mug of coffee and sat down opposite him, cradling mine. ‘It came as a bit of a shock. I had no idea what had been going on. That he’d been skipping school. I felt like the worst mother ever. It was pretty humiliating sat in front of that young, snooty teacher. I could tell she was judging me.’

‘Ollie won’t be the only one. He’ll be one of many kids testing the boundaries. It’s what teenagers do. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re a terrific mother.’

I looked away, touched by his comment.

‘Thanks, but I’m not so sure about that. Ollie can’t seem to stand being in the same room as me. When he was little, being his mother was so easy, instinctive.

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