The Judas Tree by Amanda Jennings

Author:Amanda Jennings [Jennings, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2022-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

‘Can you drop me at Fulham Broadway?’ she asked, chewing lightly on her lower lip.

Luke nodded stiffly and turned the engine on as she typed a reply to Will.

Yes. About six.

She hesitated, then added a kiss.

They were silent on the drive back through London. At one point he reached for her hand and her body tensed. She pulled her hand away. His touch felt wrong now, not exciting but duplicitous.

‘I’m away on business for a week from tomorrow,’ Luke said, as he pulled over to let her out not far from the tube station. ‘I’ll get in touch when I’m back in the country.’

‘No, Luke,’ she said. ‘It was only today. It’s over now.’

‘I’m not sure it is.’

‘It is. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear.’

‘I’ll call you when I’m back.’

‘You don’t have my number.’

‘It’s on the footer of your email.’

‘Please don’t call me. And don’t text either. If you have to contact me use my email, but I’d prefer you didn’t.’ She slipped her bag onto her shoulder and reached for the door handle. ‘I need to sort my life out.’

His jaw clenched with displeasure and his eyes flicked away from her.

‘Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be.’ She opened the door and got out, then turned to look at him, but he avoided her eyes, staring out of the windscreen as if fixed on something in the distance, his fingers tapping rapidly on the steering wheel. Finally, he looked at her and nodded, and she closed the door. As soon as she did so, he shifted the car into gear and screeched away. She watched the car weaving aggressively between traffic lanes, and when she could no longer see it, she turned and headed in the direction of the tube station.

She arrived home a little earlier than she’d said. She stood in the entrance hall of their building for a few minutes, breathing deeply, trying to gather herself before opening the door to their flat. When she tried to unlock the door, she fumbled with the key, as images of her and Luke bombarded her, each sending a pulse of guilt along her veins.

‘Hi!’ called Will from the kitchen.

His voice cut into her. Familiar, the most familiar voice in the world. He’d only said one word but she could hear the note of excitement in him. How could he be excited? What on earth was there to be excited about?

He appeared at the kitchen door and smiled. ‘I wasn’t sure if you were staying here or at Sophie’s.’ He smiled again. ‘I’m pleased you’ve come home.’

Her stomach seized. ‘I’m just going to take a shower.’

‘I’ll be in the garden. Come out and join me when you’re ready. I’ve something to show you.’ He turned away but then stopped and looked back at her. ‘Oh, and Emma called. She asked if you could ring the second you got in, her words. She sounded a bit stressed, just to warn you.’

‘I’ll shower first.’

She walked into the bathroom, legs like jelly, and slid the lock shut.

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