The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex

Author:Emma Stonex [Stonex, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781529047332
Google: 2FX-DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2021-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

27

JENNY

Ron must have left the Metro in gear because when she turned the ignition it jumped backwards like a startled rabbit. She hadn’t driven in a while and felt shaky behind the wheel, her brain confused by messages. Indicate, mirrors, check her blind spot. She used to do it without thinking. At points the whole thing felt too overwhelming.

She wasn’t looking forward to today, her grandson’s sixth birthday party. Jenny had never enjoyed social occasions, but with Bill by her side it had been bearable.

Now she was on her own, fending for herself at family events, mixing with people she didn’t know, whose silent judgements followed her round the room. Did they remember her from years ago? Their parents would. She had been the hysterical one, scrapping at the cameras and swearing in the news. But Hannah said she needed to get out of the house; she’d been cooped up too long; she was starting to ‘go strange’.

She turned the fans on and thought the air emanating from them smelled of fish. She should use the car more. But where would she go? Apart from her children’s houses, or the supermarket. Join the WI, suggested Hannah. But the thought of crocheting blankets with a gaggle of old dears left her cold. She could imagine how it would be, once they realized who she was. Gossiping over their knitting needles.

She was steeling herself to pull out of the space when she spotted a woman in her wing mirror, walking up the street.

Jenny ducked down in the driver’s seat. She was prone to this. Whenever she saw a person she knew in the park or the shops, she wouldn’t approach them with glad surprise and a word of greeting, as other people might; she’d hide behind a lamp post or the nearest display of toilet roll and wait until they’d gone by.

Only, this wasn’t a person she knew. She didn’t think so, anyway. Blue jeans, big jacket, yellow hair scraped back in a bun. Jenny couldn’t get a clear view of her face.

Maybe she recognized the height and build of this woman; yes, maybe she did. The fish air grew stronger. She turned the fans off.

The woman passed the car and stopped outside Jenny’s gate. She took a piece of paper out of her pocket and checked an address. Then she knocked on the front door and waited some time, a good two minutes, before stepping to one side and nosing into the living-room window. Jenny felt pleased she had closed the curtains.

Another knock, another wait: whatever it was she’d come for was important.

Still sagged in the seat, Jenny shoved the car into first and drove away, leaving her blind spot unchecked.

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