The Stranger - Book 1 by Duffy CS

Author:Duffy, CS [Duffy, CS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction
Publisher: Storytel Original
Published: 2021-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

Episode Six

The single lamp did little to combat the oppressive darkness of the living room. Fergus sat on the floor next to the chimney fireplace, in the spot he sat so often watching Alfie play by the window. He felt bone tired. Alfie’s unscheduled nap on the way home from the supermarket had done little to improve his mood, and the afternoon had passed in a blur of tantrums and tears and refusals to eat or bath or sleep. That evening, after Alex left, Alfie got out of bed for the seventh time, and Fergus snapped.

‘It’s time to sleep,’ he shouted, yanking Alfie back into bed with more force than he intended. Alfie gave a cry that was sharp with shock and fear and Fergus felt as though he would cry himself. He pulled Alfie into his arms and sat at the edge of the bed, rocked him to sleep as though he were an infant. When Alfie was finally out for the count, Fergus watched him sleep for several minutes longer, love and guilt and fear churning in him. He leaned forward and kissed Alfie’s forehead, then his heart nearly stopped as Alfie stirred. He froze, and Alfie remained asleep.

Sitting on the floor was some sort of penance, he supposed with a rueful grin. He didn’t deserve to sit on the sofa and watch TV like a normal parent who didn’t shout at their child. He knew perfectly well that every parent shouted at their child from time to time, but when Alfie looked up at him with those watery blue eyes, he still felt like the worst human on the planet. Was that how Kati felt when Oskar cried, he wondered, shivering as a draught hit him and he heard the squeak of the tiny wheels of the train carriage.

Fergus was so lost in thought that he barely noticed the sound of the front door opening and Tess kicking off her boots. She padded into the living room, and crouched in front of him, took his face in her hands. He covered her hands with his, stared into her eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but she leaned forward and kissed him. He could taste alcohol.

‘I miss you,’ she whispered, as her hands trailed down his chest i. She dipped her head to kiss her way along his collarbone, opening his shirt buttons, moving forward to straddle him as put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. They kissed again, hungrily, deeply, and she held onto his shoulders as he got to his feet with her legs wrapped around his waist, giggling softly together as he nearly stumbled, then righted himself just in time.

As he carried her into the hallway, an almighty thud reverberated around the apartment, and Alfie immediately began to wail. Someone was banging on the front door. The knocking was aggressive; whoever it was wasn’t there at this time of night to borrow a cup of sugar. Fergus released Tess, scrabbling to do his shirt buttons back up.

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