Save Her by Abigail Osborne (novel books to read .txt) 📗

‘Yes, stupid. Of course I did.’ She pulled Flora back into a hug and rested her head on her friend’s. Every inhalation brought with it the subtle scent of jasmine. They sat there for a while, both trying to process what had just happened.

Flora spoke eventually. ‘It’s Cecelia, isn’t it? It has to be.’

‘It looks that way,’ Sophie agreed.

‘But how? Sam said she was away in France this week.’

‘Oh, Flora.’ Sophie kissed the top of her head, holding back a chuckle. It never ceased to amaze her how naïve Flora could be. ‘Cecelia has a lot of money. Do you really think she wouldn’t find someone to do her dirty work?’

Flora was quiet as she absorbed the fact her mother-in-law hated her enough to hire someone to torment her. ‘But it just doesn’t make sense. What does she think? That I am going to be scared into leaving Sam? The worms are disgusting. But not scary enough to make me want to leave. She’ll have to do better than that.’

They sat in companionable silence, Sophie slowly stroking her hair. She could feel Flora start to unclench and relax. ‘Do you think we should go to the police?’ asked Sophie eventually.

‘And tell them what? Excuse me, mister policeman, someone put worms on my face and in my bed and I didn’t like it,’ answered Flora sarcastically. ‘They will think that I am crazy.’

‘You don’t know that. Anyway, it’s not just the fact that there were worms. It’s also the fact someone broke into the house.’

‘But did they, though? There is no sign of a break-in. So, it must be someone with a key. I know we think it is Cecelia, but I can’t very well go reporting my mother-in-law to the police. What would Sam think?’ Flora sat up quickly. ‘That’s it. That’s what she wants. She thinks she can either scare me so that I’ll leave. Or that I’ll go to the police and accuse her and it will destroy my marriage. I bet that is what she is banking on.’ Flora got up and began to pace up and down the room. Restless energy exuded from her. ‘Well, she isn’t going to win, Sophie. I won’t let her. She thinks she has the upper hand but two can play at that game. I am going to move house with Sam and I’ll do everything I can to cut the strings between us. It’s time Sam became a grown man and started to focus on his future with me. These petty games aren’t going to accomplish anything. I won’t let her win.’

Sophie was shocked to see her normally quiet and sensitive friend growing a spine before her very eyes. Flora was holding herself stronger and taller than she ever had before. The transformation was breathtaking.

If only it wasn’t too late.

Flora had no idea what was coming for them both. That the danger was a lot worse than a bunch of worms.

29

October was her favourite month. Sophie sat in the car and watched the window blowing the branches of the barren trees. A few brown wilted leaves brushed the floor on their journey to decomposition. It was such an atmospheric time of year. The wind was cleansing and sharp in contrast to overheated houses and offices. It was the time of year you could wrap yourself up in layers but still enjoy the refreshing blasts of cold air that made you feel alive. Sophie loved it.

When she used to live with Flora, they loved those months. They spent days watching old movies on Freeview and drinking cheap sachets of hot chocolate that they would kid themselves tasted just like a Costa. They’d take walks in the park, huddled together, crunching their way through the fallen leaves of brilliant yellows and oranges, feeling red-faced and happy.

Sophie was waiting for Flora in the car. They were going out for dinner, determined to cheer themselves up after the stress of the last few days. It was cold in the car as the small heaters tried to tackle the frosty chill in the air. Luckily, the seat warmers were quick, and the back of her body was nice and warm. Anything was better than the frosty atmosphere in the house. The rage in Greg’s voice was still ringing in her ears.

Flora opened the door to the BMW and Sophie was hit with a blast of cold air that took her breath away. ‘Sorry! Sorry!’

‘You look tired.’

‘Oh, thanks. Hello to you too.’

Sophie didn’t laugh: the dark circles under Flora’s eyes and the redness around her eyes worried her. ‘Did you sleep at all last night?’

‘Not really. I just couldn’t settle, I just kept feeling like there were worms on me every time I closed my eyes.’ Flora wiped at her face as if brushing off a phantom worm. ‘It was awful. I haven’t had a night like that since–’ Flora stopped and looked down at her lap. ‘Since Prague,’ she continued quietly, looking steadfastly at her lap and fiddling with a tassel of her cream scarf.

The first time either of them had left the country was supposed to be the best time of their lives. Sophie had persuaded her boss at the shop she worked at in the evenings that everyone deserved a Christmas bonus and she insisted on spending the money on a holiday for the two of them. She even got enough money for their passports.

They had settled on Prague, seduced by promises of magical river cruises and snow-capped buildings with quaint little pubs and restaurants. Plus, Ryanair had a sale on flights which gave them money left over for spending when they were there. Flora had been shaking by the time they got there. The security at the airport had traumatised her. Sophie had laughed at Flora’s face: she looked so guilty going through, like she was expecting to be arrested any minute. But the minute they landed in Prague, they had dumped their suitcases