The Woman Who Lied(14)

‘I think you should report it. Just to be on the safe side. Just with your local police station, which is Twickenham for you.’

Emilia’s stomach turns and she pushes away her unfinished salmon. ‘Really? But you said you don’t think it’s serious.’

‘Don’t panic,’ says Louise. ‘I’m not saying you should be worried. It’s some idiot messing with you. Some fan, probably. But I think better to log it. Have you got one of those Ring doorbells? Or cameras or anything?’

She’s sure Louise has asked her that before. She’s as security conscious as her father-in-law. ‘I’m crap at that sort of thing. Elliot’s dad is always telling us to have more security around the place.’

‘Didn’t you say he was once in the police?’

‘Years ago. Before your time.’

‘Why did he leave?’ Louise picks up her knife and fork and continues to eat her steak.

‘I don’t actually know,’ says Emilia, refilling her wine glass, thankful she’s getting a taxi back. She’s already starting to feel a bit light-headed but she needs this tonight after the stress of the last few days. ‘Elliot said not to interrogate him.’ She laughs. ‘You know what I’m like. Nosy.’

‘Interested,’ says Louise, kindly.

‘Anyway, he said his dad didn’t like to talk about it. He implied it had something to do with his mother.’

‘Hmm, yes, it probably didn’t help my marriage.’ She gives a sardonic smile.

‘I think he was only in the force a few years, anyway.’

Louise swallows a mouthful of steak. ‘Did you say his wife has died?’

‘Yes, about eight years ago now – quite a while. He’s moved to be nearer to us as well.’

‘In-laws on your doorstep.’ She laughs bitterly. ‘Not always a good thing.’

‘He’s better than Jonas’s parents. His mum was so overbearing at times. Jonas is definitely her little prince. Although his dad’s a sweetheart.’ She does miss them. They vowed to keep in touch after the divorce, but as Jasmine got older the need for her to communicate with them became less and less and now she sees them maybe during the Christmas holidays. ‘But I don’t miss Eliza “popping in” every five minutes.’

‘Sounds like Frances.’

‘I know Frances isn’t that nice to you but at least she’s great with Toby.’

Louise nods. ‘There is that. And to be fair to the monster-in-law I’d find it hard to do this job without her. And Mike is useless. He’s a big kid himself.’

Emilia had met Mike only once. He’d come to pick up Toby from a play date when Frances couldn’t. She’d thought, with a stab of guilt, that he was nice: warm and friendly, and he’d seemed great with Toby, letting him climb onto his back as he carried him to the car. But she didn’t know the ins and outs of their marriage and subsequent divorce. Louise was quite private about her past, saying she didn’t like to dwell. ‘It’s the here and now that we need to focus on,’ she’d always say. And Emilia agreed. The past could stay where it was as far as she was concerned.

‘Anyway … I have news.’ Louise puts her knife and fork together on her empty plate, and dabs at her lips with a napkin. She’s not dressed up for the occasion, wearing her usual outfit of jeans and an oversized jumper, often with an animal on the front. This time it’s a llama with a tartan bow-tie. Emilia had put on a silky blouse and curled her hair. ‘That was delicious by the way. First proper meal for ages.’ Louise always joked that her diet was awful as she mostly ate on the run. That didn’t surprise Emilia. Louise was short, like her, but whippet-thin and androgenous with her gamine hairstyle. She looked like a pretty boy.

‘Ooh, tell me more.’

‘Remember that guy I was seeing early last year?’

‘The one who really liked you but you weren’t sure?’

Louise looks sheepish. ‘Yes. I’m such an idiot sometimes but it felt too soon after Mike. Anyway, it’s back on.’

‘That’s great news. I’m so pleased for you. What was his name again?’

‘Marcus. He’s also a police officer. Although we work in different forces. I originally met him on a training day. So …’ she gives a self-deprecating laugh ‘… that means we won’t see much of each other but I feel more ready this time. I haven’t told Toby yet, so I’d appreciate it if you kept it to yourself.’

‘Of course.’ Emilia downs the rest of her wine.

‘Oh, and I’ve got a cat. I know, I know, I’m going to turn into one of those cat ladies, but Mike is allergic so now he’s out of my life I can finally get one.’

‘My kids would love a pet but Elliot is too anal.’ Emilia laughs. ‘The friends he shared a house with at uni called him Mrs Mop because he was always cleaning. Is it a kitten?’

‘Yes. A boy. Hamish. He’s gorgeous. Black, except for a white bib and a pink nose. Look at him!’ She pushes her phone under Emilia’s nose to show her a photo. ‘Do you like his tartan collar? Notice a bit of a theme?’ She points to her sweatshirt.

‘I do. He’s very cute,’ she says, with a twinge of envy. She’d love a cat. She passes Louise back her phone.