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‘Your ring is gorgeous,’ Laura ventured.

For a split second, Ellie hesitated. ‘Why, thank you,’ she said, smiling. ‘I love it too.’

‘Did your husband give it to you?’ Laura ventured, suddenly realising how cheeky her query sounded. Her mother would be furious with her for being so blatantly rude. Her cheeks burned, but it was too late to take back her query now.

Ellie smiled. ‘It was given to me by someone very special,’ she said softly, holding the ring up to the light.

Laura nodded, relieved that Ellie hadn’t chided her for her rudeness. It was only later that she realised Ellie hadn’t actually answered her question. But with a child’s lack of interest in anything that didn’t directly concern her own life, she quickly forgot about it.

But Ellie didn’t.

C
HAPTER
43

H
aving changed her mobile phone number the following day, Laura felt a lot more secure. She was still smarting from the events of the previous night, and the fact that Steve had effectively dumped her, but had decided that the best way to get over the ignominy was to throw herself into her work with a vengeance.

As the week progressed, she began to feel a lot calmer, and was relieved that there were no further calls from Jeff. She hoped that he’d realised that the daubing of paint on Steve’s car had been a step too far and had finally decided to leave her alone. She’d also put off going to the police, reasoning that she didn’t want to antagonise Jeff if he’d already decided to leave her alone.

By Friday, as her students left Laura’s office at the end of her afternoon tutorial, she was looking forward to going home, showering and getting ready for her night out with Kerry and her colleagues. She then had the whole weekend ahead, and she intended to do some serious relaxation.

As she switched her phone back on, it began to ring. Laura guessed it was probably Kerry, phoning to see if she’d left work yet. She picked it up off her desk and was just about to press the call button when she looked at the caller ID. She froze. It was Jeff’s number.

Quickly she pressed the red button and rejected the call.
How on earth had he managed to get her new number already? She’d had it for less than a week! Anxiously, Laura looked all around her office, as though Jeff was likely to pop up from behind her desk or suddenly materialise beside her. She was shaking and furious. The gall of him, daring to contact her after what he’d done to Steve’s car! Did he really think she’d ever want to speak to him again?

In a fury, Laura locked her office and proceeded down the corridor. Her excitement about the night ahead had already waned considerably, and she wondered if she should give the planned outing a miss.

The door to the office of the department’s secretary was still open, and Greta waved to Laura as she hurried past.

‘Goodnight, Laura. I hope you and Jeff are planning an exciting weekend!’ she called.

Laura stopped in her tracks and had a sudden thought. ‘Greta, did you give out my new phone number to anyone?’

The department secretary looked vague. ‘No, I don’t think so.’ Then she brightened. ‘Oh, yes, I’d forgotten – but then, I don’t suppose your husband counts! Yesterday, he rang to say he’d accidentally deleted your new number, and could he have it? He said he felt such a fool.’

Laura nodded, feeling annoyed. ‘So you gave it to him.’

‘Of course. Why wouldn’t I?’

Laura bit her lip. Greta was right – under normal circumstances, there would be no reason not to. So far she’d avoided telling anyone in the department that she and Jeff had broken up. She hadn’t wanted people’s sympathy in case it made her to burst into tears. Now that reasoning felt so childish and stupid.

‘Well, I’d be grateful if you wouldn’t tell him anything more about me,’ Laura said gently. ‘Jeff and I have broken up, and he’s being difficult about it.’

Greta’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, Laura, I’m so sorry!’ she said, looking surprised and guilty at the same time. ‘If only I’d known –’

Laura nodded ruefully as tears threatened to form. ‘It’s my own fault – I should have told you all before now. But I feel such a fool! I’m not even married a full year yet, and my marriage is over already.’

‘Well, I’m sure you’ve made the right choice,’ Greta said supportively. ‘Marriage isn’t for everyone, you know.’ She looked at Laura grimly. ‘But I think maybe you need to change your phone number again.’

Leaving Greta’s office, Laura turned and went back down the corridor. Since she’d told Greta that her marriage was over, she felt it was only right to let Darren know as well. He was her boss, and as a matter of courtesy he should really have been the first to hear it.

Knocking on his door, Laura waited apprehensively. She hoped he wouldn’t be overly kind to her, since she was likely to break down and cry if he did. Entering at his call, Laura stood in front of Darren’s desk, feeling awkward.

‘Sit down, Laura – take the weight off your feet,’ her boss urged. ‘How did you get on with those statistics lectures?’

‘Fine,’ said Laura dismissively, as she sat down. She never had any problem with her teaching schedule. It was in other areas of her life that things weren’t going so smoothly.

‘Well, then, is this a social call?’ he asked, smiling.

Laura sighed. She couldn’t put off telling him any longer. ‘Jeff and I have split up,’ she said.

Darren’s expression was grave. ‘I’m very sorry, Laura. But perhaps it’s for the best.’

Laura knew that there wouldn’t be anyone in the Sociology Department who’d be sorry to see Jeff out of her life. Most of her colleagues had already made it clear that he
wasn’t their favourite person, and she couldn’t blame them either. If anyone was to blame, it was her for being so stupid. Why hadn’t she left him the first time he’d raised his hand to her?

‘Do you want to take some time off?’ Darren asked softly. ‘If you feel you need some space, I’m sure Maria could delay her break for a week or two.’

Vehemently, Laura shook her head. ‘That’s the last thing I need,’ she said. ‘I was going to ask you if I could do some extra hours – work is probably the best thing for me right now.’

Darren nodded. ‘Well, I can’t deny that I’d be delighted if you could take the second years for their social cohesion module. I’d been thinking of bringing in a substitute lecturer, but if you’re sure you feel up to it –’

‘Of course I do,’ Laura told him briskly.

Darren suddenly grinned, and Laura could see that his eyes were twinkling. ‘I presume we can now take down that dreadful plaque on your door?’

Nodding, Laura blushed.

‘Good,’ Darren said briskly. ‘Can you take over from Monday week? That’ll give you time to revise and update your lecture notes for the course. But don’t worry about the first year tutorials – I’ll handle them myself.’

Laura nodded. ‘Thanks, Darren,’ she said, rising to her feet. She was grateful that he hadn’t gone all maudlin on her, or tried to wheedle the details of the break-up from her. Right now, sympathy would be her undoing, but Darren seemed to know that instinctively.

‘Laura –’ Darren took off his glasses and polished them on his handkerchief. ‘Please don’t forget that we’re all here for you.’

Laura nodded, a lump in her throat as she left the room and closed the door.

When she’d gone, a big smile appeared on Darren’s face, and he punched the air in jubilation. At last, he’d got his Laura back.

C
HAPTER
44

A
fter several more phone calls from Jeff over the weekend – none of which she had answered – Laura accepted that her ex-husband wasn’t going to give up, and that it was time to approach the police about his behaviour.

During her lunch break on Monday, Laura stepped into the local police station and hurried to the front desk.

‘Officer, I want to report my ex-husband’s unreasonable behaviour.’

The grumpy-faced policeman looked bored as he sat behind a mound of papers. ‘Hold on, I’ll see if someone is available to talk to you.’

After an eternity, he returned with an officer in tow, who gestured for her to follow him into a dingy office down an equally dingy corridor.

As they sat down on opposite sides of a table marked with cup rings and scuffmarks, the officer gestured for her to begin.

‘I’ve recently left my husband because he turned violent after we got married,’ she explained, the words tumbling out. ‘But since I’ve left, he’s been following me, turning up at the same places, and he even bugged my friend’s flat. When I went out with another guy, my ex-husband deliberately damaged his beautiful car!’

The policeman’s steely grey eyes studied her. ‘How long have you been separated?’

‘Six weeks.’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘And you’re already seeing someone else? You didn’t waste much time, did you?’

His contemptuous look infuriated Laura. ‘I just went out for dinner with a friend. I hope you’re not condoning what my ex-husband did to me?’ she said angrily.

‘Don’t put words in my mouth,’ the officer warned.

Laura tried to keep her face expressionless and concentrated on the wall behind him; otherwise, she was in danger of climbing across the desk and throttling him. And that wouldn’t help her case at all. ‘So you think I should stay with a violent man?’

‘See, there you go again!’ the policeman said, frowning. ‘That’s not what I said at all. I just think that young people today don’t give enough thought to their marriage vows.’

Laura stood up. ‘He’s a violent thug and he’s not my husband any longer –’

‘Ms Thornton. Sit down, and let’s talk about this sensibly.’

Laura sat down again, aware that she was on the verge of losing her temper, and knowing that such behaviour wouldn’t work in her favour. She made a valiant effort to put a non-threatening and pleasant expression on her face.

The officer became more interested when she told him about the writing on Steve’s car, and about the listening device that had been planted in Kerry’s living room. She even produced the device for the officer to see.

The officer nodded as he looked at it. ‘Okay, I’ll look into your claims. But it would be impossible to prove that your ex-husband planted the bugging device – I could have it dusted for fingerprints, but I suspect you and your flatmate have already handled it?’

Laura looked crestfallen. ‘I’m afraid so. And we dropped it into water to stop it working.’

The officer grimaced. ‘The perpetrator probably wore
gloves anyway. Nevertheless, we’ll send an officer round to Mr Jones’s apartment to speak to him.’

Laura nodded, relieved. ‘Thank you, officer,’ she said gratefully. She was glad she hadn’t walked out earlier, although she’d been strongly tempted to do so. Now she was actually hopeful that a visit from the law would quickly cool Jeff’s ardour. But she was also aware that it could increase his volatility. She just had to hope that Jeff would regard the police visit as a turning point, and decide to leave her alone.

That night, in Kerry’s flat, Laura brought her friend up to date with what had happened at the police station.

‘It didn’t start off very well,’ she admitted. ‘but things began to improve when I produced the listening device. It was as though he suddenly started believing me!’

‘Does he think it’s any help?’

Laura shook her head. ‘But he’s going to send an officer round to talk to Jeff.’

‘That’s great,’ Kerry said, opening a bottle of wine. ‘Hopefully, that should bring an end to Jeff’s antics. If he has any sense, he’ll calm down and realise that it’s pointless to keep hassling you. And if he tries anything else, it’ll be easier to make the police listen next time.’

Laura nodded. ‘I hope so – but my problem must seem very insignificant to the police, given the horrendous situations they have to deal with on a day-to-day basis.’

Kerry looked at her sharply. ‘I’d consider a mental ex-husband to be rather serious! Anyway, I’m sure the police will give your situation the attention it deserves.’ Looking at the strain on Laura’s face, Kerry proffered a suggestion. ‘Maybe you should visit your doctor, and get something to help you sleep,’ she said. ‘I’ve heard you wandering around the flat in the early hours of the morning.’

Laura grimaced guiltily. ‘Sorry. I hope I haven’t disturbed you? But you’re right – this business with Jeff is causing me a lot of stress. I’ll make an appointment tomorrow.’

Kerry nodded approvingly, pouring them each a glass of wine. Then, as they clinked glasses, Kerry proposed a toast. ‘Here’s to a Jeff-free life from now on!’

C
HAPTER
45

A
s the days began to get longer, Kerry cycled over to Greygates to play with her friend.

‘When did you learn to ride a bike?’ Laura asked with surprise.

Kerry reddened. ‘Oh, a friend taught me.’

Laura looked at her suspiciously. ‘What friend, and when did they teach you? You never said anything to me about learning. If you’d told me you were getting lessons, I could have come along and learnt to ride, too!’

‘Oh, it was just someone Mum knows,’ Kerry said dismissively.

‘And he only gave me a few lessons. I didn’t need any more.’

‘And who bought you the bike?’

Kerry coloured as the lie formed on her tongue. ‘Mum did.’

Laura felt hard done by. It was as though Kerry had moved on to a different level, and she was being left behind. She was always acutely aware of the three-month age difference between them – it always seemed to give Kerry an advantage. And now that Kerry could ride a bike, Laura was suddenly afraid that she might move on to other friends, people who could ride bicycles and therefore could cycle to the woods or to the park on picnics.