‘We have lots of different types to select from,’ he said. ‘Silhouette, A-line, fitted, flared, you name it, we’ve got it. You’ve a figure that’s crying out for a fitted dress.’ He looked the woman up and down with the eye of someone who knew what they were talking about. ‘Then you have waistlines to consider . . .’ Material rustled as he worked his way through the hangers. ‘We have Empire, natural or asymmetrical. Then you have to decide which neckline you want – halter, strapless, sweetheart or V-neck.’
‘Gosh, I didn’t know there was so much to take into account,’ the young woman’s mother said. Josh dazzled them with a smile, acting like an old hand. ‘Some people just like to come in and pick something off the hanger, but we like to look for the wow factor, something that will blow people away. A lot of our gowns are preloved, but they’re all bang on trend. Take this rail, for example,’ he said, flashing his potential bride a smile. ‘We’ve got glamorous to simple, sparkly to vintage and everything in between. I could keep going, but I think the best thing to do is to try on some fitted dresses and see where you go from there. The wedding’s not for another nine months, is that right?’ he asked, and the young lady responded with a nod of the head. ‘Well, you don’t look like someone whose size fluctuates so at least we don’t have to worry about lots of alterations.’
My shoulders dropped as I relaxed a little. At least my business was in safe hands. Which reminded me, where was Theresa? She was meant to be helping this morning but was yet to make an appearance. I had tried both her phone and Alex’s but received no response. Come to think of it, Jamie was yet to show up on the CCTV. It was eleven o’clock. Surely Alex had woken up by now? I quickly checked the diary, which was free of further appointments.
After clearing it with Josh, I popped outside to knock on Theresa’s flat upstairs. It had come with the lease of the shop and, at the time, provided her with a home. I was so sorry for her after her divorce; I couldn’t imagine what it must have felt like, being cast off like a bag of old clothes. Now, as I knocked on her door, butterflies flapped mercilessly in my tummy. Alex was deliberately blanking me. What if I was the one who would end up being alone?
Relief swept over me as she answered, but it was short lived when I caught sight of her red-rimmed eyes. Still wearing her pyjamas, she led me up the narrow set of stairs to her one-bedroom flat. A thick, cloying smell hit the back of my throat as I inhaled, making me temporarily forget my concerns. ‘Sorry about the mess,’ she said, pulling back the living-room curtains. White streams of dust-moted light flooded in. It served to highlight the takeaway cartons, peeling wallpaper and piles of clothes littered around the room. I had been so busy with the business I had not visited Theresa’s flat in months. I hadn’t even asked her how she was. ‘Are you OK, Sis?’ I said, casting a concerned eye over my sister, who was hastily finger-combing her hair.
She shook her head. ‘I wasn’t going to say anything. The divorce papers came through today. I’m officially single.’ She gave me a watery smile. I berated myself for being so selfish.
‘Come here,’ I said, reaching out to give her a hug. But it was brief as she turned away, making an excuse to open the window.
‘I’m OK. It’s what we both wanted. It just it makes me angry when I see everything that he has and . . .’
‘You’re stuck in this shitty flat,’ I finished her sentence.
She smiled, despite herself. ‘Careful, Sis, you’re beginning to sound like me. But yes, I’m halfway through my life, and I’ve sod all to show for it.’ She picked up a pile of unironed clothes from the sofa and made space for me to sit down.
‘I hate to see you like this,’ I said. ‘You’ve always been the one who keeps me afloat.’
Lost in her misery, she didn’t seem to hear me. ‘You know what hurts the most? I put off having children for years because he wanted to wait, and now he’s dumped me for his pregnant girlfriend. Time is ticking. Who’s going to want me now?’
I took her hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘We pretty much gave up on having kids and now Jamie’s in our life. He’s a big part of yours too, isn’t he?’
Theresa nodded as she stared at a photo of Mum, which was hanging crookedly on the wall.
‘Are you missing her?’ I said, trying to put my problems aside.
She responded with a one-shoulder shrug, as if she did not trust herself to speak. There must be more than the divorce upsetting Theresa. Her flat had not fallen into decay overnight. But our conversation was cut short as her mobile phone rang on her table. My husband’s name flashed up on the screen, and we met each other’s gaze. Why was he ringing her and not me? Theresa snatched the phone, quickly disappearing into the kitchen. Just what was going on?
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
EMMA
2017
I waited in the living room as my sister spoke in low tones to Alex on the phone. As I took a step back, I was drawn to the stagnant, earthy smell coming from her open bedroom door. I turned around, wondering what she had in there that would cause such a stench. I didn’t notice Theresa’s voice fall silent until I was at her bedroom door.
‘Everything all right?’ she said, an edge to her voice.
I jumped. ‘You gave me a fright. Yeah, sorry, it’s just that . . . well, I think the place needs a bit of an airing. I was going to open your bedroom window. There’s quite a pong coming from there.’ I glanced down at the muddied boots outside her bedroom door.
‘It’s nothing, just a problem with the drains,’ she said, leading me back to the sofa. ‘I’ll get it sorted, but I need to tell you something first.’
‘I should really be getting back to Josh,’ I said. ‘I only called in to see if you were able to make it to work today.’ Then I remembered that Alex had called, and I read the concerned look on her face. ‘Is something the matter?’ I said, gripping her forearm. ‘Jamie . . . is he OK?’
‘They’re both fine. Alex rang from a stop-off at a petrol station. He wanted me to talk to you.’
I frowned, taking a seat beside her. ‘Why didn’t he call me himself?’
Theresa rubbed her face as if this was the last thing she needed to be dealing with, on top of everything else. ‘He’s taken Jamie away for a few days. He’s asked me to come and stay with you while you sort yourself out.’
My heart flipped in my chest. Taken Jamie away? ‘I don’t understand. Where’s he gone?’
‘He didn’t say. He’s going to call you later once Jamie’s settled. He told me what happened last night, how you were running around the house with a knife, scaring Jamie half to death.’
I rose, my fists curled by my sides. ‘It wasn’t like that. I was trying to protect him. Luke was at the window. I saw him.’
‘Settle down,’ she said calmly. ‘He’s not left you or anything, he’s just taking a break. It’s been very stressful for him too, you know, and he’s got his new job to consider. If he blows that, then none of you will be going anywhere.’
‘He had no right taking Jamie like that, not without my permission.’
‘Emma, this is me you’re talking to. I know you better than anyone, and you’re not an easy person to live with. Your eating disorder, all that stuff with Mum, and now Luke. People do have limits, you know. I think you forget that sometimes.’
I looked around the dirty flat, at Theresa’s dishevelled appearance. I had come here for my own reasons, but was shocked to see what a state she was in.
‘Sorry,’ I said quietly. ‘Perhaps you should stay for a couple of nights while I give Alex some space. We can talk things through; we could do with a proper catch-up.’ It would be good for her to have some company, and I was scared to be alone in case Luke returned. Alex had disturbed his game-playing last night, but I had nobody to protect me now. I checked my watch. ‘I’d better be getting back. Do you need a hand cleaning up before I go?’ I eyed the bedroom. If there were a drainage problem, surely it would be coming from the bathroom instead? Whatever it was, she didn’t want me to know about it, or perhaps she was just ashamed I had caught her out.