BooksBarbecue
Back The Missing Wife Save as PDF
Chapters (64)
  1. THE MISSING WIFE
  2. PRAISE FOR SAM CARRINGTON
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. THE EPILOGUE
  58. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  59. Prologue
  60. Chapter One
  61. Chapter Two
  62. About the Author
  63. By the same author
  64. About the Publisher

‘Has Brian been visiting you, too? Spilling his guts about how he’s trying to help me as well? You really are the popular one, aren’t you?’ Louisa’s neck burned, the heat creeping upwards like a plant seeking sunlight.

‘Lou, don’t.’ Tiff shook her head gently.

‘Why? Because you don’t want people thinking the same about you as you do about Sarah?’

The words were out before she had thought through their implication.

‘It was a mistake coming here.’ Tiff tipped the contents of her mug down the sink and banged the mug down on the drainer. She grabbed her handbag and slung it over her shoulder. ‘Perhaps we can talk again when you’ve come to your senses, Lou.’

‘Don’t be so patronising,’ Louisa hissed.

‘I’m just trying to be your friend. Lord knows you could do with one by all accounts.’ She headed for the front door.

‘Don’t forget your fucking drone,’ she shouted after her. ‘It’s important you look good in front of everyone.’ Louisa folded her arms firmly across her chest.

Tiff turned back, her mouth in a tight line, air forcing its way through her nostrils.

‘Thanks.’ She lifted the drone and placed it back in its box, then carried it out the front door leaving Louisa, hot tears tracing down her cheeks, standing alone.

Regretting her words.

Regretting that she’d allowed her only friend to walk out the door without even confiding in her the real reason for her behaviour.

35

THE UPDATE

Friday a.m. – Day 14 post-party

Oliver stood on the top step, one arm reaching up, his hand pressed against the wall, the other hand brandishing a pink envelope. Louisa purposely kept him there. She didn’t want him to assume he could just waltz right in like he belonged in her home.

‘What do you want, Oliver?’

He frowned, then brought his arm down by his side. His posture appeared stiff, almost rigid. ‘Wanted to wish you a happy birthday.’ He smiled. ‘Any chance you fancy a cuppa?’ He lowered his head to make eye contact with Louisa.

‘I was about to go out, actually. I need to see Tiff.’ She watched for a reaction. His face didn’t alter, but he was quiet for a moment, as if figuring out what to say.

‘I wouldn’t bother with Tiff.’

‘Why do you say that?’ She narrowed her eyes. Had she told him about their argument?

‘I mean, there’s no point going over there. I’ve just come from that way – her car’s not in the drive.’