I have the start of a new novel. It's early days so there is a very long way and lots of editing to do but the idea is taking some shape. The current working title is Thread of Life. This is chapter one - what do you think?
Chapter
One
Evie
watched them clump around her house. She wanted them to leave, could
hear the scream rattle round her head but she couldn't force the
sounds out. Who they hell did they think they were? She
needed Nick to come
home. Tell them they were idiots, throw them out and make them swear
never to scare his wife again.
'Mrs
Wright, can I make you a cup of sweet tea? Call someone to come
over?'
Evie
stared past her, looked out the window, and wished Nick would hurry up.
He promised her he would be home early.
Left
alone, Evie could hear the woman opening and closing cupboard doors
in her kitchen, the sounds of water running. Every day noises in a
world of chaos.
Beeping
noises sounded in her hallway; they'd given up on getting through to
her. Evie wondered which lucky person would get the call. She was
surprised when she heard him speak. 'I'm calling on behalf of Mrs
Wright. My name is PC Griffin. Am I speaking to Mrs Wright's mother?'
His voice was high-pitched. Somehow she expected it to be deep and
sombre. It made it all seem even more ridiculous. 'I'm afraid we've
delivered some bad news to your daughter. Her husband was killed in a
road traffic accident this morning.'
Evie
could guess how her mother is fussing, asking how her daughter is and
promising to get there straight away.
He
didn't look at her when he came back into the lounge. Kept his head
high and his eyes straight ahead as he walked past her into the
kitchen.
Evie
could hear hushed voices, whispering. Bet he's complaining about
having to wait with me. The voices stop and she's the first to
return. Stupid woman. Doesn't she know that's Nick's cup and he hates
tea. He's a black coffee man and nothing else will do. She tried to
force the mug into Evie's hand. He hovered near the door and Evie
noticed how soft and unblemished his skin was. It occurred to her she
might be his first. First road death, first time to comfort the
widow, first time to screw up and identify the wrong person because
there was no way Nick would leave her, especially not now.
'Here's
a nice cup of sweet tea, you need to take a drink. We've called your
mum and she'll be here soon.'
Evie
didn't reply but inside her head the voice still screamed, GET
OUT.
*
Watching
the dust motes float through a chink of light, Evie lay curled on her
bed, arms wrapped around her stomach, recalling the moment when she
had told Nick the news. Had that really only been the night before?
It seemed impossible that her life could have changed so much in such
a short space of time. She remembered the stillness as he digested
the news, the moment reality hit and he ran towards her, scooping her
into his arms before setting her down and placing a hand on her
stomach. How he questioned her over and over. Was she really sure?
She'd had to retrieve all three of the little, plastic sticks from
the bathroom, each one proclaiming PREGNANT, to convince him they had
succeeded at last. He wanted to tell everyone straight away but she
begged him not to. Just in case. It could be their secret, at least
until the twelve week scan. All they had to do was hide it for six
weeks.
A
quiet rap on the bedroom door broke her thoughts. She pulled the
duvet up to her neck and hugged it to her, as her mother came into
the room.
'Evie,
I've brought you a wee cup of tea.'
Evie
rolled over, turning away from the proffered cup.
'C'mon
now dear. I know this is hard but a cup of tea and a piece of toast
won't do you any harm and...well, there are arrangements to make.
Things we can't decide without you.'
The
sound of heels clacked on the wooden staircase and Evie pulled the
duvet over her head.
The
door squeaked, like it always did when it was pushed open too far.
Nick kept saying he'd take a look at that hinge, but he never did
find the time to sort it.
'Mum,
leave it on the bedside table. She'll have it when she's ready,' Zoe
said, sitting on the edge of the bed. 'I've left some tea and cake
out on the coffee table for you and dad.'
Evie
heard the exhale, the plate and cup being set on the table. Another
squeak as the door was closed. Then a hand on her shoulder, the
mattress shifting as her sister climbed onto the bed behind her and
lay down behind her. Zoe pulled the duvet down, tucked strands of
hair behind Evie's ear and rubbed her shoulder. 'I'm sorry Sis. Wish
I could say something that would make it better but I don't even know
where to start.'
What
could anyone say?
