Losing It (6 page)

‘You’re my husband,’ Marion says. ‘This is my home.’

‘And you believe me now? Jo is a lying slag.’

They hear the van drive away. ‘I wish Pat had never moved,’ Marion says miserably.

‘Me too.’

‘Jo will be round for Luke in a minute,’ Marion says.

‘Don’t get up,’ David says. He tries to kiss her but she pulls away.

‘I want to say goodbye to Luke,’ she says. ‘Stay there. I’ll be back.’

‘Promise?’ David says.

‘Promise.’ Marion gives him a seductive smile.

‘I’m going nowhere,’ David says.

When she goes downstairs the TV is on but Luke is asleep on the sofa with Tigger. There’s a note on the doormat; it’s for David, in Jo’s writing. Marion’s hands shake as she opens it.

Dear David, it says, I can’t cope any more. It’s your turn now. Jo.

Marion reads it again and again. She goes to David’s jacket and takes out his wallet. A card falls out. Sally Day, Actress, it says! There’s a picture on it and it’s Karen. She checks his mobile. There’s a text to Sally, telling her to arrive at 8.20 sharp. She puts her head in her hands. Tigger scratches at the door. When she opens it she finds Luke’s clothes and toys piled on the doorstep. She sits at the kitchen table and shivers. Luke comes into the kitchen for some breakfast.

‘Mum’s gone away for a bit,’ she says to Luke. She makes him chocolate spread on toast. ‘Is that OK?’

‘Can I stay with you?’ Luke asks.

‘Of course you can,’ Marion says. ‘Maybe we’ll go away somewhere shall we? What about Cornwall? We can go to King Arthur’s castle.’

‘Cool,’ Luke says. ‘Can we go today?’

‘OK,’ Marion says. ‘You’ll have to get dressed quickly.’

She has to think fast. Her suitcase is still at her mum’s. She phones for a taxi. She puts Luke’s things into carrier bags. She steals all the money from David’s wallet and she takes his credit card.

‘Hurry up,’ David calls from upstairs.

‘Won’t be long,’ Marion says. ‘I’m sorting a surprise. Stay there.’

‘Can’t wait,’ he says.

She quietly opens the door and she and Luke stand on the doorstep.

‘What about Tigger?’ Luke says.

‘David can take care of Tigger,’ she says. ‘And when we’re in Cornwall I’ll get you a kitten.’

‘Promise!’ Luke jumps up and down with excitement.

‘Shhh,’ Marion says. Her hands are sweaty and her heart is beating hard. The taxi has to come before David comes downstairs. She hears him moving about, going into the bathroom.

And then the taxi comes round the corner.

‘Hurry up,’ David shouts. ‘I’m going off the boil.’

‘On my way,’ Marion calls. She closes the door quietly and then she and Luke go out into the street and climb into the taxi.

‘Station please,’ says Marion to the driver. As they drive away, Marion sees David standing at the bedroom window. She waves at him and smiles.