Shades of Obsession Read Free

asks.
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘You sound
upset.’
    ‘I’m not.’ I
tell him. ‘I’m just busy.’ I hear the pause, because I don’t know what busy is
apparently. ‘I’ve been shopping.’
    ‘Did you get the
stuff for the PTA?’
    ‘Of course I
did.’
    ‘On separate
receipts?’
    ‘Yes.’
    God….
    ‘I need you to
go and get a cake,’ Rick says and he explains that it’s his secretary’s
birthday and, of course, he forgot.
    And it’s down to
me to remedy it.
    Now please,
Portia!
    I put the
shopping away and then I head out. I get his sodding cake and I wait while her
name is decorated onto it. I try to do normal, but all I can think of is Luke.
All I can think of is him as my day is taken up with trivialities instead of
private moments where I can think of him and at three thirty I duly stand at my
car and remember to smile as Gina comes over with someone I don’t recognise.
    ‘Portia! Are you
going tonight?’
    ‘I’ll be there
about six.’ Not that I’m needed - I don’t take part, I just do the food and nibbles
and hang around in the kitchen, but Rick thinks it’s right that I attend. ‘Hi,’
I smile at the new mum to the school. ‘I’m Portia…’
    ‘Portia’s the principal’s
wife.’ Gina says and I watch the smile brighten on the other woman’s face as
she decides on the spot that I’m good to know! ‘This is Natasha. Her son just
started…’
    And we chat
away, Natasha’s coming to the meeting tonight, she’s really looking forward to
being involved with the school and wants to be on the committee.
    She’s an eager,
earnest woman and she clearly sees me as a good contact to have and normally
I’d be more enthusiastic and friendly but all I can think of is Luke.
    ‘I can come
early…’ she smiles, ‘help you set up.’
    I thank her, I
try to carry on with the conversation, but it’s a relief when I see the boys
coming over, though not really, because it’s all a mad rush from then on.
    Rick doesn’t
come home, but I get the kids dinner and then race upstairs to change and fix
my make up.
    To look like the
perfect school principal’s wife.
    I load the car
with drink and all the nibbles because even though it’s just a PTA meeting, he
carries on like it’s an actual social event, as if it’s a proper night out for
me.
    I am approaching
and I just want to drive past, I just want to keep on driving… and in a few
years I will, I remind myself - when the kids are finished school I will be
free. I should have insisted they go to a different school than the one their father’s
the Principal at -   I simply can’t break up with him
now – it would be hell for them.
    Of course, I
don’t drive on – I indicate and turn in, park and climb out.
    ‘Need a hand…?’
Gina comes over with Natasha.
    ‘Please.’
    ‘God, how much
did you bring?’ Gina asks.
    ‘Apparently it’s
going to be a long meeting… ’   They help me set up the chairs
and things and I put out the snacks and I try to chat, except I’m struggling to
be as bubbly and enthusiastic as I’m supposed to be, I just want to go home and
think about Luke. Why do I even have to be here?
    ‘Portia.’ Rick’s
all bright and raring to go and rubbing his hands together and then he comes
over and kisses me for everyone’s benefit but mine.
    I don’t want his
mouth.
    ‘Luke!’ There’s a
note, not just of surprise, but of annoyance in Natasha’s voice, but even at
the sound of his name it doesn’t click, because never would I have expected him
to be married to her – never in a million years, but, as I look over, I
still, my world simply stops. I just stand there not even breathing as Natasha
speaks on. ‘What are you doing here?’
    ‘I told you - I’d
try to get here if I could.’
    I’m sweating.
    I wait for him
to look, to catch my eye, to smirk, to scowl, but he doesn’t -he doesn’t look
at me at all, even when Rick introduces me.
    ‘Luke’s a
detective.’ Rick says, and now I vaguely