Save Her, Abigail Osborne [ebook reader for surface pro txt] 📗

her parents as fresh as ever. Sam hovering in the background as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

Sophie took a deep breath and sat down at the café table. She tried to ready herself for another conversation that would just go around in circles. Who knew that my mother wore this locket, Sophie? Why was the locket on the floor in my centre? How did it get there?

Sure enough, an hour later, Flora was still clutching the necklace and glaring at it as if begging it to give up its secrets. She looked like a woman possessed. Her hair was sticking out at odd angles as she repeatedly ran her hands through it. ‘I mean, the only way someone could know about this locket was if they were in my room looking at the photo of my mum. But why would someone do that? How cruel do you have to be?’

She put her head in her hands, exhausted by the questions.

Sophie did not answer as there was nothing that she could say that she had not said already. At first, Flora had theorised that maybe it was Cecelia. But there was no way she could have got in the centre without Flora seeing. Could she?

Sophie felt sick to her stomach as she looked into her friend’s bloodshot eyes. Alarm coursed through her: she had never seen Flora like this.

Flora jumped up, peering at something over Sophie’s shoulder. Sophie was about to look behind her when Flora shouted at the top of her voice, ‘Linda!’

Flora had dashed away from the table before Sophie had even processed what she had said. Linda?

Rushing after Flora, she bumped and pushed her way around people milling around the store, trying to keep Flora in sight. She caught sight of Flora’s brown hair whipping around an aisle containing gourmet pet food. Increasing her speed, she was just in time to see Flora running out of the shop into the car park. Sophie followed, for the second time that day an onslaught of rain hit her in the face, driving her breath from her body. It was like she had jumped into the ocean and she was soaked through instantly. Pushing her wet hair out of her eyes she scanned the car park looking for Flora.

She was standing in the middle of the car park, hands on her head slowly rotating on the spot. Searching for something. ‘Flora. What’s going on?’ Sophie reached out and put her hand gently on Flora’s shoulder, turning her to face her.

‘She was here!’

‘Who was?’

‘LINDA!’

Sophie tried to stop shivering but the rain was dripping down the collar of her blouse sending icy trails of water down her back. ‘Come inside, we are both getting soaked.’ Sophie pulled Flora forcibly by the arm, back into the shelter of the garden centre. People looked at them perplexed. She could hear what they were thinking. What sort of nutters go outside in weather like this without a coat?

‘Sophie, Linda was in the garden centre. She was watching us.’ Flora looked around again, still trying to find Linda. She turned back and gripped Sophie’s arms so tightly it hurt and looked at her beseechingly. ‘You saw her, right?’

‘Flora, calm down.’ People were shooting them curious looks. Taking Flora by the hand she led her back to their table. Thankfully their coats and bags were still there. Sophie guided Flora back to her seat and sat down herself and held Flora’s hand across the table. They were both dripping rain onto the table, dampening napkins. ‘Come on. You said that you weren’t going to let Cecelia win. You need to pull yourself together.’

‘I know. I just feel like I’m losing it. I never know what is going to happen next. Now… seeing Linda. Following me. I just can’t handle it.’ Fresh tears joined the raindrops trickling down Flora’s face. She picked up a slightly damp napkin and dabbed gently. Flora closed her eyes and leaned into the contact, letting it soothe her.

‘Well, maybe you should leave,’ said Sophie.

Flora’s eyes flew open. ‘What?’

‘Well, you can’t go on like this. You just said you can’t handle it. So, let’s leave.’

‘I can’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘I’m not leaving Sam. My centre.’

‘You can set up a new centre. And remember, it might be Sam’s mum that is doing this to you. To us. Is he really worth all this?’

Flora’s mouth opened and closed with shock. ‘Ye– yes. I am not leaving Sam. There is nothing that would make me leave him.’

Sophie said nothing.

Flora’s eyes darted around the room. She seemed to be having a debate with herself. She wiped her face and sat up straight. ‘You’re right, Soph. I need to get a grip. Cecelia is not going to chase me away.’ She gripped the necklace again, as if channelling it for strength.

Sophie watched in admiration. Flora would allow herself a brief window in which to break down but no matter what was thrown at her, she’d find a way to get through it, to find a positive and not let her fear win.

Little did she know, she would need that resilience for what was to come. They both would.

32

The table was set beautifully as usual. Candelabras sparkled gold in the light, the white candles giving off a delicate glow. Each setting had a gold napkin shaped into a swan. The aroma coming from the kitchens was tantalising. Alistair’s watch was reflecting the light, creating a patch of rainbow on the wall. Sophie focused on that instead of looking at him. He was discussing business strategy with Greg. Sam tried to interject every now and then, but it was clear Alistair had no interest in his opinion. Sophie found it amusing that Sam knew what it felt like to be dismissed and put down by his father but did not see his own mother do the same thing to Flora.

Flora was staring down at her lap, unable to look at anyone around the table. Her face was pale and sad, and Sophie’s heart ached