Chapter 21: Elliot - The Foster Child

I can feel my anxiety building as we walk back to the cottage, and Cora’s grip on my hand tightens. I wonder if, like me, she’s worried what we might find when we get home. I hate us both living on edge like this and know that I should really tell Cora that I didn’t open the kitchen window and knock the orchid off, and also about the Christmas cards I’ve been receiving, but that will cause her even more worry. And she would probably insist I go to the police, but I prefer to get some evidence first because I feel that we’ll just be fobbed off. Whoever is doing this I want them nailed.

If it wasn’t for the Christmas cards I would think that maybe we were overthinking everything and it was all just a series of misfortunes. Those Christmas cards are a threat though, and I can’t help thinking that it could all be related. We can’t keep living like this, I’ll see if I can get a doorbell camera today while Cora is visiting her parents, a lot of stores are open on Sundays for a few hours. Then if something else happens I will have evidence who’s responsible and can go to the police – before the situation escalates. At the moment the things that have happened have been annoying but not dangerous, but I’m worried how far the culprit will go. I can’t risk anything happening to Cora. She’s my world.

As we get nearer to the cottage I see with relief that the gate is closed. I look over it, scanning the garden. It all looks fine.

‘That walk has certainly blown the cobwebs away. And given me an appetite too,’ Cora says as we walk up around to the back so that we can leave our muddy boots in the utility room.

‘Me too,’ I agree as I put my key in the lock and push open the door. I step inside, wanting to check it out before Cora does, my senses on full alert as I pull off my boots and slide my feet into slippers then head into the kitchen. There’s no sign anyone has been in. I quickly check the other rooms on the pretext of going to the upstairs bathroom.

‘Want a cuppa and a sandwich?’ Cora asks, already filling the kettle.

‘Love one. Tea please and how about a cheese and ham toastie?’ I suggest, getting the toasted sandwich maker out of the cupboard.

‘Perfect,’ she agrees, taking two mugs off the mug stand and reaching for the tea bags.

We’ve just finished lunch when Lori phones Cora. ‘At last!’ Cora says, pressing the green button to accept the call. She’s been trying to get hold of Lori all week. I leave them to talk and go upstairs to get changed. Cora joins me a few minutes later.

‘How’s Lori?’ I ask.

‘She’s good. It was only a short call, she and Jacob are going out, but it was great to hear from her.’

She changes into her black jeans and white cable-knit jumper. ‘I’ll get going now then.’

‘Let me know when you’re on the way home and I’ll start cooking the dinner,’ I tell her as we both walk down the stairs. ‘Chicken fillets okay? They don’t take long to cook so I’ll have time to nip to the shops for a doorbell camera before preparing the dinner.’

‘Perfect. Thanks, you’re a star.’ She kisses me then picks up the presents she wrapped up last night – and card – and slips them in a carrier bag before pulling on her coat and grabbing her handbag.

I pick up the bag of presents. ‘I’ll carry these to the car for you then I’ll go and open the gate.’

She smiles her thanks and we walk out together, over to her car.

‘I won’t be long, I’ll only be a couple of hours.’ She gives me a kiss and hug.

‘Drive carefully. Give your parents my love and remember to invite them for Christmas dinner,’ I remind her.

‘I will.’ We kiss then she opens the door and slips into the driver’s seat, I go around to the other side, open the passenger door and put the bag of presents in the footwell. As I close the door again I notice that the back tyre is flat. I crouch down and examine it. There’s a screw embedded in the tyre. I pull the back door open again before she can start up the engine.

‘Hang on, Cora. You’ve got a puncture. There’s a screw in the tyre.’

‘What?’ She glances over her shoulder at me. ‘We only used my car yesterday and it was fine. Surely I would have noticed if the tyre was low then?’

‘Maybe you drove over the screw on the way home. It was dark when we got in so we wouldn’t have spotted it.’ I wouldn’t have spotted it now if I hadn’t carried the presents to the car for her. She would have driven off not knowing.

‘You can’t drive it. It isn’t safe. Thank goodness I saw it. You could have had a serious accident. Lost control.’ I involuntarily squeeze my eyes shut to block out the image of Cora in the mangled wreck of a car.

She touches my arm. ‘Hey, I’m okay, nothing’s happened. I’m glad you noticed it before I set off.’

I take a deep breath. ‘Sorry, just the thought of losing you…’ I know that I’m overreacting and try to compose myself.

‘Don’t worry, I won’t use it. I’ll let my parents know that I won’t be coming and I’ll get someone out to fix it tomorrow. It’s a good job that I don’t need it for work,’ Cora reassures me.

I can see that she’s disappointed, she’d been looking forward to seeing her parents. And knowing Cora’s mum and dad they’d be waiting eagerly for her visit. I can pick up the doorbell camera tomorrow, on the way home from work.

‘Look, I’ll drive you to see your parents, it’ll be good to have a catch-up with them. We can get someone out to fix a new tyre on your car tomorrow, when you’re home from work.’

‘Really? That would be marvellous, thank you. I hate to let them down. And they’ll be delighted to see you again.’ She hugs me happily.

‘It’s no problem. Just give me a few minutes to get my coat and lock up.’

I go back into the house, my stomach churning with anxiety. If I hadn’t discovered that screw, Cora could have had a blowout on the motorway. She could have spun off the road, had a collision…

Panic courses through me and a memory bursts into my mind, a car crashing, overturning, bursting into flames. I shut my eyes tight and push it away.