Page 66 of The Soulmate

‘Pippa!’

The voice comes from behind me. I spin around, gasping loudly enough that the woman with the baby turns to look.

It’s Dev from The Pantry. ‘Are you all right?’ he asks.

He’s carrying a woven shopping bag. Leeks and celery peek out the top. We’re in a supermarket at 3 pm. Never has there been a less threatening encounter. And yet my heart is racing. I put a hand to my chest, draw in two slow, deep breaths. What is wrong with me?

‘Fine,’ I say. ‘Just too much . . .’

‘Caffeine?’

I laugh. ‘Yes.’ If only that’s all it was.

‘I’m glad I ran into you. I wanted to apologise for keeping you the other day.’

‘Oh no,’ I say, realising that I never got in touch with Dev to explain my sudden departure. Was that only the other day? It feels like a lifetime ago. ‘I’msorry for running off. I just saw the time and remembered I had somewhere to be. You were busy serving and so I slipped out. I meant to text you. I will get in touch when I’ve finalised your will, though.’ I haven’t even started on it yet. ‘It’s been a bit busy this week. There’ll be no charge.’

Dev raises a hand in protest, but I raise my own hand. ‘I insist. You can pay me in fries. And by spreading the word of my services among your customers, if you feel so inclined.’

‘Well, I can certainly do that.’

‘Then it’s a deal.’ I smile. ‘Anyway, I’d better get this shopping finished.’

‘Yes, me too.’ He steps out of the way of my shopping cart. ‘See you.’

I feel a little better after this exchange. I’d let myself get carried away, I understand now. There is no need for me to be jumpy. It’s just the events of the past week, I tell myself. It would put anyone on edge.

I finish my shop, go through the checkout then wheel my shopping trolley into the car park. It’s when I’m loading my groceries into the boot of my car that I glimpse him in my peripheral vision. A man so tall and wide that he must be some kind of bouncer or bodyguard. It would have been frightening even if he wasn’t walking directly towards me, which he is.

I grab three bags at once and an apple rolls from one onto the ground. I leave it. Because suddenly he’s beside me. He smiles, but it only makes him look even more menacing. I notice he has a tattoo of a snake on his neck.

‘Whoops,’ he says, picking up the apple. He hands it to me. ‘Dropped this.’

‘Thank you,’ I whisper.

He’s silent for a moment, as he assesses me. There’s something not right about his gaze. ‘You’re not nervous, are you? People are often nervous when they see me. But I’m an old softie really. Why don’t I help you with this?’

Before I can object he is reaching into my trolley. I stand there in silence while this huge, menacing man handles my groceries. There’s something about the fact that he can do this in broad daylight, with people all around us, that feels more terrifying than a midnight break-in.

When the groceries are in the car, he hands me my handbag. ‘Here you go. It’s important to return things to their rightful owner, don’t you think?’

I take the bag from his outstretched hand.

‘Hope you bought strawberries,’ he says, almost as an afterthought. ‘Asha’s favourite, right?’

He holds my gaze, his expression serious now. When he is satisfied that I’ve got the message, he nods, and walks away.

64

PIPPA

THEN

When Asha turned three, Gabe didn’t show up to her birthday party.

Things hadn’t been great between us. Gabe had been so preoccupied with work that I’d barely seen him – and when I did see him, he was buzzing with the frenetic energy of someone whose mind was elsewhere. I’d come to accept I was powerless in this; I couldn’t help him. But could I leave him? It felt impossible. He was the air I breathed. As difficult as life could be with him, it had to be better than life without him. Didn’t it?

It was a Friday afternoon. Kat had offered to host the party at her place because her walls were painted in shades of blue and green that went perfectly with the Under the Sea theme, and Mum had decorated the house with sea creatures and sparkles and made the girls the most adorable matching squid costumes the world has ever seen. I’d attempted a mermaid cake but changed it to a sea urchin once I’d realised the level of difficulty.