Teacher's Pet by Shelley Ellerbeck Page A

Family’?”
    Allie giggled.
    “Yes.  She was Uncle Fester.”
    Jeremiah laughed as he sipped his coffee.  Only his dark eyes betrayed a slight concern.
    “Did you call the police?”
    “They said there was nothing they could do.”
    “What?  Even if it keeps happening?”
    “Yes.  The only thing I can do is change my number.”
    “Hmm.”  Jeremiah looked thoughtful.  “Maybe it won’t c ome to that.  Maybe he or she will stop.  If you don’t react.”  He helped himself to a biscuit before fixing his gaze on Allie again.  “You’re still doing what I said, aren’t you?  Putting the receiver down next to the phone?”  Allie nodded.  “So hopefully they’ll give up soon.”  He stood up abruptly.  “Sorry, but I’m going to have to go and help your sons.”  He was heading for the door as he spoke.  “They’re being slaughtered at a man’s game and I can’t have that.”
    Once he had gone out, Allie glanced at Liz.  She seemed lost in thought.
    “So, you really think it’s Melanie?”  Allie asked.  She watched as Liz ran her capable hands through her tousled hair.
    “Yes,” she replied, gazing, unblinking, at Alli e.  “Or maybe Eleanor: the Wicked Witch of West Oaks.”
    “Don’t you mean the Pandora of Pine Vale?”
    “It’s West Oaks.  I don’t care what she says.”
    They both laughed.  Locally, parents mortgaged themselves until far beyond the grave just to obtain a Pine Vale postcode.  It gave instant access to ‘reputable’ schools, a café society lifestyle and professional neighbours.   West Oaks, the neighbouring area, wasn’t quite so reputable.
    “Well, I’m not sure,” Liz continued.  “If this caller is neither of those two, then it could be James.  You said you weren’t sure whether it was a man or a woman, didn’t you?”
    Allie considered this for a moment.
    “I don’t know.  I think he’d just tell me straight rather than waste his phone bill and disguise his voice, don’t you?”
    Liz sat back and put down her cup, eyes on Allie.
    “I wouldn’t put anything past him.  Look at what he did to you.”  Allie was shocked at the bitterness in Liz’s voice.  “He’s easily capable of that.”
    There was an awkward silence as Allie silently registered the hatred Liz harboured for James.  It flashed out for a second and filled the space between them, before Liz reined it in and locked it away again.
    “Maybe,” Allie said.  “But I’m not sure.”
    Suddenly, Liz reached across the table and took Allie’s hand.
    “Allie, I care about you,” she began.  “You don’t deserve someone who hurts you.  That’s all I mean.  I’m sorry.”
    Allie drew her hand away gently.
    “That’s OK, Liz,” she said quietly.  “I’ll put the kettle on again.  James will be here in a moment to pick up the boys.”
    S he got up to go over to the sink, vaguely aware of Jeremiah standing by the window, looking in.
     
     
    Pine Vale Lido was an oasis of calm on the edge of the city.  A large lake surrounded by dense woodland, it boasted a man-made beach where local mums gathered, offspring in tow, after a hard day at the gym or the massage parlour.  Or, for the really unlucky few, the office.  It was always busy at weekends and tonight was no exception.  Families made their way down to the water’s edge, toddlers riding bikes with stabilisers, over-protective parents steadying them needlessly.
    As they drew up, Allie allowed herself a furtive glance at Paul.  His muscular body was turned towards her as he parked.  She let her gaze linger on his arms, his tight tee shirt emphasising their powerful shape.  She wondered what the truth about him was, and whether he would tell her.
    “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”  He had finished his manoeuvre and fixed his calm gaze on her.
    “No.”  She took a deep breath.  “I’ve got something to ask you, Paul.”
    “Fire away.”  He leaned back in his seat.