Read Dreamwalkers Book One - The Intruder. A Markland Garraway Paranormal Mystery Thriller Page 26

  Chapter 25

 

  Fifteen Montgomery Crescent, Exeter

  Robert Masterson’s home

  5.35 p.m.

 

  Robert Masterson watched from behind his curtain, as Helena pushed the buggy along the road. She stopped outside number seventeen, and fished her keys from her purse before opening the gate. Her twin boys fidgeted as she struggled to manoeuvre the buggy along the narrow path to the front door of her house.

  “Good afternoon, or should I say good evening?”

  Helena watched her neighbour leaving his house. In one hand he held a briefcase, and in the other he jingled his car keys.

  “Oh, hi Robert, how are you?”

  “I’m good thanks. Do you need a hand? It looks like you’re having a spot of bother.”

  “I can manage, but thanks for offering.”

  Masterson stood by his car and watched Helena awkwardly pull the buggy over the front step and backwards through the front door. The back wheels had jammed, and she cursed beneath her breath.

  “Are you sure you don’t some help?”

  Helena’s dark hair had fallen across her eyes, and he saw she was flustered. She tried again to pull the buggy into the house but couldn’t.

  “I don’t normally have a problem,” she replied breathlessly as she continued to struggle, “but the back wheel seems to be stuck.”

  He put his case on the garden wall, and calmly walked along the path. He bent forward, lifted the front of the buggy and released the back wheels, which had become wedged against the bottom of the door frame. Helena dragged the buggy into the hall and let out a sigh.

  “Thank you Robert.”

  An awkward few seconds lingered between them until Masterson spoke.

  “Don’t forget my offer, it still stands.”

  Helena blushed and shook her head. Masterson sensed her unease.

  “I’ve already explained what happened between us was a mistake. We shouldn’t have let things go that far.”

  Masterson moved forward and stood in the hall.

  “But it did happen, and there’s no denying it. You told me you’d had enough of him.”

  “I know. But things are better now, things have improved. You’d caught me at a vulnerable moment and I should have been stronger than I was.”

  “What’s better between the two of you? This time last month you were sick of the sight of him. You opened your heart to me. You told me he paid you no attention and was boring. I remember your exact words, ‘life with him is like a conveyer belt of misery’. That’s what you told me.”

  “I know what I said, and I shouldn’t have told you about my problems. I don’t know why he’s changed, but he has. It’s as if we’ve just started over again.”

  “Too little too late,” grunted Masterson.

  The twins woke in the buggy.

  “Sorry, but I have to be getting on with things. The boys need me.”

  Masterson nodded, and backed out of the hallway.

  “Don’t forget what I said. You know how I feel about you.”

  Helena squeezed past the buggy, which took up most of the hall, and was about to shut the door, when she saw her husband walking along Montgomery Crescent.

  “Hi Helena, hi Robert,” called Jimbo, who was oblivious to the awkwardness between his wife and their neighbour.

  “Robert helped me get the twin’s buggy through the door. The wheels were jammed.”

  Masterson nodded and headed towards his car.

  “I must rush, or I’ll be late for the evening shift.”

  “Is everything okay?” asked Jimbo.

  “Everything’s fine, I’m just a bit flustered after getting this thing stuck,” lied Helena, pointing to the buggy. “The quicker they’re out of this the better.”

  She put her arms around him, pulled him close and kissed his neck. Helena kissed her husband and her eyes met with Masterson’s as he closed the car door.

  “It was a good thing Robert was here to help,” said Jimbo, as Masterson's car disappeared from view.