The Letter

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Authors: Kathryn Hughes
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walk.’
    ‘Perfect,’ said Clark. ‘I’ll call round about one o’clock.’
    Chrissie felt momentary panic. ‘Err, no. I’ll meet you in the park, at the bandstand. I’ll bring some sandwiches and a flask if you like.’
    ‘I shall look forward to it.’ He gently raised her hand and softly kissed the back of it. Then without another word, he turned and began to walk away.
    Chrissie opened the garden gate and froze in absolute horror. Sitting on the doorstep shivering and whimpering was Leo. She knew she had left him in the house, so this could only mean one thing. Her parents were already home.

Chapter 6
    Chrissie fumbled in her handbag for her key. In her frenzied haste she went through the contents twice before she found the key, which was actually in her coat pocket all the time. Leo was circling round her ankles demanding to be fussed.
    ‘Stop it, Leo, please. I need to get in the house.’
    She held her breath as she entered the hall. All was quiet and in darkness. That was very strange indeed. Maybe her parents weren’t home, after all. Perhaps she had left the back door open and Leo had escaped that way. She felt along the hallway to the kitchen and flicked on the light causing her to squint in the sudden brightness. Leo had followed her through and was now lapping thirstily at his water. The back door was locked and there were two used coffee cups on the table. Chrissie’s heart sank as she heard a creaking on the staircase. Panic turned to sheer terror as she swung round to see her father standing in the doorway. He was absolutely incandescent with rage, crimson-faced and taking deep breaths, obviously having difficulty in finding the words that would adequately convey his wrath. Chrissie stood there shaking, and Leo cowered behind her. Dr Skinner deemed words unnecessary as he took one step further, raised his hand and hit Chrissie hard across the face. She reeled backwards, fell over Leo and hit her head on the stone floor. She lay there dazed and shocked as Leo licked her face.
    Without uttering one word, Dr Skinner turned abruptly on his heel and stomped back upstairs. Chrissie could taste blood in her mouth and felt herself beginning to retch. She sat up, but that made the room spin so she lay back down again on the hard, unforgiving floor and began to weep. Leo cuddled up beside her and there they spent the rest of the night in fitful slumber.
    Clark thought Sunday would never come. All day Saturday, he checked his watch constantly. He checked it at eleven o’clock and then again an hour later – it was ten past eleven! He met Billy in the pub for a lunchtime pint.
    ‘I can’t wait, Bill,’ he said, passing a drink over to his friend.
    ‘So, where are you meeting her?’ asked Billy. He knew he should be pleased for Clark as he’d waited so long for a date, but Billy was jealous and finding it difficult to hide.
    ‘In the park, by the bandstand. She’s bringing a picnic.’
    ‘That’s nice. Did you kiss her?’
    Clark was taken aback by the sudden question. ‘Err, no, only on the hand.’
    Billy was relieved. ‘Maybe you will tomorrow then?’
    ‘I’m not rushing it, Billy. I don’t want to spoil things. I think she could be the one.’
    ‘You’ve only met her once.’
    ‘I know, it’s ridiculous, but she is just so warm and friendly and…’
    ‘Like a Labrador?’
    Clark snorted on his pint. ‘Bugger off, Billy.’ He laughed. ‘You know what I mean.’
    That was the trouble. Billy did know, because he felt exactly the same way.
    The next day, Clark waited anxiously by the bandstand. It was ten past one already and there was no sign of Chrissie. There was no need to panic just yet, Clark reasoned to himself as he checked his watch again. The spring day was unseasonably warm and Clark was regretting wearing his suit and tie. His stomach was in knots and he felt like he needed to use the toilet yet again. There were some public conveniences within his sight, but he didn’t

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