The Stabbing in the Stables by Simon Brett Read Free Book Online Page A

prospect of its not happening upset her.
    She had contemplated taking the initiative and ringing them, even getting to the point more than once of lifting the receiver, but she didn’t want to appear needy. The last thing a newly married woman needed was an intrusive mother-in-law.
    But the lack of information still rankled. Jude’s absence that afternoon made her feel even more unsettled, so Carole decided she had to do something. If she had inadvertently offended her son and daughter-in-law, then it was time to build bridges or mend fences or some other metaphor of that kind.
    She had both Stephen and Gaby’s work numbers, but she rang the Fulham one. Better just to leave a message; then they could ring her back at their convenience. Mind you, of course, if they didn’t ring her back, then she’d feel even worse. That’d certainly be making a statement that they didn’t want to have anything more to do with her.
    But the thought came too late, the phone was already ringing, and—to her surprise—it was answered. By Gaby.
    â€œOh, sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be there.”
    â€œCarole. It’s good to hear you.” But Gaby’s words sounded automatic. There was no energy. The natural bubbliness of her personality seemed to have gone flat.
    â€œI just thought it had been a while since we…”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œSo you’re both all right, are you?”
    â€œFine, yes. Stephen’s very busy at work.”
    â€œSo what else is new?”
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œAnd you?”
    â€œYes, fine.”
    â€œI meant work, because surely today’s a working day…?”
    â€œYes, I’m having a day off. Few things I’ve got to catch up with round the house.”
    â€œBut you’re okay?”
    â€œAbsolutely fine, yes.” But the listlessness with which the words were said was at odds with their meaning.
    â€œWell…I was thinking it would be nice for us to get together again soon.”
    â€œYes, yes, it would.” But no pursuit of the idea, no suggestions, no consultation of diaries.
    â€œFine, Gaby. Well, I’ll give you a call again when…maybe an evening…talk when Stephen’s there.”
    â€œThat might be better. He has so many more demands on his time than I do, I don’t dare make arrangements without consulting him.” As an excuse, it was perfectly acceptable, but Carole still sensed an unwillingness in Gaby to fix a meeting.
    â€œRight. Well, I’ll call soon then. And,” she went on haltingly, “do give Stephen my love.” Such words of effusiveness did not come naturally to her.
    â€œYes, of course I will.”
    â€œWell, good to talk to you, Gaby.”
    â€œAnd you.”
    â€œAnd look forward to meeting up soon.”
    â€œMm.”
    â€œGood-bye then.”
    â€œBye.”
    As she switched off the phone, Carole wished she hadn’t made the call. Her paranoia had only increased. Before she had spoken to Gaby, she could still nurture the fantasy that everything was all right, but now she’d heard the lack of enthusiasm in her daughter-in-law’s voice, that was no longer possible.
    What on earth could be wrong? Feeling lousy and taking a day off work could be a sign of early pregnancy, but if that were the case, surely Gaby would have told her. And she wouldn’t have sounded so doomy. That was the really distressing thing about the call—that the normally ebullient Gaby had sounded so down, so positively depressed.
    Oh dear. Please God there wasn’t something going wrong in the marriage. Guilt for the effect her own breakup with David had had on Stephen swelled within her.
    She had another look at the Times crossword. The clues might as well have been written in a foreign language.

7
    I T WASN’T WORKING . Jude couldn’t identify what was wrong, but she knew it wasn’t working.
    She could feel the