Underneath (33 page)

Epilogue

Things moved quickly after that. The police concluded that Monique’s death was an accident, caused by us trying to get away from the house with her in pursuit holding a weapon. I sold the car soon after. I couldn’t bear to see it again.

Joe and Tyler had the last two weeks off school due to the publicity surrounding the case. I sat with Joe and told him about Monique. I skirted around the main issues and just said that she had mental health problems and her death was a tragic accident. I’ve kept newspapers out of his way, but I know he’ll find out the truth one day. Being nine years old, Joe accepted what I told him. He and Tyler seemed more bothered that they got eight weeks off school instead of six. They spent the last two weeks of term at each other’s house, playing Lego. It must be good to be nine and able to deal with things so easily.

We put our house up for sale, and while we await a buyer we are living with Niall’s mum and dad. Niall got a transfer to a post in Stafford Hospital. His employers were really helpful with his transfer, possibly because his infamy was stopping a lot of people from getting on with their work. I am enjoying having the security of family around me. We are being spoilt rotten as Rebecca cooks most of the meals, and insists that we have at least one ‘date night’ a week. This means that Niall and myself are enjoying some alone time, though we desperately miss Joe, even if it’s just for one evening. We can’t help it. I think we’ll always be a bit overprotective now.

I spend loads of time with Joe though. He started his new school a few weeks ago and has made a few friends already, though he says he misses Tyler. I make sure I’m there to take him and collect him every day. I realise it’s not practical and hopefully sometime soon I’ll be able to trust Glen or Rebecca to pick him up occasionally, but for now it has to be me. That’s just the way it is and they understand.

Niall and I are getting there slowly. Like I’ve said, relationships take work and they’re not always on an up, but the time we’re getting together is helping us heal. We’re seeing a marriage counsellor and he knows how close I came to cheating on him with Seb. We’re both accepting some responsibility. I’m positive about our future.

Mrs Sullivan told me that Seb moved to Australia as planned and was settling in well. She wrote me a lovely reference to take with me to Stafford and I’m volunteering as a Teaching Assistant at the local school (the one Joe goes to, but I don’t look after his class, that would be sooo embarrassing). I’m hoping that eventually it will lead to paid work, but for now I’m just enjoying the interaction with the children. I look out for the quiet ones who are singled out by others; I try and help raise their confidence. I realise that being in touch with Mrs Sullivan means that I have a link to Seb. I hope one day I’ll hear that he’s met someone and settled down. She’ll be a lucky woman, and I’ll always be slightly jealous.

I left the eBay account closed. I no longer find the need to search and scour for bargains, but look closer to home for any comfort I need. I gave my jewellery away to charity as I felt it was tainted after being in Monique’s hands.

Niall was cleared of being responsible for the car accident and Matt Bailey’s insurers paid out. His job as a doctor is under review, but we know how hard it is to lose your license to practice in a medical establishment; maybe his forthcoming court case will be more productive.

The insurance paid out on the damage to my belongings. I’ve put most of it in the bank. Maybe we’ll have a holiday, though being in Staffordshire so far, with the countryside, fresh air and animals feels like a permanent one anyway.

Once we left for Stafford, Bettina and I agreed to no longer stay in touch. It was felt that we knew far too much about each other’s lives; it was an unhealthy relationship and would be difficult to maintain over a distance anyway. She can now have the fresh start she needs, now the fuss is dying down. We looked at each other in mutual understanding as we said goodbye for the last time; some things were never to be spoken about.

Danny remains on remand for manslaughter. He’s expected to be sentenced and remain behind bars for a number of years.

I told Niall I deliberately reversed over Monique, for we have no secrets now. He was shocked, but said if the circumstances had arisen and he was behind the wheel he’s sure he would have done the same. Niall, Bettina and I therefore hold this secret between us. I’m sorry but I can’t even regret it.

Monique’s family were notified of her death. We didn’t attend the funeral and I don’t know which family turned out to say goodbye. I wonder what her own family history was, whether it had an effect on who she was as a person? I no longer feel defined by my own. I’m a strong individual now, as well as whole within my family unit.

I make my last visit to Sheffield. I walk through the churchyard. My red stilettos kicking up gravel as I walk. I search for the mound of newly dug earth. Locating it, I place a wreath of black flowers on the grave. They’re identical to the ones she sent to my house for my best friend. It’s only right she received them.

‘Goodbye Monique. Rest in Peace.’ I say. I know that I can rest in peace myself, now that Monique is underneath.

I turn on my heel and walk away.

_________

THE END

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Biography

Andie M. Long is a bonkers mother of one, who spends most of her time when not working as a Research Administrator/Medical Secretary; reading, writing, on Facebook, drinking coffee, baking cakes and letting her son wind her around his eleven year old finger. She has a long suffering partner.

Underneath is her second novel, following
The Alphabet Game
, though she wrote it first.

She lives in Sheffield, UK.