The Attic Room: A psychological thriller Read Online Free

Aberdeen ,
smiling in relief as Nina’s eyes closed again.
    Back in the living room of their tiny Fulham flat, Claire
lifted the phone to call her mother. These early-evening chats with Lily in
Edinburgh had become her lifeline. Robert was so cold these days, so hurtful
when he spoke to her – it was unbelievably restful to talk to Lily, who loved
her. Claire punched out the number, blinking back tears. Yes, her mother loved
her, but that didn’t stop Lily constantly advocating ‘making a go of your
marriage’, like she and Dad had.
    But Rob’s latest escapade was something that even Lily
couldn’t just smooth over.
    ‘He’s bought a house, Mum!’ Claire blurted it out before
Lily had finished saying hello. ‘I didn’t know a thing about it until he
announced it over dinner as if he was telling me he’d bought a new pullover!’
    ‘Oh my goodness. What kind of house?’
    ‘An old one, apparently. It’s in Bedford, by the river, and
we’re moving next month. Two reception rooms, four bedrooms plus an attic. And
I can only sound like a catalogue because I haven’t even bloody seen it!’
    For once, Lily didn’t immediately launch into a variation of
‘marry in haste, repent at leisure’, and Claire was grateful for this much at
least. She knew the whirlwind courtship hadn’t been time for her to get to know
Robert properly, but he’d been the man of her dreams back then, all chat and
charm. Not to mention good-looking. He was a walking cliché – tall, dark and
handsome. Three years and a baby later, her feelings had changed and so had
his; he hardly spoke to her now. Face it, Claire, she thought, blinking
miserably. He’s not the man you thought you married.
    ‘Oh darling. But maybe it’ll be a chance to get yourselves
back on track? A fresh start in a new place? When do you move?’
    Claire cast her eyes heavenwards. Lily was back on her ‘work
at your marriage’ pedestal, but maybe she was right. Giving up on the
relationship when she had a two-year-old daughter wasn’t something to be done
lightly.
     
     
    Claire was astonished when she did see the house. Where had
Robert found the money to put down a deposit on a place this size? He barely
gave her enough to cover the housekeeping and Nina’s clothes. She wandered
round the upstairs rooms, planning in spite of herself. This largest one would
be a great master bedroom, and Nina could have the one opposite, a lovely big
room with a bay window. She sighed. If only she could turn the clock back to
the first weeks of her marriage, those heady days of being in love. Rob was
twelve years older and came across as worldly-wise and sophisticated. He’d made
her feel special, and although even then he’d been a little… reticent, it had
only added to the attraction. Claire squared her shoulders. In spite of their
recent problems, Robert was planning a shared future in this house. She would
do likewise.
    ‘Mummy’s,’ said Nina, holding up a handful of Jelly Tots.
Claire bent and allowed her daughter to feed her the hot, sticky mess. Nina
beamed, and Claire kissed her, licking the sugar from her lips afterwards. She
stood up to see Robert in the doorway, hands on hips and a sneer on his face.
As usual he looked immaculate, the crisp white shirt contrasting with the
blackness of his hair.
    ‘For God’s sake, look at you. Stuffing your face as usual.
No wonder your figure’s gone to pot. Where’s your self-respect – you can’t
blame having the baby after all this time.’
    Claire didn’t reply, because hell, he was right. Before her
pregnancy she’d been a small size ten and now she struggled to get into a
fourteen. She allowed herself too many little treats these days because they
made her feel better, but Robert cared about her appearance. He’d loved her old
skinny-as-a-rake figure, and while he’d said nothing when she was pregnant,
this past year or so he’d been – rude. Distant. Putting her down, humiliating
her in front of other