Read The Date: An unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist for Free Online

choppy waters once more.
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    On the ward I dress in clothes Ben has brought in, a pink summer skirt and a clashing red and orange floral top. He’s remembered bra and pants but forgotten tights and shoes, and I shiver as I shuffle out into the winter-cold car park in my slippers.
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    It’s only four o’clock but already dusk is sucking the daylight away. As we driveI lean forward in my seat as though I can make us go faster, longing to shower away the stench of illness that clings to my skin, to sleep in my own soft bed that smells of summer meadow fabric softener. To be back among my own things, if not my own home, safe and familiar. My mind drifts to Matt. I am incredulous I won’t be able to recognise the face of the man I married although I can still picturehim clearly. Long black lashes framing hazel eyes. The mouth that used to lift into a smile when he saw me but later became a thin, straight line whenever I walked into the room.
    Ben cuts the engine and reaches for the door handle.
    ‘Do you mind if I go in alone?’ As soon as I’ve eaten and showered I want to go to bed.
    He hesitates. ‘If that’s what you want.’ He pushes my newdoor key into my hand.
    ‘Is it okay if I whizz up to Edinburgh tomorrow? The site up there is haemorrhaging money. I need to find out why.’
    ‘Of course,’ I say. ‘I’ve James and Jules next door if I need anything, and I’m sure Chrissy will be back any day.’
    There’s a beat.
    ‘Honestly, Ben. The painkillers have wiped me out. I’ll probably spend all day sleeping.’
    ‘You will call me if you need anything or if you remember anything?’ Ben asks.
    I nod, and he leans to kiss me on the cheek, as is our way, but hesitates as I lean away from him. He squeezes my arm instead. The edges of our relationship have become sharp and jagged. There’s a distance between us that wasn’t there before. I know I’m unfair to treat him differently, when I’m the one who haschanged, but I can’t help it.
    My body is leaden, almost sinking into the path as I stumble towards the front door. At the bottom of the driveway, the shadow of my bright yellow Fiat 500. It’s disconcerting to think I might have driven it the state I was in. What if someone had got hurt? It doesn’t bear thinking about.
    There’s a bouquet of pink roses on my doorstep. As I pick themup, leaves scatter like dust.
    Inside I kick the door shut with my foot. ‘Chrissy?’ But although the scent of vanilla from our plug-in air freshener is strong, the air is thick, as if no one has been here for days and I know she isn’t home. The house feels empty but I’m too exhausted to collect Branwell today. I scoop the post from the mat and toss it on the work surface, dump the flowersin the sink. The mail is mostly junk; there are get well cards from work signed by the staff and, touchingly, one from the residents, their handwriting as shaky as their balance. Turning my attention to the flowers, I pull open the drawer and rummage around for the scissors to snip the stems. Among the batteries, the crumpled receipts and freezer bags are my keys. Odd. If they’re not in my handbagthey are always hanging on a hook by the front door. If it weren’t for the flowers I might never have found them. Ben needn’t have changed the locks after all. I lift the roses from the sink. Inexplicably I feel chilled. Almost reluctant to open the small envelope sellotaped to the bouquet, my name handwritten on the front. These haven’t been delivered by a florist. I pull out the stiff white card,yellow roses decorating the corners. Four words. Just four words scrawled in thick, black pen.
    Enjoy the date, bitch?

6
    Oh Ali, I wish I could see your face as you open that card. I bet you thought your nightmare was over? It’s only just beginning. We’re going to have some fun. And by that I mean I’m going to have fun. You? You’re going to scream.

7
    Someone must have seen who left the flowers. I rush next door to ask