Challenging Andie
Page 17
It had taken months for her to discover that he had a younger brother, still in primary school. Cara’d seen his mother—a pale, thin woman—with them at the shops sometimes. But she’d seen no sign of his father, no one had. But she knew.
She’d worked it out the day she went in to the hospital where her mother was a doctor, and saw Ethan waiting for his drunken father to be discharged from the emergency room.
Cara shifted in the heavy costume. Puffed a targeted breath to flick the hair out of her eyes. It smelled in here too, of moldy fake fur and sweat. A dull ache bloomed in her back. Surely it must be time for a break? She tugged backwards.
The costume didn’t move.
Panic welled up as she tugged again. She peered out through the viewing slot in the mask’s wide mouth, unable to see more than a sliver in front of her. A sliver filled with people passing by, and a small boy standing between smiling parents. He pointed at her head, and wiggled with excitement. “Look, it’s Pooh!”
Cara cartwheeled her arms frantically.
“He’s waving!” The high voice pealed out, and the toddler waved back.
His parents smiled indulgently. Handed him a bucket of popcorn and turned away.
Caitlin hadn’t been able to hear her earlier, but maybe if she shouted…”Help!”
They kept walking.
Cara breathed in a ragged breath. Great. No one could hear her. Knowing the heat inside the costume would be unbearable, she’d stripped to her bra and panties in the changing room. Her cell phone was in her jeans pocket. She couldn’t even call anyone. Could this day get any worse?
The Morning After is available here from Amazon.com
And here from Amazon.co.uk.
###