It could have happened to anybody.
It all took place so quickly. She was backing the car up the drive. He was crossing the driveway carrying the hedge clippers. She had been shopping. He had been pruning the hedge. When the rear bumper took out his legs it had sent him flying. When she saw what she had done she started screaming. He looked to be in particularly bad shape and only partly conscious. An ambulance was called, and with the bags of shopping forgotten, she followed. Remembering the tiff they had earlier made her feel terrible. She checked the mirror. Her cheeks were streaked with eye makeup. She did a rough job of cleaning herself up as she drove.
At the hospital he was assessed by a doctor for his injuries, who had arranged for him to be admitted. He was on painkillers and propped up in bed, while his wife was chatting with the nurses, telling them what an awful accident it had been and how upsetting it all was.
He’d always been able to tell when she was lying…