Paul smirks, thinking I’m laughing at his poor attempt at humour. ‘Better put you on the naughty step.’
‘It’s nothing,’ I lie. ‘I’ve hired a firm of accountants to streamline the business, that’s all.’
‘Have you indeed? Well, you can tell them about my plan to lease half your showroom. That’ll streamline things for you. Having a bit of a cashflow problem, eh?’
‘Not at all.’ Although if those tax inspectors find out what I’ve done, I’ll have more than cashflow problems. Paul would love that. He’d be able to get his hands on the whole premises if my business went bust.
‘That’s a fancy-looking coffee machine, Feefs. Fancy firing her up? I could murder an Americano.’
How am I ever going to get rid of this bloody man? I glance at my watch. ‘Look, Paul, I’d love to chat over a coffee, but I have to go out now. Got a lunchtime meeting.’
‘Oh.’ He thrusts out his bottom lip, like a sulky overgrown child. ‘Fine, I’ll walk out with you. We’ll take a rain check on that coffee.’
I give Molly a shrug and grab my bag. Now I’m going to have to go out just to keep up the charade that I have a meeting. I leave the showroom with Paul at my side, tuning out his non-stop chatter about his proposed expansion into cosmetic dental surgery. Once we reach the pavement I ask him which way he’s going.
‘Back to the surgery, Feefs, where else?’
‘Okay, well, I’m going this way.’ I point in the opposite direction. ‘I’ll see you.’
‘See you later, Fifi. And remember, end of the month is D-Day.’
‘Yep.’ I make off in the opposite direction, relieved to have got our encounter out of the way.
I always keep a selection of salads in the fridge at work, but today I’m really craving carbs so I think I might treat myself to a cheese roll from Ida’s. As I approach the bakery, I see that there’s already quite a queue out the door. I recognise a few familiar faces in the queue so if I join them, I’ll have to make small talk. What am I even doing here? I should be back at the showroom getting on with my designs for the Carmichaels’ place. I can’t let the likes of Paul Barton and those tax inspectors put me off doing my job. I’m better than this. If I’m not careful, I’m going to drive myself out of business without the aid of anyone else.
I stop where I am and take a breath. I’m going to forget about the cheese roll. If I bump into Paul again, I’ll just tell him the truth – that I’m too busy to talk. That I have work to be getting on with. I’m fed up of being polite to the man. As I turn to head back to Salinger’s, I glance in through the bay window of Ida’s. Beyond the cake display, I spot Tia and Leo seated at one of the tables. They’re looking up, talking to someone. It’s Kelly. She hangs her bag over the back of the chair and sits down at their table. Looks like they’re all about to have lunch.
My chest constricts a little. I can’t help but immediately feel hurt that they didn’t ask me to join them. I know that’s silly – I often meet up with one of my friends without the other. Okay, maybe not Tia, but I do see Kelly a lot on her own. It’s just that Ida’s is less than a minute away from where I work. Would it have been so hard for Kelly to pop her head in and ask me to come along too? Unless they’re discussing something they don’t want me to know about… No. Screw it. I’m not having a good day. I need to see my friends. I’m going in to have lunch with them. If they don’t want me there, they can tell me to my face.
Fifteen
They’ve led her back to school. She thought it would be okay. Her friends sounded so adamant that this was the right thing to do. They wouldn’t take no for an answer. So she let them persuade her to come back. And now the stink of the place has caught in her throat and snaked its way into her mind. It’s crept beneath her clothes and infused her skin. She never knew that a smell could infect your whole body.
She’s shaking as she walks back down the warm corridor, her limbs soft, her brain soggy. Her friends are kind and soothing, but she can’t make sense of the words. They’re fading in and out of clarity. She catches fragments of comforting phrases interspersed with a hushed, frantic conversation.
‘It’s okay’ … ‘We’re nearly there’ … ‘She looks really pale’ … ‘Should we call her parents?’ … ‘I can’t believe it’ … ‘He might not even be there’ … ‘Horrendous’ … ‘Shhh.’
They stop outside a door. A quick glance up shows it’s the headmaster’s office. One of her friends clears her throat and knocks.
‘Come in!’ Mr Williams’ voice is brusque and authoritarian.
She wants to leave so badly now. To run back down the corridor and out of the main doors. To keep running forever. Instead, the headmaster’s door opens, and she walks in, her friends flanking her like armed guards.
They talk to Mr Williams while he gives quiet rumbling responses. He leaves the room for a short while before returning with Mrs Bonnington, the deputy head.
Mrs Bonnington ushers her over to a chair where she sits, mute.
Her friends explain what happened on her behalf. She told them what happened in great gushing detail. But now she never wants to speak of it again. She wishes the whole thing could be erased from her mind. But it’s lodged in there like a tick sucking out fresh blood and leaving behind disease.
She hears her friends going over it all. Speaking a version of her original words. First there was the thing itself. Then there was her own retelling. And now there’s yet another iteration. Another layer of the truth being laid down as the birds outside sing and the warm wind sighs through the trees.
She listens to them tell of how Mr Lawson kissed her. How he touched her, and he wouldn’t stop. How his hands were everywhere, all over her body, beneath her clothes. How she had to fight him off and run away.
But the thing she hasn’t told them is that she thought she liked him. She thought she wanted him to kiss her. Only, the thing is, as soon as he had bent to kiss her, she realised that this wasn’t what she wanted at all. The fantasy in her head was different to the reality of here and now. This grown-up man wasn’t what she wanted. She got scared and told him to stop. She’d tried to pull away. She had told him ‘no’.
But he hadn’t listened. He hadn’t listened at all.
Sixteen
Friday
TIA
Kelly arrives at the café at noon on the dot. I’ve already been here for fifteen minutes, which was probably a mistake because Leo’s already finished his milkshake and now his sugar rush is kicking in. He’s fidgeting in his chair and whining about being bored. I should have got him to burn off some energy in the park first, but I wanted to arrive in plenty of time in case Kelly managed to get here early. I feel a bit bad asking her to give up her lunch break to meet me when it was clear she had other stuff to do. But I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t desperate.
‘Mummy, I want a sausage roll.’ Leo points to the counter.
‘Please,’ I admonish.
‘Please. I want a sausage roll.’
‘The lady will come in a minute and you can tell her what you want. But you have to say please, all right?’
‘Aw right.’
‘Hey, Tia.’ Kelly sits down opposite me and leans closer, speaking quietly so no one else can hear. ‘Everything okay? You seemed a bit upset earlier. I wanted to come and see how you were, but I couldn’t leave the shop.’
Her kindness is going to undo me. Now that she’s here, I’m desperate to tell her what’s been going on, to unburden myself, but I’m not even sure where to start. She doesn’t have a long break, so I think I’m just going to have to launch straight into it. I wipe Leo’s hands with a napkin and give him my iPhone to play on. That’s probably the only thing in the known universe that will keep him occupied for more than ten minutes. I also give him my earbuds to keep him from eavesdropping. Once he’s settled, I lean forward in my chair. I realise my heart is thumping in my ears. I’m nervous about telling my friend.
What if she doesn’t believe me
? Or, worse, what if she saw me going off with a man at the club but hasn’t said anything? Maybe she and Fiona have been discussing that night behind my back. But that’s ridiculous. Kelly isn’t like that. She would tell me straight. She would ask me outright. Anyway, I’m almost positive that those photographs are fake.
‘Well…’ I begin.
Kelly waits for me to go on.
‘Hi.’ A familiar voice interrupts my attempt to explain what’s been going on. I look up and try not to let my disappointment and annoyance show when I see who it is. It’s Fiona. What’s she doing here?
‘Hi, Fi.’ Kelly turns and gives her a warm smile.
‘Hey,’ I say quietly, hoping she’s just here to say a quick hello and then leave.
She seems a little unsure of herself, which isn’t at all like Fiona. She’s usually so self-possessed and confident. ‘I was just walking past and saw you guys through the window.’
‘We’re just having a quick sandwich,’ Kelly says, flushing. I can tell she feels bad for not asking Fi to join us. ‘But I know you don’t usually eat carbs.’
‘Actually, I’m craving a cheese roll.’ Fiona gives a nervous laugh.
‘Sounds good, you should let loose and order one,’ I say, trying to keep my voice light. Trying not to blurt out that I want her to leave because I’m in the middle of a really important conversation.
‘Actually, do you mind if I gatecrash your lunch? I need cheering up.’
My heart sinks.
Kelly flashes me a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it apologetic smile. ‘Of course you can. They haven’t taken our order yet. Come and sit.’
‘Is that okay, Tee?’ She turns to me and looks for a moment like a lost little girl.
I feel like a total cow for having such mean thoughts about her. ‘Of course it’s okay. That would be lovely.’ I try to push my disappointment away. ‘We haven’t caught up for ages.’
Fiona sits in the empty chair and I resign myself to the fact that my problems will have to remain unspoken for a while longer.
‘How are things with you, Tee?’ Fiona asks.
‘I’m okay.’
‘She was just about to tell me something,’ Kelly says, oblivious to my discomfort, which isn’t like her at all. She’s normally pretty sensitive to other people. She turns back to me. ‘Maybe we could both help with whatever it is?’
‘No, it’s fine. It’s nothing.’
‘I’ve interrupted something.’ Fiona’s face reddens again, and she stumbles to her feet. ‘I’ll leave you two to chat.’
‘Fi!’ Kelly cries. She and I exchange another fleeting look. ‘Fi, sit down.’
I put a hand on her arm. ‘Stay, Fiona. You haven’t interrupted anything. You’re my friend too. I just didn’t want to bore you with school stuff.’ I decide that there’s no way I’m telling Fiona about the photos. Maybe I’ll tell her about the incident with Rosie instead. That way, she won’t feel like I’m keeping something from her. I’m also still not entirely convinced that it isn’t Fiona behind the photos. For all I know, her uncharacteristic nervousness might be due to a guilty conscience.
‘I…’ Fiona stands for a moment, not making a move to either leave or sit back down.
‘Fiona, don’t be silly, sit down.’ I give her the warmest smile I can muster.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes!’ Kelly and I chorus.
She sits back down, and we all relax a little. Leo hasn’t even noticed the drama; he’s wrapped up in his video game.
‘Thanks, guys,’ Fiona says, waving a waitress over. ‘I’ve had a crap day and could do with a bit of girl talk.’
‘What’s happened?’ I’m keen to deflect the conversation away from myself.
‘You know Molly, my assistant? She’s just handed in her notice. She’s pregnant and she’s moving away.’
‘Sorry to hear that,’ I say, thinking that’s nothing compared to a possible blackmailer sending incriminating photos that have the potential to blow apart your marriage. But I have to stop thinking such uncharitable thoughts. Fiona doesn’t know what’s going on with me, so it’s not her fault. Unless she does know what’s going on with me and this is all an act.
‘That’s a shame,’ Kelly says, ‘but I thought you said she wasn’t that great at her job?’
‘Yeah, I know. I guess she’s probably done me a favour in the long run, but it’s going to be such a pain trying to find someone to replace her. Ashridge isn’t exactly awash with interior-design assistants. Plus Paul Barton is hassling me about wanting to take over half the studio.’
‘Creepy Barton?’ I give a shudder.
‘Yes. I’ve told him I’ll think about it. But anyway, I didn’t mean to make this all about me. What’s happening with you guys? Tell me some good news. Something cheerful, or funny.’
Kelly and I both look blank. There’s certainly nothing cheerful going on in my life at the moment. I wrack my brains to think of something. ‘We’ve got the regatta tomorrow; that should be fun.’
Fiona nods. ‘You’re right. Nathan and Ed are both racing, which will be great to watch.’
I glare at Fiona and shake my head. She instantly bites her lip. We both turn to look at Kelly. She must be feeling weird about the regatta – Michael always used to race too. Kelly didn’t feel up to attending last year as it was too soon after he died, so it’s a big deal that she’s even going this year.
‘Oh, Kelly, I’m so sorry.’ Fiona puts a hand on her arm. ‘That was really insensitive of me.’
‘No, no, don’t be silly. Yes, Michael used to race, but it’ll still be fun to watch Nathan and Ed. I’m looking forward to it. In fact, we should treat it like a mini holiday. A break from all the stresses of everyday life. Why don’t we all meet up and have a group picnic like the old days? All three families together.’ Her voice is upbeat, but there’s a forcedness about it. As though she’s trying to convince herself that everything’s fine.
‘Sounds good,’ I reply awkwardly.
‘Yep, count me and Nathan in.’
‘Can I take your order, ladies?’ A waitress stands by my side with a notepad in her hand. She takes Kelly and Fiona’s order and begins to walk off.
I call after her. ‘Excuse me, I haven’t ordered yet.’ But she doesn’t appear to have heard me. Before I have a chance to catch her, she’s gone back out to the kitchen. ‘Can you keep an eye on Leo a sec?’ I go up to the counter where they’re serving the takeaway customers. ‘Hi, Ida…’
She holds a finger up. ‘You’ll have to get to the back of the queue.’
‘Yes, but—’
‘Uh-uh, back of the queue.’
‘I’m at a table.’
‘Then it’s waitress service. Sit down and they’ll get to you.’
In all the years I’ve been coming here, I’ve never known Ida be so rude. What’s going on? I slouch back to the table and sit down.
‘What happened?’ Kelly asks.
‘That waitress acted like I wasn’t here. You saw that, right?’
‘I don’t know…’ Fiona says. ‘I think she’s just busy and got distracted.’
‘So I went up to Ida to give her my order and she told me to get to the back of the queue or sit back down. Like I’m some sort of school kid.’ Normally I wouldn’t take that kind of rudeness from anyone. I don’t know what’s up with me. Or rather, I do know what’s up with me, and I don’t like it. I don’t feel at all like myself.
‘Let me go and have a word.’ Kelly gets up. ‘What do you want, Tee?’
‘A sausage roll for Leo and a chicken salad wrap for me.’ But, actually, I feel like telling them to stuff their business up their arses before storming out.
Kelly goes up to the counter. I see her talk to Ida who gives her a warm smile and a nod.
‘Did she take the order from you?’ I ask when Kelly gets back.
‘Yeah, no problem.’
‘Thanks.’ I shake my head in disbelief. What the hell was all that about?
The waitress deliberately ignored me and then Ida was downright rude.
‘You okay?’ Fiona asks.
I want to yell, No, I’m not okay! I really wish I’d never pushed Kelly into coming to meet me for lunch. It’s been a total waste of time. Rather than making me feel better, I now feel ten times worse. I want to cry with stress and frustration. Someone’s sending me disturbing photos, there are rumours going around that I’m a murderer, and, to top it all, everyone in town and at school seems to hate me. What the hell is going on?
‘Yep, fine,’ I reply, not wanting her to see that I’m rattled. But I’m not sure how long I can keep all this bottled up.
Seventeen
KELLY
I push open my front door. Luckily Derek agreed to let me close the shop early so I could be home when the kids get back from school. Normally they walk home and let themselves in when I’m at work, but because Sophie’s here, I’m not comfortable leaving them all together without me. Just in case something happens.
They shouldn’t be back for at least another half hour, which is perfect, as that will give me enough time to talk to Sophie about what she plans to do next. I’m not sure how much good a talk will do, but she can’t expect to stay here forever. I want to help her, of course I do, but hiding away in my attic isn’t going to fix whatever’s been going on in her life.
I’ll also have to call Tia later. I feel bad that she didn’t get a chance to talk about whatever it is that’s upsetting her. I thought she might open up to me and Fiona, but it was clear that she didn’t want to say anything in front of Fi. Not sure why because Fiona’s always been good at giving out advice. True, it’s not always the advice people want to hear – I guess she can sometimes be a bit too honest. But Tia’s also quite straight talking. I sense there might be some awkwardness between those two. Maybe things will settle down after our group picnic at the regatta tomorrow. I hope so. And I also hope Ryan isn’t going to be difficult. I have this niggling feeling he might refuse to come, and I really don’t want to leave him at home while we’re all supposed to be there having fun. Especially if Sophie’s still going to be here.
One of Us Is Lying: A totally gripping psychological thriller with a brilliant twist Page 10