‘Mum told me it was getting dark and you decided the best thing to do was to find the nearest police station. They rang the local station and sent a policeman round to the house to let my grandparents know where you were.’

  ‘Yes, that’s right. We were in so much trouble, and within no time at all it was all round the town that we’d run off to Blackpool with a couple of lads from the local fairground. I have no idea where that story came from. Our reputations were in tatters,’ Ada said, laughing.

  ‘That’s one thing about living in a small town; nothing is secret and half the rumours are either made up or exaggerated,’ I said, smiling at what a handful Jean and Ada must have been in their day.

  ‘Jean will be sadly missed,’ Ada said, and wrapped her arms around Ann.

  ‘She will.’

  ‘Take care of yourself, Ann, and don’t be a stranger – my door is always open,’ she said as she was leaving.

  ‘Thanks, Ada.’

  Ann dropped to the sofa with a sigh as soon as Ada was gone.

  ‘It’s so close to Christmas, I was totally convinced she would make it through another one.’

  I put my arm around Ann’s shoulders and pulled her towards me.

  ‘I’m so sorry.’

  ‘What happened to you last night? You went off to get your shrug and then never came back.’

  I paused and looked her straight in the eye. ‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘Marcus’s MD, Larry Braithwaite – the one who fell face down on the dance floor – followed me to the room.’

  I took a breath.

  ‘His behaviour was erratic and he was stinking drunk. He kept making comments about Marcus that I can’t get out of my head.’

  ‘What did he say?’

  ‘He was slurring his words but there was real venom in his voice. He said Marcus likes the married ones and that me and him were cut from the same cloth after he spotted my wedding ring.’

  ‘What was he talking about?’

  ‘I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I was worrying about you and just replaying the whole thing over and over in my head. Do you think Marcus usually goes for married women?’

  ‘Don’t be daft. His wife is dead, and didn’t you say his wife was having an affair?’

  I nodded. ‘It just doesn’t make sense. Marcus has treated me like a princess.’

  ‘It all sounds a little strange. Maybe it was the drink talking?’

  ‘Maybe,’ I said, unconvinced, ‘but it’s clear neither of them like each other much, and I was frightened out of my wits. I managed to escape, but he really had no intention of letting me go.’

  ‘You’re kidding me?’ Ann said, alarmed.

  ‘I wish I was. It was awful. I was petrified. He blocked my way and I tried to push him off but he was too strong. I could feel his breath on my face, then my survival instincts kicked in. I played him at his own game. I pretended I was going to have sex with him and he stripped naked. I enticed him to the rug and told him to close his eyes while I locked the door. I grabbed his clothes and ran like hell. I only just managed to lock the door behind me before I slumped to the floor.’

  Ann’s eyes were wide with horror. ‘This is awful! Have you told Marcus?’

  ‘He got there just after I escaped and heard Larry banging on the door, calling me a bitch. I asked him why he hadn’t come to look for me sooner, and that’s when he told me about your mum.’

  She let out a breath. ‘I’m so sorry, Lizzie. What happened to the scumbag?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. We left him locked in the room and caught a taxi home. For all I know he might still be there.’

  ‘God help the unlucky person that discovers him naked.’

  I shivered. ‘It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. His poor wife, having to put up with a monster like that.’

  ‘There’s another story.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘After you left the room, his wife wandered over to Marcus. He looked really uncomfortable and ushered her away from the table immediately.’

  ‘I wonder what all that was about?’

  ‘I’ve no idea, but they had a sharp exchange of words and she flounced out. Then my phone rang.’

  ‘Marcus didn’t mention anything in the taxi home, but I suppose I had other things on my mind.’

  ‘How are you feeling about sleeping with Marcus now?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. Like I said, I haven’t slept at all. My heart was pounding all night long and the whole thing seems so surreal now.’

  The voice came out of nowhere. ‘You’ve slept with another man?’

  Alarmed, Ann and I swung around immediately.

  ‘Abbie, what are you doing here?’ Ann and I chorused at the same time.

  Abbie’s face was thunderous.

  ‘I’ve given up uni. But more to the point, who the hell have you slept with and what does Dad have to say about it?’ she bawled.

  Ann and I stared at each other in horror.

  33

  ‘I’ll nip to the shop and grab a carton of milk,’ Ann suggested, attempting to make a quick exit.

  ‘I don’t want to drive you out, we’ll go,’ I said, hoping I sounded calmer than I felt.

  ‘We aren’t going anywhere,’ Abbie spat and plonked herself down with force on the chair opposite me.

  ‘Well? Come on, who is he?’ she spat.

  Ann’s sympathetic look in my direction said it all; there was nothing she could do to help me now. I turned my attention back to Abbie and tried to keep my voice calm, though my stomach was churning. ‘What are you doing here? And where have you been? I’ve been trying to get hold of you for days. You’ve not returned my calls or Freya’s. She’s been worried about you, too.’

  Abbie didn’t answer.

  Ann touched me lightly on my shoulder. ‘I’m going to leave you to it. You both need some space. I’ll be ten minutes or so. Honestly, it’s fine; I could do with some air,’ she said, swiping her coat from the back of the settee and rapidly disappearing out of the door.

  I paused.

  ‘Go on then – explain.’

  How our roles had reversed, I thought, knowing full well that whatever I said might get back to Henry.

  I swallowed, not knowing how or where to begin.

  ‘Your dad and I have been hanging by a thread for a while – years in fact,’ I offered delicately.

  Abbie folded her arms with such force she looked like a toddler that was just about to stand up and stamp her feet for not getting her own way.

  ‘Both your dad and I love you dearly – and that will never change – but recently we just seem to have grown even further apart.’

  Abbie’s stare was cold and hard, and her eyes narrowed. I’d seen that look from her a thousand times during her earlier teenage years when I was the enemy.

  I drew in a deep breath and tried to avoid her burning glare. The pain from the stare itself was piercing. I could see she wanted to hurt me – in any way possible. I couldn’t blame her. I’d just ripped her stable home apart.

  ‘Alright, I admit I’ve screwed up – and I’m not proud of it,’ I said, thinking fleetingly of the night before. An awful lot had happened in the past twenty-four hours, and sleeping with Marcus was already starting to feel like a distant memory.

  Abbie remained silent.

  ‘Sometimes things happen that are out of our control.’ I swallowed. ‘Sometimes, Abbie, things aren’t what they seem, and life can be bloody difficult and downright lonely at times.’ I really didn’t want this conversation. She was my daughter, and my job was to protect her from harm, not to smash her world into smithereens. ‘Think for a minute. When was the last time you took an interest in what I was doing? When was the last time you asked me how I was? When was that, Abbie?’ I shook my head and waited for an answer.

  Abbie looked down at her hands and still said nothing.

  ‘You can’t answer me, because the only time you ever contact me is when you run out of money. I’m a person too, Abs. I have feelings just like you and everyone else.’

  ‘Who’s Marcus?’ Abbie asked coldly.

  The question hung in the air.

  I hesitated for a moment too long.

  ‘Oh God, tell me you haven’t fallen in love with him,’ she cried.

  I held my breath, wishing I could turn the clock back twenty-four hours, never mind twenty minutes.

  ‘You have, haven’t you? I hate you,’ she screamed.

  I pinched my lips together, trying hard to hold it together.

  ‘I haven’t fallen in love with anyone, Abbie,’ I said, trying to soften the blow. It wasn’t exactly a lie; I was still confused by the situation myself.

  ‘Do you still love Dad?’

  I nodded. ‘Of course I do,’ I answered, thinking it was best not to mention that he preferred watching reruns of darts to having a conversation or any sort of physical interaction with me.

  ‘Abbie, it’s difficult for me to tell you how I’m feeling when I don’t really know myself. I loved every minute of staying at home with you girls when you were little, but you don’t need me now. Since you’ve left home there’s been a massive gap in my life.’ I could feel my voice rising higher and higher.

  Abbie squirmed in her seat, but still she said nothing. The hurt was visible on her face, and the guilt was like a knife twisting in my stomach. What the hell had I done? I’d been so selfish and now I was paying the price. I only had myself to blame.

  ‘So you’re saying that because Freya and I have gone off to uni, it’s OK for you to sleep with someone behind Dad’s back?’

  ‘No, that’s not what I’m saying at all.’

  Abbie stared at me with such hatred.

  ‘I deeply regret what I’ve done.’

  ‘You deeply regret that I’ve found out, you mean.’

  A shiver ran down my spine.

  ‘It’s all going to be OK, Abbie, I promise.’

  ‘How can you promise that?’

  ‘Whatever happens, it doesn’t mean me or your dad will love you any less. We’ll always be here for both of you.’

  The scowl didn’t leave her face for a second.

  ‘How did you know where to find me?’ I asked.

  ‘I saw your note by the kettle telling Dad you were going to Ann’s.’

  ‘But this isn’t Ann’s. So, you’ve been home then?’

  Abbie seemed distracted; her eyes darted around the room in every direction except mine, and she chewed on her bottom lip.

  ‘Well?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve been home.’

  I glanced down at my watch. ‘It’s still very early,’ I said.

  Abbie looked very shifty but didn’t answer.

  ‘Why haven’t I been able to get hold of you?’

  Her eyebrows suddenly shot up. ‘Everyone thinks they know better than me. You, Freya and Dad. Well I’m fed up with it, and I can make my own mind up, thank you very much,’ she snapped. Her cheeks were blazing as she blinked away angry tears.

  ‘Make your mind up about what?’ I asked, grabbing a tissue from the box and passing it to her. My hands were clammy and my heart was beating widely, knowing that despite the change of topic, the Marcus conversation still lingered in the air.

  ‘Does Freya know you’re here?’

  Abbie shook her head.

  ‘I’m not going back to uni,’ Abbie said, screwing the tissue up into a ball and tossing it onto the little wooden table.

  ‘Why?’ I prompted.

  She shrugged awkwardly and glowered at me. ‘Because I don’t want to.’

  I sighed with frustration.

  ‘So you’re telling me you’ve thrown away your university place with only another year left to study?’

  ‘That about sums it up.’

  ‘What’s going on, Abbie? Can’t you just see how you feel after the Christmas break?’

  ‘You don’t understand.’

  ‘Try me,’ I said, but it was like trying to get blood out of a stone. ‘Why didn’t you wait until I was home? Why track me down here?’

  ‘Because Dad’s only just got up and he was like a bear with a sore head.’

  We were interrupted by voices in the hall. Ann was back from the shop.

  ‘Look who I found on the doorstep,’ Ann said, opening the living-room door wide to reveal Leo standing behind her. He was bundled up in a thick coat with a massive black holdall flung over his shoulder. His eyes found Abbie and a nervous smile lit up his face as he unwrapped the scarf around his neck.

  ‘Hi,’ he said.

  ‘Hello,’ Abbie replied, their eyes not leaving each other.

  I took a step towards Leo and held out my arms.

  ‘Are you OK?’ I asked softly.

  ‘Yes,’ he replied, giving me a hug.

  ‘Mum’s just told me the news. I’d literally just got off the train and bumped into her at the shop. It was only a matter of time,’ he said, pulling back and taking my hands in his.

  I pressed a swift kiss to his cheek.

  ‘I’ll miss her. She was always so full of energy and life. I can’t believe she’s gone.’

  ‘That was her to a tee,’ Ann said, trying her best to smile. ‘I’m glad you’re home.’ She gave his hand a quick squeeze before shaking the milk carton in her hand. ‘Shall I pop the kettle on?’

  ‘Abbie and I will get out of your hair, you need your space,’ I said.

  ‘Oh, please stay for a quick cuppa,’ Ann said. ‘I’ve gone and got the milk now.’

  I glanced over at Abbie, who nodded. ‘OK then, Ann, a quick cuppa.’

  ‘Would you like a mug, Abbie?’

  Abbie paled. ‘Yes please.’ She turned towards Ann. ‘I’m sorry, Ann, I didn’t mean to be rude when I arrived.’

  ‘It’s OK. Don’t worry about it, no offence taken.’ She smiled warmly.

  ‘I’ll give you a hand, Mum,’ Leo said, swiftly following Ann through into the kitchen.

  ‘We’ll have this cuppa and then we need to talk.’ My voice was low.

  Abbie eyed me carefully.

  ‘All I’m asking for is a little time. Please let me be the one to tell your dad. I owe him that much, at least.’ I couldn’t keep the frustration out of my voice, knowing I’d gambled and that the stakes were high. I was about to lose everything.

  ‘Agreed?’ I asked before she even had time to answer.

  She nodded, her eyes filled with sadness. ‘Only because I don’t want Dad’s whole life to come crashing down around him, especially at Christmas.’

  ‘Believe me, I don’t either.’

  The kitchen door opened and Ann and Leo strolled back into the room carrying a tray of mugs, a blue-and-white striped teapot and a plate of digestive biscuits.

  ‘The biscuits were the only thing that wasn’t past its sell-by date,’ Ann said apologetically.

  ‘Gran always liked a good digestive. She knew when it wasn’t a McVitie’s,’ Leo added with a smile.

  ‘She always had bits floating around in her tea after dunking them,’ Ann said, placing the tray down on the table.

  Leo perched on the edge of Abbie’s chair and she turned towards him. ‘I could do with some fresh air. Do you fancy a walk?’

  ‘We could have a catch up. Is that OK with you, Mum?’ Leo asked, turning towards Ann.

  ‘What about your tea?’ I asked.

  ‘Oh, it’s only tea. You pair go, but don’t be long. Now you’re home, Leo, I don’t want to let you out of my sight,’ she said, smiling at him.

  ‘I promise we won’t be long,’ he said, kissing Ann’s cheek before he and Abbie disappeared through the door. I let out a huge sigh. Ann and I waited until the front door was firmly shut and they’d walked past the window before either of us spoke.

  Ann spoke first. ‘It must be the day for it.’

  ‘Day for what?’

  ‘Rows. I just bumped into Emma in the corner shop and it all got a bit heated.’

  ‘What were you talking about?’

  ‘The will,’ Ann replied, pouring our tea. ‘She didn’t even ask how I was feeling, or if there was anything she could do to help. It was all about money.’

  ‘Oh no!’

  ‘Hence why I told her what I thought. Which isn’t actually like me.’

  ‘Sometimes you can only be pushed so far before you snap.’

  ‘Sugar?’ she asked.

  I shook my head.

  ‘So there is a will?’ I asked, taking a mug from Ann and noticing my hands were trembling.

  We sipped in silence for a moment.

  ‘Yes – and that’s where the trouble lies,’ Ann said, taking a bite of digestive and catching the crumbs with her hand. They’re assuming everything is going to be equally split between the three of us.’

  ‘And that’s not the case?’ I guessed, leaning over and helping myself to a biscuit.

  Ann shook her head.

  ‘No, but they don’t know that yet. I’m dreading when the will does get read – all hell will break loose. Mum changed it a few years back and left everything to me – including whatever money’s left from the sale of the house when the care home’s paid.’

  ‘Gosh.’

  ‘They’ll be furious,’ Ann said. ‘What is it about money that makes everyone so vulgar and irrational?’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ I asked.

  ‘Nothing. I’ll wait and see what happens. Mum was of sound mind when she wrote it. It was witnessed by Ada and a solicitor, so I can’t see it being contested. It would be a whole lot of wasted time and effort. But then Emma and John won’t speak to me for the rest of my life.’

  ‘Is that a major problem?’ I queried.

  ‘You know what… probably not. Life’s too short to waste on people who make you unhappy.’

  ‘You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends. I like that motto!’

  ‘And without sounding all maudlin, Lizzie, I hope out of the pair of us, I die first.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Call it self-pity city, but if you die first, I don’t think I could cope without you.’

  ‘Ah, Ann, there’s a compliment in there somewhere!’