There was something very definite and final about the way Alice said ‘unfinished business’. She almost spat it out.

  Val might have been thinking the same thing, because she wasn’t taking no for an answer. She’d put her bag on her lap and now she was saying, ‘Alice, how about if I take you? I’ll wait outside, so I won’t invade your privacy. You can take as long as you want and then I’ll bring you back here and we can have that lunch. It’s the very least I can do after what you’ve done for me today and it will make me so happy if you agree.’

  Sophie thought Alice was about to object, but then Rory intervened.

  ‘Mum, that’s a good idea. Be nice for you to have some company that isn’t me.’

  His words were said with obvious kindness, and seemed very casual, but Sophie was sure she detected a deeper meaning to them.

  His mum seemed surprised at first, but then, after a few moments, she agreed.

  ‘I would appreciate that, thank you. As long as you’re sure it won’t inconvenience you.’

  ‘Great. All sorted then,’ Rory said.

  They all stood up and she watched as he said goodbye to the others, hugging them one by one.

  When he got to Sophie, there was no goodbye hug, but he gave her the friendliest smile she’d ever seen. Wow.

  ‘Let’s go, shall we?’ he asked her.

  Sophie felt her voice was a little higher than normal, when she replied, ‘Ready when you are.’

  31

  ALICE

  ‘This was really very kind of you,’ Alice said, as she pulled on her seat belt in the passenger seat of Val’s Jeep. She’d been surprised when Rory had gone along with this suggestion, encouraged it even, but it didn’t take a genius to work out his motivations. He was well aware that since the scandal, all her friends had cut ties with her. Not that she blamed them. They had families and reputations to protect. She also had a recollection of saying to him that there had been no friendly interactions, no interesting conversations, no hint of care or concern from anyone. She took her share of responsibility for that too. Shame and survival had completely shut down that side of her personality. However, this lady, Val, despite all she’d been through, just radiated kindness and care and affection for everyone. And even though the stories behind her rings showed that she’d suffered unimaginable heartbreak, there was still joy there, and definitely humour. Alice hadn’t felt this kind of connection with anyone in a long time. It was very obvious why her son thought she would enjoy getting to know this lady and Alice didn’t disagree.

  But first, there was that unfinished business to conclude.

  ‘I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with all this. Sounds like you’ve been through the wars,’ Val interrupted her thoughts, as they pulled out of the parking space and began to drive the ten minutes to the hospital.

  ‘Thank you,’ Alice replied politely, then immediately felt a smack of remorse for leaving it there and not engaging further. No, not remorse. Guilt. Irritation. Fury with herself. Hadn’t she kept her mouth shut for all these years, despite everything that bastard had done? Hadn’t she cut herself off from the rest of humanity, just so she could protect herself and survive from one day to the next? How was she going to change that if she continued to keep the whole world at a distance and refuse to share even a tiny bit of her soul?

  ‘Actually… To be very honest with you, Val, and I hope you will keep this in confidence, but I have been married to that man for thirty years and I’ve detested him for almost all of that time.’

  Val kept her eyes on the road, but her voice was full of compassion. ‘Alice, love, I could have shut my eyes and stitched them together and I’d still have been able to spot that. I just didn’t want to overstep by mentioning it. The lassies have been teaching me about boundaries and I’m trying to get the hang of them.’

  ‘You’re doing very well,’ Alice told her, amused despite the weight that was pressing down on her shoulders.

  ‘Thank you. Plus, and please don’t take offence to this… I know who your husband is and that was a terrible business he was involved in a couple of years ago as well. That said, I try to judge folk on my own experiences, so I don’t pay much notice to what they say about people in the news.’

  She paused for breath, and Alice thought how polite and diplomatic she was being. Until…

  ‘However, I met him in the taxi and that man was an arse. I have no idea how you manged to tolerate being married to such a pompous, arrogant horror of a man for that long.’

  That would be the diplomacy and politeness gone then. Not that Alice minded in the least.

  ‘It’s hard to explain, really.’ Years of repression were screaming at her to stop speaking, but she turned their volume down and continued.

  ‘Our marriage was over almost before it began. Rory is his son, but I had him out of wedlock, much to the disapproval of my parents. I found out afterwards that Larry wouldn’t even have married me if he hadn’t decided to go into politics. We were the instant happy family image that he needed. Of course, I was too young and stupid to realise it at the time, but it didn’t take long for it to become crystal clear.’

  ‘So why didn’t you leave him?’ Val asked.

  Alice could sense that it came from genuine curiosity, not any kind of accusatory judgement.

  ‘Because it also quickly became crystal clear that he was a cruel man. A ruthless one. And he got even worse as he got more and more power. When I threatened to leave, he said he’d destroy me, that he’d take Rory, that he’d make sure we suffered, and I didn’t doubt that for a second. That probably sounds very weak to you…’

  ‘It truly doesn’t. I’m not in your shoes, Alice. You did what you thought was right for you and your son. That’s all anyone needs to know and it’s nobody else’s business to judge.’

  ‘Thank you.’ The words got caught in the lump that was in her throat, caused by the validation, the support, the solidarity from the only other woman she’d ever told about this. Val was practically a stranger, yet she’d shown her more kindness than Alice had ever shown herself. She gave off the same air of care and encouragement that she’d felt from the nurse, Bernadette, this morning.

  ‘That must have been an awfully hard life to live, though. I hope you had friends to lean on. To get you through it.’

  It was as if Val was reading her thoughts.

  ‘I actually… I never told a soul. Not ever. I just built a world around Rory and me, a shell that protected him as much as possible from his father, and I filled it with love, and encouragement and wonderful times with just us, and with his friends too.’

  ‘And anyone can see what a great job you did. You can tell just by meeting him that he’s turned out to be a good man.’

  Alice saw that they were pulling into the hospital car park. ‘Would you mind going round to the side there? There’s a sign that says, ‘Staff Entrance’.’

  ‘No problem,’ Val said, heading in that direction.

  ‘Thank you.’ Alice fell silent, trying to process how it felt to crack open that shell, even just a tiny bit. Strange. Scary. Liberating.

  ‘But, Alice,’ Val was saying now, ‘that’s a long time to live a life of unhappiness and struggle. What about you? When do you get to be happy? At what point do you call it quits and find your own happiness?’

  The car pulled to a stop and Alice unbuckled her belt, exhaled, steadied herself. ‘I think that point is right now.’

  She needed just a tiny bit more courage to get her over the line and Val was right there with it. ‘You go do it, Alice. I’ll be right here waiting for you.’

  She got out of the car before she changed her mind. As she entered the building, the security guard recognised her and waved her through. The walk to the ward passed in a blur, and it seemed like only seconds later she was standing at the door of the ICU. This was it. She could do this.

  Push the door, Alice. Do it right bloody now.

  Her hand connected with the door, she pushed it open, her eyes went to his bed and there the bastard was. Sitting up. With that horrible leer on his twisted face. But there was something else…

  Or rather, someone…

  Sitting next to him was a woman that Alice had never seen before in her life.

  Nurse Bernadette, just a few feet away at the desk, shot her a look that said so many things. None of them good. And it was impossible to miss the support in her tone as she said, ‘Hello, Alice. Larry has a visitor. Sandra Vickers. He asked us to let her in. Apparently, they work together at the taxi office.’

  Steady, Alice. Stay steady. Her first urge was to turn around and go right back downstairs into Val’s car, but no. There were things she needed to say.

  Calmly, head high, she walked over to his bed. Larry and Sandra both saw her at the same time, and as the woman jumped up from her seat, Alice could see that they’d been holding hands.

  ‘I’ll… I’ll… wait outside,’ Sandra blustered, and she couldn’t meet Alice’s gaze as she passed her.

  Their actions made it very obvious that they were more than just colleagues or friends. If it wasn’t so tragic, it would almost be funny. Some poor, manipulated soul had fallen for his crap. It was easy to think that the woman was a fool, but a lifetime with Larry had taught her otherwise. He was vile to everyone, except when he wanted something from them, and wow, then he could turn on the charm. It was why he’d won elections and served two and a half terms as an MP. If he’d been attracted to this woman, he’d probably bowled her over with charisma and affection and pulled out every big-shot tactic from his past to impress her. It had obviously worked.

  ‘Don’t fucking start…’ Larry warned her.

  Alice shrugged. ‘I’m not here to start anything. I think you’ll find it’s the opposite.’

  She sat down on the seat Sandra had just vacated, then leaned forward so there was no danger of anyone hearing a word.

  ‘I’m here to tell you it’s over, Larry. I’m leaving. I won’t be back. But I just needed you to know something in case you ever decide that you don’t agree with that decision. There is a case of photographs and videos of countless immoral and illegal things you’ve done in your life. And not just the ones that are already out there. There’s more – some of them downloaded from your own phones when you were asleep. And then there’s the ones I took too. The drinking. The drugs. Every single person I’ve ever heard you boast about lying to or screwing over. There are records of the deals I witnessed, that I’ve now discovered were dodgy. The promises you shouldn’t have made. The rants you spewed about everyone who’s ever crossed you. The endless freebies that I know now you didn’t declare. And notes. Books and books of notes that I’ve kept every single day of the last two years, documenting every memory I have of your miserable, evil life. And if Rory or I see you or hear from you again, I’ll make it all public. Every. Last. Word. Of. It. And it will bury you under so much shit you’ll never breathe again. So I’m going to get up from here and I’m going to walk away. And Larry? You can rot in hell.’

  She was already on her feet when he snarled, ‘I was tossing you out anyway. Sandra is moving in with me.’

  Alice stopped. Turned. ‘You know, I think that’s the first time you’ve made me happy in thirty years.’

  Nothing on earth would make her stick around, but it would also have made her happy to see his face when the police came to arrest him and when he realised that he wasn’t going to dodge those charges. Medical evidence this time. She doubted any lawyer could get him off this one.

  Steadily, chin still up, she walked back towards the door, speaking to Bernadette as she passed. ‘Can you please take Miss Vickers’ number? She’ll be Larry’s point of call from now on.’

  ‘I certainly shall,’ Bernadette said with upmost professionalism, but there was an unmistakable expression of pride on her face.

  ‘Thank you, Bernadette. For everything.’ She was absolutely certain that they both knew what she was referring to.

  Bernadette hugged her. ‘You’re so welcome. You take care, Alice.’

  Alice walked on by, through the doors, and there she saw Sandra, standing against the opposite wall, sporting a look of what appeared to be scorn.

  Many thoughts went through Alice’s mind all at once, but two of them stuck longest. This woman knew that Larry was married yet she was clearly having an affair with him. However, on the flip side, Alice wouldn’t want another living soul to be subjected to the horrors of that man.

  ‘Sandra?’ Alice said, as she stopped in front of her.

  The other woman nodded, not even giving her the courtesy of a ‘yes’.

  ‘Thirty years ago, my family and friends warned me against that man in there and I didn’t listen. I’ve never stopped wishing that I had. He’s controlling, abusive and his narcissism ensures that he destroys everything he touches. Please don’t let that be you too.’

  ‘It won’t. He’s not like that with me.’ She said it with such superior smugness, Alice almost felt sorry for her and the reality that would undoubtedly come. She’d learn.

  ‘It’s only a matter of time. And, Sandra, he’s about to have no job, no income and there’s a pretty good chance he’s going to jail. Good luck with that.’

  Sandra didn’t react, but Alice didn’t care – she could live with herself now that she’d warned her husband’s mistress. It was up to Sandra what she did with that information.

  Every step Alice took all the way back to the car knocked another chunk of that weight of fear, of unhappiness, of dread, of misery, of loathing, of sadness from her shoulders. When she got back into the car, she was so stunned, but so incredibly happy, that she couldn’t speak.

  ‘Done?’ Val asked her.

  Alice nodded.

  ‘It’s over?’

  She nodded again.

  Val pulled away, out of the hospital car park, then veered straight into the Tesco car park across the road. She drove to the deserted far corner, where there were no cars or people, then she stopped.

  ‘Right, Alice, love, I’m going to step outside for a second and you’re going to scream. As loud as you can.’

  At any other time, Alice would think this woman had gone mad, but right now her mind was still too stunned to function.

  Val opened the door. ‘Remember, as loud as you can,’ she said, before climbing out, closing the door, then leaning down and nodding through the closed window.

  Alice just sat there. Looking straight ahead. Frozen. Then something strange happened. She felt her mouth open, her vocal cords tremble, and then a bomb of rage, relief, and a million other emotions, exploded and she screamed and screamed and screamed until there was nothing left in her and the car fell silent.

  A few seconds later, Val climbed back in and hugged her.

  Alice clung on, then, slowly, when she was ready, released her.

  ‘Me and my pal, Josie used to do that when we needed to get something out.’ Val told her.

  Alice wasn’t sure if she had any voice left, but she found a whisper. ‘I think I would have loved your pal, Josie. Thank you, Val.’

  Val pulled her seat belt back on and started up the car.

  ‘So, just let me check I’ve got this. You’re leaving that arse, and your home?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And where are you going to live?’

  Alice shrugged. ‘I haven’t got that far yet.’

  ‘Right. Well, I’ve got an idea about that. Until you get back on your feet, how would you feel about a lovely wee spare room in Weirbridge?’

  32

  RORY

  Rory had felt a little guilty pushing his mum into accepting the lift from Val, but the woman they’d met this morning was lovely and she’d obviously been through a lot of heartache and low times in her life. His mum could definitely relate to that. And how long had it been since she had spent time with someone who could be a friend? If they were going to start over, it might as well be now.

  ‘Nice car,’ Sophie said, as they left the hotel and reached the Audi.

  ‘Company car. Or, at least, it was. Since it was part of my termination package, I guess it’s just mine now. I got fired on Friday.’ He unlocked the doors, and they got in. He was glad he’d put all the junk from the back seat in the boot last night after they’d taken out his mum’s cases.

  ‘No way.’

  ‘Yup.’ Before he could even press the ignition, he felt an irrepressible need to apologise again. ‘Sophie, I really couldn’t be sorrier about what my dad did. I can’t even stand the thought of what could have happened.’

  To his surprise, she put her hand up. ‘Nope, not doing that. No what ifs. My dad is the kind of person who is full of worries and worst-case scenarios, and it drains the life out of him, so let’s just focus on where we are now. Like I said, I’m fine. And I’m only accepting this lift if you promise not to mention it again.’

  Her objection made him laugh and impressed him at the same time. ‘Agreed,’ he said, as he started the car and pulled out of the space.

  ‘So anyway, you got fired. How was the rest of your week? Bet it wasn’t as eventful as mine,’ she countered, and he immediately warmed to the teasing in her voice.

  ‘So… I travelled up from London, got in a car crash, almost died, and as you saw, the ex-boyfriend that I did all that for just made it clear I’d wasted my time.’

  Rory nodded, seriously, as he drove.

  ‘Okay, I’ll take that.’

  ‘See, I win.’ Sophie sounded playfully triumphant.

  ‘Eh, not quite,’ he stopped her victory lap, before going on, ‘My wife told me she’s divorcing me, I got fired from the only job I’ve ever had, I told my father I’d never speak to him again as long as I live, and my back really hurts because I’ve been sleeping in the most uncomfortable bed in my pal’s box room for the last two months.’

  Sophie’s laughter was so utterly contagious. ‘Okay, you win. But only because my bruises will fade, but you’re completely screwed. The Shit Stick Of The Week is officially yours.’