“And say what?” Bean looks appalled. “We’ll cause huge damage if we start hurling unfounded accusations around. This family is in enough trouble already. We need to be healing, not finding new wounds!”
I roll my eyes, because I might have known Bean would react like that.
“Gus?” I turn to him.
“I’m not saying anything,” Gus says firmly. “Bean’s right, this is all hearsay. Opening a restaurant in Portugal isn’t actually against the law, you know.”
“Also, Krista wants a commitment ceremony,” points out Bean. “So why would she do a runner?”
Yet again I feel a surge of frustration at my siblings, who may be older but are not necessarily wiser.
“What if Krista spends all Dad’s money and makes him wear a poncho and be a waiter in her restaurant?” I throw at them.
“A poncho?” Gus stares at me.
“And then she dumps him and he ends up destitute and miserable in Portugal? What will you say then?”
“I’ll say, Effie, you were right,” says Bean patiently.
“I’ll say, Did not see that poncho coming,” chimes in Gus.
“Ha ha,” I say. “Hilarious.”
“But it’s not going to happen,” Bean continues, reaching for the wine bottle and knocking over a crate. “I honestly think Dad can look after himself—”
“Krista, love, I think you’ve got mice!” Lacey’s distant voice comes from below us, and all three of us freeze, exchanging looks of consternation.
“Did you see one?” Krista’s equally distant voice replies.
“No, but I heard a right old scuffle just now. Maybe it’s rats.”
“Rats!” Krista’s voice is getting louder, and there’s the clattering sound of approaching heels. “That’s all this bleeding place needs.”
“Well, not your problem anymore, is it?”
All of a sudden, one pair of heels stops dead, and I hear Krista saying, “You know what, Lacey, you’re right. I can’t be arsed. The rats can eat their hearts out for all I care.”
“This the chandelier you were talking about?” says Lacey. “I’d say nearer four grand.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah, for sure. Four, four and a half. And that mirror, two.”
“Two!” Krista sounds impressed.
Bean and Gus are exchanging wide-eyed glances, and I feel a burning inside my chest. I always promised Dad I wouldn’t reveal what happened that awful day. But I can’t keep quiet anymore.
“I wouldn’t give you five quid for it,” says Krista. “Just goes to show.” There’s a skittering sound on the floorboards below, followed by Bambi’s distinctive yapping. “Hello, baby boy,” she croons. “Hello, my babeee…Hey, Lace, let’s go and make ourselves vodka tonics.”
“Nice one,” says Lacey approvingly, and they move away. For a beat, none of us moves, then we all exhale.
“Oh my God,” breathes Bean. “What was that?”
“I told you!” I say, agitation making my voice tremble. “She’s all about money! And you want to know something?” I lower my voice. “I caught her taking photos of the furniture, ages ago. But when I told Dad, he got all defensive and took Krista’s side. He said I mustn’t tell you, because it would prejudice you against her. So I didn’t. But now—” I break off. “You see?”
“I had no idea!” says Bean, looking appalled.
“Well. That’s what happened.” I swallow hard, my face hot. It’s been quite a stress keeping that secret all this time, I now realize.
I can see Bean’s brain ticking over and suddenly, with a confused frown, she bursts out, “OK, I know what I was going to ask: Did Krista really send you an email saying, ‘Effie, my love, this is the last party at Greenoaks. You’ll regret staying away’？”
“Of course not!” I roll my eyes. “That was more of her bullshit.”
“I thought so! But Dad obviously believed her!” Bean stares at me in consternation. “Effie, this is really messed up. He needs to know. I’m going to tell him.”
“Bean, don’t.” I grab her arm. “Don’t. You do everything for me. You’re always the go-between. You always take on the emotional load. And you’ve got enough on your plate with your…” I hesitate. “Work problems. I’ll sort things out myself.”