I have no idea how Dan will take all this, and I’m not sure I care, I just want the lies to stop. His mother filled his head with too much stardust, too much self-esteem, and allowed her sons to live without consequences. She was always there to chopper them out of difficult situations, and remove people who caused problems. Only, this time, without her knowledge, Bob had gone one step further.
And now, I’m glad to escape from this toxic life of lies and secrets and selfish people who don’t really care about anyone but themselves. Perhaps they aren’t even capable of love. We’ll see when the truth comes out and Joy’s love for Bob is tested.
The Taylors seemed to want me never to trust anyone but them. But I am learning the only person I can trust is myself, and I know I can teach my children to trust and be trusted – and to never keep secrets from the people they love. My family are Violet, Alfie and Freddie and I intend to keep them very safe, and very close.
Last summer my sister-in-law turned up and my life changed. Then I saw Ella as the enemy, when, in truth, she could have been an ally. But, although she’s not around to see it, I will help her achieve what she wanted. I will bring down the Taylors and get her and Carmel the justice they deserve. In another time, another place, we could have been sisters-in-law but also friends; sadly the Taylors ruined that, as they’d ruined so much, but not any more. I let Ella down badly but I won’t let her down again. In the end we can’t rely on anyone but ourselves, Ella knew that, but in the end she couldn’t help herself. So now it’s up to me to do it for all of us: me, Carmel, Marilyn and Ella – my sister-in-law, who always finds me. No matter how far I run, I know she will always be there. With the flap of a butterfly’s wing, she invited the hurricane, stirring up the sediment at the bottom of the stagnant pool, ripping open the secrets that held us all together. But in doing that she showed me what I must do to live the life I deserve.
After tonight there will be no more hiding, no more secrets, and no more lies. If there’s a hurricane building, I’m ready to face that storm.