‘She said she hadn’t bought me a wedding gift,’ she pushed on, ignoring me, ‘and so I could have them and wear them when I got home, but never in front of you.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ I said. ‘I was with Joy when she opened her jewellery roll, she was surprised and upset that they weren’t there.’
‘She had to be surprised, she couldn’t tell you that she’d given them to me.’
I rolled my eyes; she really wasn’t able to ever take responsibility for her actions. Always the victim, always someone else’s fault.
She started to walk towards the kitchen door and I leaned on the counter, surprised at how badly she’d taken it, but at least I’d brought about some kind of ending. Hopefully I’d managed to put a stop to her constant threats. But then she turned around.
‘Oh, and by the way, you’ll be pleased to know I already told Jamie I was leaving him. Said I had this great offer and had to be single with no commitments – I wanted to be upfront and honest and didn’t want to string him along. He didn’t have sunstroke, he just couldn’t face everyone. So your little plan to blackmail me has backfired spectacularly, babe. Talk away, I’ve nothing to lose. But you still do.’
CHAPTER THIRTY
The following day, Dan and I were in the garden with the children when I saw Ella slip out through the French windows. I was immediately on alert. In the aftermath of what had happened, I was feeling guilty. I only wanted to do to Ella what she was doing to me, dangle her secret in front of her. It was defensive rather than vindictive. I never expected her to end their marriage within hours of receiving the message and throw herself headlong into a reality-show dream – one that didn’t even exist.
I considered explaining it to Jamie, apologising to both of them because it was my fault they were now in the early stages of parting. I consoled myself that if she really loved him, and he her, then this wouldn’t have happened – but that would have been a natural break, not something forced upon them by me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw she was walking over the grass in our direction. She had this look on her face that made my chest hurt and my heart began pounding as she approached.
I dared to look at her, our eyes met but she didn’t flinch, just continued to march our way, hair flying behind her, sunglasses on her head.
‘Dan, can I have a word?’ She stood over us all, but her eyes were focussed on Dan, she didn’t even look at me or the kids.
He looked surprised. ‘Yeah, yeah, now?’
‘Please.’ She turned to look at me. ‘I won’t keep him for long, Clare, I know it’s family time. Just need to discuss something important.’ She gave me that fake saccharine smile, and it chilled my bones.
‘Ella… please…’ I looked into her face, desperate to make some kind of connection.
Dan looked puzzled. ‘What’s going on with you two?’ He was half-smiling, like we were teasing him, but I just kept staring at her, begging her not to say anything.
‘Clare, I need to talk to Dan… please don’t interfere.’ She was adamant. I had only known her for a matter of days, but I’d got to know that determined face.
I briefly looked down at Alfie, who was asking me where the sun slept at night. And when I looked up again, they were walking away. ‘In the sky… darling,’ I said, glad I was sitting down, because if I’d been standing my legs may have given way.
‘But… Mum, does the sun have a bed in the sky?’ Alfie was asking.
‘Yes… er no.’ They were walking quickly. Ella couldn’t wait to give him the news. Ella had picked a moment when she knew I couldn’t go after them, with only me out there to supervise the children. My ‘clever’ plan had not only made me the cause of their break-up, but given her even more reason to tell Dan about me.
They stopped when they came to the small garden table and she patted a chair girlishly, clearly asking him to sit down. They were less than 100 feet away from me, but when they started talking I couldn’t actually hear what they were saying. My mouth was dry. I looked at my three golden-haired children sitting around me. Violet was playing a game on the iPad, Alfie was lying at my feet, still asking his crazy questions, and Freddie was on my knee. Would this be the last time we’d be like this? Was Ella about to make them children from a broken home?
I discreetly glanced over. She had her hand on Dan’s arm, like she was holding him up; he was shaking his head slowly.