Page 82 of The Girlfriend

“But can’t you see? She must have made that up, printed another one or something. She’s lying!”

He spoke quietly. “Mum, it’s not Cherry who’s the liar.”

Laura broke her gaze from him when she could feel the tears prick; holding her head as high as she could, she left the flat.

As she made her way out onto the street, Laura could feel Cherry watching her from the window. She daren’t look up; she didn’t want to see her gloating, triumphant face.

* * *

The dark was creeping in, casting the room in a reverential gloom, but Laura lay on the sofa, couldn’t muster the energy to get up and switch on the light. In fact, she quite liked it, lying there, Moses on her stomach, purring rhythmically, both of them watching the shadows take hold. It suited her mood. She knew she’d lost her cool earlier, but Cherry’s performance had gotten to her. Now, lying here and looking back on it, she felt frightened at how much Cherry had controlled the entire incident. She was probably enjoying it, reveling in the way Daniel was turning against his own mother. She’d tried calling him when she got back to the house, but it had gone to his voice mail. She’d left a message, asking him to call her back, but he hadn’t so far; she didn’t expect a response tonight. In fact, she honestly didn’t know when she’d hear from him again.

The lift door opened in the hallway and Moses pricked his ears. Howard must have come up from the garage.

He came into the room and flicked on the light. Laura winced and covered her eyes.

He was surprised to see her. “What are you doing here in the dark?”

“Nothing. Relaxing.”

Howard stroked Moses, who was weaving in and out of his ankles. “Hello, boy.” He looked up. “Where’s Daniel?”

A knot formed in Laura’s chest. She’d have to tell him. “He’s moved back to his flat.”

Howard stood. “When?”

“Yesterday.”

“Was he not going to say good-bye?”

“It’s not as simple as that.”

He looked at her, waiting for more. Under pressure, she got up and moved into the kitchen. Poured herself a glass of wine from the fridge.

Howard followed. “What’s going on?”

“Daniel and Cherry are back together.”

He looked surprised. “What . . . After the way she dumped him?”

“She didn’t dump him. I told her . . .” There was a long pause.

“Yes . . . ?”

“When we thought he wasn’t going to make it . . . I told her he’d already died.”

Howard stared and then started to laugh, a wild, incredulous bark. The laugh dried up. “You’re not joking, are you?”

“She didn’t love him, I’m pretty sure.... Iknowshe wants him for his money.”

He rubbed his hand across his hair, making it stick up. “Oh, my God.”

Laura topped up her wine. “Do you want some?” she said, indicating the bottle.

Still reeling, he shook his head. “What about when he woke up? Did you not think to tell him the truth?”

“Oh, Howard, how could I?” she said, frustrated at his lack of understanding. “And now he’s found out, through Cherry, who’s manipulated herself back into his life.”

“Cherry’smanipulated?”