Page 157 of The Man Upstairs

“You doing the pie with beans on the side?” I asked Tom, and he chuckled.

“Of course. And roasted potatoes.”

“Ace,” I said, and it really was.

I had revision to do upstairs, so I couldn’t stay all that long. My exams were all in progress, lining up sharp like a hurdles race, but I was doing ok. Dare I say it, I was even confident. I could do it and come out with good grades – just as Lola was doing great at her end of term exhibition presentations. She was smashing it. She’d gotten a whole round of applause from the room at the one last night, and I’d been there with Peter and Julian, letting out cheers and whoops when she’d wrapped up.

Life couldn’t be better. Seriously. It really couldn’t.

I hugged both Tom and Mum goodbye with asee you soonand went on my way, ready to practically dance up the stairs to Julian. I’d closed Mum’s door behind me, and reached the stairs on the way up when a sense of deja vu came over me in a wave – transporting me back in time to months ago when I’d been caught in the same act. But it was still a crime then.

I felt Trisha’s eyes on me as she stepped out into the hallway with Ramsay, but this time I didn’t panic, or back away, or feel guilty. I just raised my hand, with a smile on my face, even daring to sayhi.This was the first time I’d seen her since the great unveiling ofchapter one.

Mum said Trisha was still struggling with processing things and coming to terms with the changes in our lives all round, so I figured she’d have some tutting and fog horning to hurl in my direction, but no. I stayed still as Ramsay tottered on over, ruffling his hair as Trisha locked up their door. I was still standing there as she reached me, and she sighed, not tutted.

“I was looking out for your mum, and looking out for you, too. You might not think it, but I was.”

I could have said so many things in response, criticising, and arguing how things with Julian had been none of her business, but underneath herknow it allexterior, I could see the truth. In her version of reality – Crenham Drive – Trisha really did think she was looking out for us. That was only reinforced when she smiled.

“Glad your mum’s finally out to get Scottie locked up. He’s disgusting. Vile prick.”

“Yeah, he sure is.”

“Tom’s much better. She said you’re meeting him today.”

“Just did.”

“He’s nice, isn’t he? She deserves it.” She looked right at me as Ramsay pretended to be an aeroplane, spinning around and making engine noises. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer the door that night, Rosie. I should have done. The thing is, Scottie threatened me, too, and I was scared shitless. I just couldn’t. Not with Ramsay. I just didn’t want to admit it. Just kept talking crap to myself about how he’d get better, but nobody ever does, do they? Leopards never change their spots.”

I didn’t agree with her on that anymore. I’d seen plenty of leopards changing plenty of spots these past few months, but I got her logic.

Mum had already told me that Trisha had admitted Scottie had threatened her, just a few days ago. She was going to be called in as an extra witness if one was needed. So were Julian and I.

“You never said a word he was threatening you as well,” I said. “Mum had no idea.”

“No. I didn’t tell her. Didn’t want to put more shit on her plate. But maybe it would have helped. I dunno. It probably would.” She shrugged. “Oh well. We’ll never know now, will we? My fucking bad.”

She went to walk away, but I stopped her with await, Ramsay still pretending to sail the clouds.

“How are you feeling about things with me now? Do you still hate Julian?”

She shrugged. “I dunno. Your mum says he’s nice. Says he’s helped you loads. She even tried to shove chapter one in my face last night.”

I could imagine.

“Are you going to read it? Maybe it’ll help you make up your mind.”

“Maybe.”

“Please do,” I said, and took my first step upstairs, but she gave me awaitthis time.

“Do you really want that? After everything? Does it really matter what I think about the man upstairs?”

I weighed that up, and no, it didn’t. Not really. People could think what they liked about Julian, and it could be as bollocks as they liked, because their words wouldn’t touch either him or me. Not anymore. But still. She was Mum’s best friend, for her faults, and her small-minded ways, and her trumpet mouth, and I held true to my own beliefs – leopards can change their spots, and people can learn from their mistakes.

“Yeah,” I told her. “It does matter what you think. And I’d like that. I’d like you to read chapter one.”

She smiled, looking almost relieved.