Page 186 of The Sun Sister

‘Apart from the stench of exotic perfume that hung in my bedroom when I arrived home?’ she said. ‘As well as the bright red lipstick made by a brand I would never even contemplate buying still sitting on my dressing table? Onmydressing table! Can you believe it?’ Lizzie shook her head. ‘It was like she was marking her territory – she obviously wanted me to know, and my poor stupid husband hadn’t even noticed it.’

‘So you confronted him?’

‘I did, yes, and forgive me for saying so, Electra, but only after I downed half a bottle of one of his most expensive wines. I mean, I’ve known he’s played away for years, but somehow that lipstick was just so blatant – like she didn’t even care that she was screwing a married man with two kids – that I realised what a fool I’d been.’

‘Was he shocked?’ I asked,reallyfeeling like Fi now.

‘Totally, absolutely, completely, yes.’ A hint of a smile appeared on Lizzie’s oddly shaped lips. ‘He gave me the usual rubbish about how it was nothing, that they’d been on location together, and I’d still been away when they’d returned, and one thing had led to another and...You know what? I can’t even be bothered to repeat his pathetic excuses. He said he would end it immediately, blah blah blah, but I just grabbed my holdall that I’d packed before he arrived home – late for dinner as usual, of course – then drove to LAX. I got on the next flight to New York – first class, I might add,’ she said with a wink, ‘and landed to find out that he’d stopped all my credit cards.’

‘Have you told him you want a divorce? I mean,doyou want a divorce?’

‘Absolutely, I do. That man has played me for a fool for years, treating me like some glorified nanny and housekeeper whilst he went on a shagathon around LA!’

I had to giggle at Lizzie’s unusual expletives, which still sounded very polite when spoken in her English accent.

‘What about the kids?’

‘As you yourself said to me, Electra, they’re all grown up now, with their own lives. The worst thing is, I think they probably knew what their father was like,’ Lizzie sighed. ‘I called Curtis, my eldest, from the airport – I think I was still a bit drunk at the time, because I’d had the other half of the bottle in the cab on the way – and he asked me why it had taken me so long. I’m not sure that Rosie, my youngest, will feel the same – she’s always been the apple of her daddy’s eye and spoilt rotten – but at least I have one of them on my side.’

I watched as Lizzie stared across the Manhattan skyline and felt an enormous wave of affection for her.

‘You know what, Lizzie?’

‘What?’

‘I am so proud of you for what you’ve done. Your new life begins today.’

‘Well, it certainly doesn’t if the rat fink is going to cut me off without a bean.’

‘All that can be sorted out, I’m sure. Maybe Miles – that tall black guy at the rehab clinic – could help you, or knows someone who could. He’s a lawyer. And you can stay here with me for as long as you want. I could use the company, to be honest.’

‘That’s awfully kind of you, Electra. Maybe just for the weekend – I do have some money in a checking account I started when I was first living in New York before I met Chris, so I can go in on Monday to get it. It’ll at least tide me over for a month or two whilst things are sorted out.’

‘Don’t worry about money, Lizzie, I won’t let you starve.’

‘Even though I’m in a mess, I do love New York,’ she said as her eyeline wandered over Central Park. ‘That’s why I decided to head for here, because it’s a place where I feel at home. I thought I could maybe get some kind of a job,’ she continued. ‘I mean, I know I’m not qualified for anything much, but I am computer literate. And besides, whether the rat likes it or not, I will end up getting fifty per cent of everything he has. I just hope I don’t crack and run back to him.’

‘Lizzie, I’m not going to let you do that. You keep me off the hard stuff, and I’ll keep you safe from your husband. Is that a deal?’

‘It’s a deal,’ Lizzie smiled. ‘Electra, I just can’t thank you enough for taking me in; you really are such a wonderful person.’

‘I’m not, but thanks anyway,’ I said as I saw Lizzie give a great yawn. I checked the time on my cell. ‘How about I show you to your room and you take a nap? I’ve gotta go to my AA meeting.’

‘Perfect,’ Lizzie said as we both stood up and she grabbed her holdall from the hall, then followed me into the bedroom recently vacated by Mariam. ‘This is far nicer than the hotel I was thinking of checking in to,’ she said as she stood by the full-length windows.

I showed her the buttons to press on the remote control to bring down the blinds and left her to settle in. As I went down in the elevator, I thought how great it was to have someone who seemed to need me as much as I needed them.

‘Thanks so much for coming, Miles,’ I said as I ushered him into the living room on Monday evening.

‘It’s a pleasure, Electra,’ he said as I tried not to swoon over how goddamned handsome he looked in his suit and tie. I’d called him earlier today to ask if he had a free slot to see Lizzie. He’d said he didn’t but could come after work.

‘Hi, Lizzie.’

‘Hi.’ Lizzie stood up and shook his hand. ‘This is so kind of you, Miles.’

‘Don’t even think about it. Any friend of Electra’s is a friend of mine.’

‘I’ll leave you two to it, shall I? Can I get you anything to drink, Miles?’ I offered.