Secrets Between Friends by Tracy Buchanan

Author:Tracy Buchanan [Buchanan, Tracy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2022-10-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

NOW

The next afternoon there’s a real buzz in the air in Easthaven, residents dressed in pretty summer dresses and smart trousers as they head to the manor. It really is a lovely day, the sky bright blue and the sea below calm. I look at my watch. Just the villas to deliver post to then I can slip in too. I’d woken up with my tummy full of nerves this morning. It isn’t just this luncheon but the fact that it’s exactly a week until the family court hearing with Scott. I try to remove it from my mind. I’ve prepared all I can. I need to focus on Tamsin right now. I quickly head towards the villas then pause: I recognise someone among the crowds going into the manor. Specifically a platinum-haired someone with a long gold pleated skirt and a white crop top revealing a taut tummy. It’s Celia! I’d told her about the luncheon in a text last night but never dreamed she’d come along. I stride through the gates towards her, touching her arm. ‘What are you doing here?’ I say under my breath.

‘Oh come on, you think I’d pass up the opportunity of seeing this fool?’

‘No, no, you can’t go in there,’ I say.

‘Why? I won’t say anything. Well, maybe not,’ she adds, eyes sparkling mischievously as she continues walking past me, her long gold skirt swishing in the sun.

I jog after her. ‘Please, Celia, please don’t cause a scene. We need to be clever about this.’

‘Do I look like someone who’d cause a scene?’ she asks, her huge globe earrings bouncing with each step she takes.

‘Actually, yes, yes you do.’

Celia laughs. ‘I do, don’t I? An ex always said that about me. She said, “Celia, why do you always look like you’re up to something?”’

‘Honestly, Celia, I don’t want you to get hurt. God knows what they’re all capable of. Carl will recognise you and then . . .’

‘And then what? He’ll kidnap me and have me replaced by another woman in front of all the guests? He can’t do anything to me here. I’m going, Liz.’ We hold each other’s gaze. She looks very determined. ‘And even better, we can go in together. It’ll show him we’re on to him. The two of us together, marching in. It’ll scare him senseless, right? Give him a taste of his own medicine?’

I watch the crowds entering the manor. Celia is right. It would send a message to him and Fake Tamsin. A message I’m not to be messed with. Celia looks down at my red Royal Mail polo top and black shorts. ‘Though I’m not entirely sure you’re dressed for the occasion.’

‘I’m meant to be working still.’

‘Well, forget I said that then. It’s charming, so on brand.’ She links her arm through mine and I remember what my mother had said a week before about me being a lesbian. Who cares what my mother thinks?

‘Fine,’ I say. ‘Let’s do this. But only if you promise to behave.

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