The Lies We Tell by Jane Corry

Author:Jane Corry
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780241989012
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2021-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

30

Sarah

I rang Olivia back as soon as I could. I had to pretend I needed to drive to the pet shop for more dog food so I could have some privacy. That ‘Ring me urgently’ text of hers that had come through in the car had worried me. Thankfully, I’d managed to show Tom an old spam message I hadn’t got round to deleting.

I’d learned a bit more about Alex since Olivia had asked me to cover for her. She’d also asked me to do the same a few more times; twice overnight, when Hugo had been away at conferences. I hoped that he didn’t mention it to Tom when he came back.

‘He makes me laugh,’ she said, her eyes shining, when she came to collect the girls after the last occasion a week ago.

We’d spoken quietly in the kitchen while the kids were watching television. She’d had her lovely long strawberry-blonde hair done, I noticed. It was a bit shorter now at the back, tapering down at the front. The style suited her.

‘I feel like a real person with Alex. He wants me to leave Hugo and live with him instead.’

‘But what about the girls?’

‘He’s always wanted children of his own. His wife wasn’t a family person.’

‘But they’re not his own,’ I tried pointing out.

She’d given me a baleful look. ‘I thought you’d understand, Sarah.’

‘I do. I just don’t want to see anyone hurt.’

‘But we’re hurt already. Don’t you see that? Wouldn’t you be tempted if someone came along and offered you love?’

‘Maybe,’ I said. ‘But I know what it’s like to come from a family that’s been broken.’

‘Your mother died,’ she said.

‘Exactly. And divorce is a type of bereavement too. I couldn’t let Freddie suffer.’

‘I see.’ Her voice was cold. ‘I’m sorry you feel that way.’

I reached out for her. ‘I’m not saying I disapprove. I’m worried for you all.’

‘I know.’ She gave me a quick squeeze back. ‘But it was you who inspired me.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Remember how you stayed here after Freddie was born?’

‘How could I forget? You were my lifesaver.’

She gave me a hug. ‘And you showed me some things too. I loved having a baby in the house. I was jealous of you, to be honest. But Hugo hated the crying at night and the disruption. I realized he couldn’t cope with a third, and that made me turn away from him even more. Then when I saw how you were so unhappy, trying to keep the balance between Freddie and Tom, I realized life was too short to keep struggling when a relationship is obviously failing.’

So it was my fault. Or partly. That made me feel even worse.

‘You won’t tell Tom or Hugo, will you?’ she asked.

‘Of course not.’

I didn’t like the deceit, but I owed Olivia.

‘Thanks. You’re a good friend.’

And now there’s this ‘Ring me urgently’ text.

She picked up immediately. ‘We’ve left,’ she said. Her voice was breathy and excited and scared, all at the same time.

‘What?’

‘The girls and I. We’ve moved to Alex’s place.

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