Truth Truth Lie by Claire McGowan

Author:Claire McGowan [McGowan, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2024-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

Vicky

She and Fiona had watched as Amira struggled to control the paddleboard in the choppy waves. Paddy had gone on ahead, pushing out to sea.

‘She’ll never stay up,’ said Fiona. ‘It’s too rough.’

Trying to sound hopeful, Vicky said, ‘Maybe Jay capsized or something – he could be treading water out there. We need to at least look for him. Or maybe he made it over to Tarne.’

It was strange now, talking to Fiona, her best friend, about her twin brother. He had become a shadow between them. Someone who would cheat, and leave his wife and daughter for an influencer twelve years younger who didn’t believe in ‘Western medicine’.

‘If anyone can, he can. He’s strong, he’ll know how to stay safe.’

‘You speak so kindly of him still,’ marvelled Vicky. ‘Fi, you’re a class act. I’m sorry if I didn’t say that before.’

Fiona looked out to sea, her dark hair whipping round her face. ‘Huh. I wasn’t at first. When I found the messages between them and looked at her profile. She was so young. So . . . thin.’

‘But you came for a weekend with her!’

‘Well, what’s the point in being bitter? It’s not good for Darcy to hate her father. And maybe – well, it wouldn’t have lasted, I don’t think. Rachel was . . . I hate to speak ill, but she wasn’t a very serious person. And Jay might think he likes that glitz and glamour, the social media and the admiration, but deep down he isn’t like that. Before he got famous, he was so steady. Held us all together in our mad Oxford bubble, didn’t he. Grounded us.’

She still loves him, Vicky realised, in a sad moment of clarity. Was it too much to hope? They were so good together, swapping jokes, caring for Darcy above all else, sharing so many interests. Whereas Rachel – well, the woman was dead, but she had ruined the party long before that. Vicky suddenly saw it. ‘You’re very shrewd.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well. If she comes here, and you’re all kind and welcoming, and she’s whiny and self-centred – the contrast is pretty clear.’

Fiona gave a rueful laugh in her throat. ‘That obvious, was it?’

‘Not at all. I only just twigged. God, you always were three steps ahead of the rest of us.’

‘It was working, too. Last night we had kind of a – well, a nice moment. Just before bed. But it backfired, didn’t it. She’s only bloody gone and died. I’m glad I wasn’t a bitch to her, at least not openly. Because everyone seems perfect in death.’

Vicky took her friend’s arm, warm and solid. ‘He’ll get over it. Honestly, I think she was starting to grate.’

‘But she’s dead, Vic. How do you get over something like that? Christ, what a mess. And Daniel. I’m so sorry. I just can’t believe it, really.’

‘Neither can I.’

‘You managed to hide it pretty well too. The bitterness.’

Vicky shot her sister-in-law a sideways glance. ‘What . . . ?’

‘Oh, I guessed.

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