The aftermath of the grand reveal has had far-reaching consequences, and I feel like I’m caught in the middle.
I sit at my kitchen table and rest my head on my hands.
“I don’t know what to do,” I say.
“All you can do is be there for them,” Mum says, rubbing a soothing hand down my back.
I’ve been staying with Lottie and Elijah, Lottie having begged me not to leave. It’s been a little awkward, as Elijah and I still haven’t discussed his meltdown or how hurtful that was. As a result, it’s sat like an elephant in the room.
Today, I’ve taken a mental health day and called in sick. Danika told me she’d cover for me, and I know she will. So here I am, trying to make sense of the chaos. I want to fix what I fear may be irreparably broken between the people I love.
“How is Lottie coping?”
To Mum, Lottie is the unwilling victim in all this. She never liked Darra, not only because she was the reason my heart broke, but because Darra always looked down her nose at the little people. Surprising when her own father made his millionsthrough hard work alone. Started out by selling his wares on a market stall in the East End, no better than anyone else.
I sigh.
“Lottie keeps apologising to her father. Elijah keeps trying to reassure her she was well within her rights. I’m there telling them, they love each other and everything will be okay, they just need to give it time.” I press my thumbs into my eye sockets, trying to ease the constant pain that’s taken up residence behind my eyes.
“But she’s not a child, and she’s certainly not stupid. She heard the ramifications, listened to her mother spew her toxic hate.”
Mum wraps her arms around my head, pulling it into her stomach, rocking me.
“Give it time. There were a lot of secrets uncovered. Painful secrets. Time will heal these wounds, but it will not happen overnight. Kat, Elijah, Darra, Zach, even you. Every single one of you has been affected.”
I’ve tried not to think about what she said in terms of my involvement or Elijah’s feelings. The past is the past, and I wish more than anything it had stayed there. Why did Darra have to sleep with one of Elijah’s friends? Why could it not have been a stranger?
“I called Kat,” I say, looking up at Mum through blurred eyes. My friend’s pain is suffocating. “She’s hurting, and I don’t know what to say or do.”
She shakes her head. “There’s nothing you can do. All you can do is wait and be there for her when the time is right. Kat’s had a shock. But she’s strong. She’ll work through it in her own time. When she’s ready, she’ll come to you. All you can do is let her know you’ll be there, whatever time of day or night.”
I know she’s right. Zach and Kat may no longer be a couple, but to have found out about his betrayal like she did, and withDarra, of all people. Kat fought her instincts when she saw what Darra had been doing to Elijah over the years. Zach knew that, as he was privy to her thoughts because they were living together. To have been betrayed in this way by the man who was supposed to love her, support her, a man she trusted. I could string him up myself for what he’s done to my friend, to both my friends.
“And Elijah?”
I shake my head.
“It’s like something has finally snapped inside him. He’s always been so strong. Whatever life has thrown at him, he’s tackled head-on. The end of his swimming career, Darra’s pregnancy, their marriage, his father’s death. Even after finding out Lottie was not his daughter, the man has rolled with every proverbial punch. Now…” I bite my lip and swallow against the lump in my throat. “He kisses me, makes love to me, but it’s like a part of him has withdrawn. He gets up for work, goes into the office, does a day’s work, and comes home. We have dinner and watch TV, but it’s not the same. I’m not sure if it’s because Lottie spoke to me and I said nothing or if it’s more than that. He tells me everything’s fine, but it’s not.”
“Oh, hun. It’s only been two weeks.” She pulls me back against her, her lips kissing the top of my head. “I will not say everything will be alright. I can’t guarantee that. All I will say is, you and Elijah, you’ve had to overcome so much more than most. You’ve found your way back to each other. Hopefully, this is a blip. All you can do is be there for him and Lottie. Help them navigate these new waters. And if it gets too much, you can always come home.”
“When did you become so wise?”
She grins. “The day I gave birth to a smart-mouthed genius child who would keep me on my toes but show me what love really is.”
I wrap my arms around her waist. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you, Mum.”
And then I tell her about my father coming to see me.
She takes my hand and sits down, holding them in her lap.
“I know,” she says, smiling. “I probably should have told you.”
“Told me what?”
“After you kicked him out of your office.” I can’t miss the twinkle in her eye. “He came to see me, wanted me to intervene.”
I choke on the air I inhale. “He what?”
