When the doctors call a meeting, she asks them about Mark, about whether he’s ever going to accept that Imogen isn’t his. She’s not sure she can stand to visit him while he still believes that she is. It’s unbearable.
For a long time after the phone call with William Elliott, Jayne sits and runs over what they said to one another.
It was a good conversation, she thinks. For the first time in a long time she felt a connection with someone, felt that they didn’t just pity her or see her through the filter of what Mark has done.
Not a widow. Not a serial killer’s wife.
And on the back of that thought, she has another.
I might never visit Mark again.
I don’t have to.
Imogen’s phone pings with a notification.
Lunch!
She pulls off her headphones, lays them on the bed beside her laptop and makes her way downstairs.
All the family are there. Jemma’s getting something out of theoven and Imogen notices that she’s wearing Imogen’s new dress. Cheeky, she thinks, but she doesn’t say anything. She’s going to be out of here soon.
Andrea, Jemma’s mum, hands Imogen a glass of Prosecco. “Here’s our girl,” she says and envelops Imogen in a fragrant hug. “You look lovely, darling.”
Imogen knows she doesn’t. Unlike the rest of the family, who are dressed up, she’s wearing jeans and a T-shirt. But she appreciates the compliment.
Andrea offered to take Imogen in just days after Edie’s body was discovered, and she’s been Imogen’s champion ever since, lavishing her with support and attention.
It was a lifesaver at first, but Imogen feels as if she’s suffocating a little now.
“A toast!” Jemma’s dad says. David is brash and loud and doesn’t enjoy being around people when they express their emotions, so he spends a lot of time at the golf course avoiding his wife and three daughters, and, Imogen supposes, her as well.
But he helped her sell her mum and dad’s house and put the money in trust for her along with their life insurance payouts. He’s ensured that she’ll be financially comfortable for life and she’s appreciated the quiet hours they’ve spent together, where he’s helped her make decisions, and explained everything to her patiently, without being patronizing.
Imogen has blanked out a lot of what happened a year ago. It’s been the only way to make room for the future she wants to build for herself, to avoid being paralyzed by grief. Her parents wouldn’t want that, and she’s determined to live up to their memories.
She has no contact with any of her parents’ old friends, the ones who are left, that is.
Apart from Paul’s wife, Emily. Out of the blue, Imogen received a parcel from her a month ago. It was a pretty necklace, with a sweet note accompanying it saying that Emily was thinkingof her. The note was written on a postcard and sent from a small village in the south of France. Emily included a phone number and told Imogen to get in touch if she ever wanted to visit. “I live here now,” she wrote. “It’s beautiful. I’d love to show it to you.”
Andrea insisted that Imogen get professional help in the aftermath of her mother’s murder, and her therapist is patient and kind, but the sessions can be stultifying, and Imogen thinks she might make a change when she gets to London.
Andrea pours a glass of prosecco for herself, the twins fetch their sodas, and the family gathers around Imogen and Jemma.
“Here’s to our big girls,” David says.
Imogen sees Jemma flinch a little. Jemma’s been brilliant since Imogen moved in. But it hasn’t been easy for her suddenly to acquire a new, and broken, sister, even if Imogen is one of her best friends.
Soon, Jemma can have her family back.
“Jemma, darling, congratulations on winning your place at Exeter to read psychology! Bloody amazing. We couldn’t be more proud of you.”
Andrea wolf whistles, they all cheer and drink and congratulate Jemma, who glows.
David turns to Imogen and raises his glass again.
“And Imogen, congratulations to you on winning your place at the Royal College of Music.”
They whoop and drink again and Imogen thanks them all.
