‘What’s wrong? I can’t have a friend who won’t talk to me. It’s bad enough having a husband who bottles things up.’
‘Please,’ Natalie said quietly. ‘Please. Don’t. Keep. Talking. About. Phil.’
Cate’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh, no. I didn’t think. I can’t imagine how hard it must be being single at nearly forty when everyone around you seems to be married with kids.’
‘I’m perfectly happy being single, thank you very much. I’d rather be single than with the wrong man.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Nothing.’ Natalie turned her head towards the waitress clearing cups away from the adjoining table. ‘It was just an observation… about people in general.’
‘No, it wasn’t. You meant something about me and Phil. Don’t try and wiggle out of it; I know you too well.’
‘It was nothing, honestly. Well, nothing to do with you.’
‘Well, something’s upset you. Oh, I know what it is. How stupid of me! I shouldn’t have mentioned our school trip, not after knowing what happened to you.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ Natalie mumbled. She ripped open a packet of sugar and poured it into her tea, took a sip and pulled a face. She signalled for the bill. ‘Let’s go. You’ll want a bit of time to relax and freshen up before Phil gets here. Lucia and I won’t meet you until eight tonight when we’ll film you together at the palazzo; we’ll use that as part of the first episode, I expect.’
Tonight, meeting Phil: she didn’t know how she was going to get through it. But she had to do it. For her career. And for Floella. But most of all, she wasn’t going to give Phil the satisfaction of seeing her rattled. She was determined to give him the impression she hadn’t given him a moment’s thought since she’d scarpered that night.
She scraped back her chair. Cate didn’t move.
‘Sit down. We’re not going anywhere. Not yet. There’s something wrong, something to do with Phil. I know you only spoke to him for a few minutes on that school trip – don’t tell me you fell for him too?’
‘Of course not. Look, Cate, stop pushing it. I’m sorry I’m not my usual chirpy self but I’m not going to tell you why. I don’t see why I should and I can’t tell you anyway.’
‘Whatever it is, I’ll understand. I won’t let it destroy our friendship. Nothing’s going to change, I promise you.’
‘Everything’s already changed. And it’s nothing to do with you. This is all about me.’
‘Something went on between you and Phil.’ Cate’s voice trembled.
‘Shut up! Don’t make me say something I’ll regret.’
Cate grabbed her by the arm. ‘Whatever happened between you and Phil back then, it can’t hurt me now but I have a right to know. I’m his wife. And you’re my best friend. If you don’t tell me, I’ll be forever wondering what went on. Tell me, whatever it is.’
Natalie couldn’t meet her eyes. ‘Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you… Phil isn’t the man you think he is. Phil was the boy who attacked me.’
Cate’s mouth dropped open. She stared at Natalie. Nat was lying; she knew she was. But why? Cate was sure she’d done nothing to upset her since she’d arrived in Venice. The only possible explanation was that her old friend still harboured a bitter grievance from their school days. Wasn’t it enough for her to know that her cruel revelations about Cate’s mother had irreparably wrecked Cate’s relationship with her dad and destroyed her happy childhood? Evidently not. Natalie’s lust for revenge still wasn’t satisfied. Now she wanted to break up Cate’s happy marriage. How bitter and twisted was she? If Cate wasn’t so angry, she could almost feel sorry for the pathetic creature.
Cate gave a bitter little laugh. ‘What is it they say, Natalie? Revenge is a dish best served cold? You still haven’t forgiven me for not believing you that night, have you? You didn’t want to be friends again, did you? How stupid I was to think that you did.’ Cate’s voice dropped to a whisper. ‘Now you want to have your revenge by telling these lies, trying to destroy my marriage. Because I know… Iknowthat Phil would never ever do something like that.’
‘You’re wrong. It was Phil in that alleyway, even if you don’t want to believe me. But I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I did want to be your friend again but finding out who Phil is has brought all the horror back. It was him. Ask him, see how he reacts, if you dare.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of accusing Phil of something I know he’d never do. And who do you think I’d believe – the father of my children or a jealous ex-friend who’s harboured a grudge for twenty-five years? You’re pathetic, Natalie; I feel sorry for you. You can stick your fake friendship and your stupid TV show. Don’t bother turning up with the film crew later. Phil and I will stay at the palazzo tonight. We’ll catch a flight home tomorrow.’
Natalie fell back into her seat as though she’d been knocked off her feet by a rogue wave. ‘You can’t just go. Everything’s set up… You’ve signed a contract.’
‘Sue me.’ Cate strode away.
‘Cate!’ Natalie jumped up, catching her shoulder bag strap on the handle of her chair. The waitress appeared by her side the same instant, brandishing a card reader; they hadn’t paid for the drinks. Natalie threw down a note; this was no time to wait for a receipt. Untangling herself, she hurried through the garden exit out over a little bridge and into a courtyard. Cate’s blonde hair and floaty dress were nowhere to be seen.
A sign on the wall pointed to the vaporetto station but she knew Cate would have had more sense than to go that way knowing that Natalie would catch her up if the Number One did not come immediately. Ignoring the dingy passageway that led off the courtyard, Natalie wandered around the corner back onto thefondamenta.
She scanned both sides of the narrow canal. No one around but the straggly queue outside the gallery. Natalie buried her head in her hands. She’d lost the star ofLuxe Life Swap’s new series. Cate had gone.
Natalie’s heart raced; her palms were sweating. She half felt she might be sick right there in the canal. How could she possibly break the news to Floella? Flo had worked so hard to build her business against the odds; she’d made such sacrifices. Natalie should have kept her mouth shut, gritted her teeth and got through the filming. Her ordeal would only last a few days. Flo-Go Productions was Floella’s life. Everything was riding on the success ofLuxe Life Swap; Flo’s team had pulled out all the stops. In one afternoon, Natalie had blown the whole thing sky-high.
