He hesitated and she could see he was seriously entertaining the idea, and for the first time with a sense of optimism.
‘Who knows?’
‘You want it?’
He looked at her and smiled. ‘I do. I never thought I’d say that but I really do.’
He was going to get it, Imogen thought. She knew it. And in that moment she was filled with such a sense of euphoria she felt lighter than air. They were on the up. The tide had turned and she was going to get back everything she’d lost.
FORTY-SEVEN
Friday 27 November
Carol had been unusually quiet as she and James had walked Lorna home. She’d let her husband and daughter chat about the restaurant, the success of the evening. It wasn’t far to Lorna’s house, only ten minutes, and then she sensed her husband’s relief that he no longer had to make polite conversation.
They said goodbye and James took Carol’s hand as they continued down the road. She could tell he was pleased with the evening, pleased with himself.
‘It was a good night,’ she said.
‘Wasn’t it? And I sense there’ll be many more like it.’
‘Fingers crossed.’
He looked at her, perplexed by her cautiousness. As if he didn’t understand it, understand her. And not for the first time she felt a growing distance between them. Not in a way that he might acknowledge. But she felt as if he didn’t quite see her as an equal, as if she were merely one of the things he had acquired in his very successful life.
A reliable wife. Now she was pushing sixty, in his eyesno longer glamorous or sexually attractive (their sex life had dwindled to once a month, if that). Instead she felt as if she was the respectable backdrop to his status and career. Someone in situ to reassure parents, governors, government civil servants, while he went about his very important business.
‘Honestly?’ he said, not quite believing what she’d said. ‘Of course there’s an element of risk in any new business but I think I made a very wise move investing in Imogen Wood. She knows exactly what she’s doing. And she’s hungry for success. In fact, I’ve never seen a woman so determined to make an enterprise work.’ His eyes shone with some sort of private admiration.
‘Well, that’s terrific,’ said Carol, half despising herself for pandering to her husband’s ego. But she didn’t want to challenge him, not tonight. There was something more pressing on her mind.
‘James, are you aware of infighting between some of the mothers at the school?’
‘You might as well ask if I’m aware the school contains children. There are always mothers falling out. It’s part of the tapestry.’
‘No, but this...it seems different somehow. Some of the things that are being said. It seems to be that group, you know from before. The mums involved in that incident at Heron Water, plus their friends. It feels as if it could spin out of control.’
He laughed and it irritated her, but she bit it down.
‘How do you know this?’ he asked.
‘Lorna was telling me.’
He smiled, a dismissive smile that held no secret of what he thought. ‘No offence, darling, but your daughter...well, let’s just say she likes a bit of gossip. And she likes attention too. I would not be surprised if what she’s told you is exaggerated.’
There was a truth to what he said but it still hurt. Carol knew she had to put aside the rudeness and open contempt for her daughter and remember what she needed to make her husband see.
‘Honestly, I don’t think it is. It feels...I don’t know, like some sort ofLord of the Fliesthing. The majority of them ganging up on one person. As if they’re at war.’
‘And there will be casualties?’ he said in a light mocking tone. ‘Darling, you make it sound so dramatic!’
She kept quiet after that. It wasn’t getting through. And banging on about it wouldn’t make him see either. Only a regrettable event would wake him up to the undercurrents she could sense building in this village. She hoped she was wrong but had a deeply disturbing sensation that she wasn’t.
FORTY-EIGHT
Thursday 10 December
Walking helped clear Nancy’s head. She would drop Lara at school, keeping a close eye on Rosie and making sure the other girl stayed clear. Mia was always waiting in the playground for Lara now, a solitary soul in need of Lara’s friendship as much as the other way around. It pained Nancy to see them sometimes, the two outcasts, but then she reminded herself there were other children in the class as well. Children who may not be best friends with Lara and Mia but who rubbed along fine with them.
