‘I’m sure any of your friends and family would have done the same. Although I do appreciate that sometimes it’s harder to talk to family or close friends because they’re not objective enough. Too often they tell us what they think we want to hear.’
‘I guarantee they would have said I was crazy to imagine Ben having an affair, that I was being paranoid.’ Her hand stroking Bon-Bon as the dog looked up at her with his soppily adoring eyes, Cassie went on to say, ‘I know I have trust issues, but if I could be so easily triggered, who’s to say it won’t keep on happening?’
‘I think you’re looking at this the wrong way. From all that you’ve told me about your ex-husband, he was the real trigger. You had him neatly consigned to the past, and then he resurfaced.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Cassie, ‘he barged his way back into my life by convincing Emily that he was a changed man and wanted to be a part of her life.’
‘You didn’t believe that he was?’
‘No. Even if I did, it doesn’t change the past, does it?’
‘But it changes the future. Especially for your daughter.’
‘I get that, I really do, but I’m worried that he’ll hurt Emily, just as he hurt me. In fact, it’s happening right now because he’s already hurting her by bloody well dying!’
‘I hate to play devil’s advocate, but I doubt he deliberately involved himself in a potentially fatal accident just to get one over you.’
‘Yeah, that’s the logical approach, but inside I’m screaming that he should have been more careful, and I’m all too aware that makes me sound like a heartless bitch.’ She took a gulp of her wine. ‘For years I fantasised about him dying and thendancing on his grave, but now I desperately want him to live for Emily’s sake.’
‘That, if I may say, is not the wish of a heartless bitch.’
‘It’s a selfish wish.’
Venetia smiled. ‘Most wishes are.’
At the thoughtful expression on Cassie’s face, Venetia said, ‘I think that’s quite enough serious talk, let’s get down to your scandalous behaviour in the woods.’
‘Let’s not!’ said Cassie with a laugh.
‘Spoilsport. But I hope you put on a decent show for the Sisters Grim.’
Cassie laughed at Venetia’s moniker for Cheryl and Joanna. ‘Cheryl was on her own, thank goodness, although it doesn’t sound like she wasted any time in rushing to share what she’d seen.’
‘Did she say anything directly to you at the time?’
‘There was an initial expression of disgust but then she disappeared, leaving us collapsed on the ground in near hysterics. I might add that we’ve never done anything like that before, we’re not a pair of kinky exhibitionists who regularly get up to this kind of thing, it was a totally spur-of-the-moment thing, and at Ben’s suggestion.’
‘The million-dollar question is, was it a good suggestion?’
‘Let’s just say, it was a bonding moment.’
‘Wonderful!’ declared Venetia.
‘But as wonderful as it was,’ Cassie said, ‘Cheryl and Joanna are no doubt going to share our escapade with anyone who will listen. They’re such a pair of mean girls!’
‘Then you’re going to have to hold your head up high and brazen it out. Rest assured though, spreading tittle-tattle doesn’t show Cheryl and Joanna in a good light. And I guarantee their husbands will be as jealous as hell! Who knows, you might have set a trend and there’ll be no end of woodland romps going on.Which will be a nuisance for me,’ she added with a smile, ‘when I need to take Bon-Bon for his walks.’
Cassie stroked the dog’s head, paying extra attention to his ears, which he always loved. ‘Do you really think you can keep up the secret of having him here with you?’ she asked.
‘Time will tell. But I’m a risk-taker at heart and pretty good at keeping secrets.’
‘Well, as I told you before, your secret is safe with me, and with Ben too. I told him earlier about Bon-Bon and he was very amused. We’ll both back you if anyone starts making trouble for you and we’ll approach the management company to have the rule changed if needs be. I’m sure others will feel the same way. Ronnie Sharp will definitely be an ally.’
‘I certainly don’t want to be the cause of any friction or division. Besides, as much as I appreciate your support, I’m used to fighting my own battles.’
‘Such as?’
‘Oh, numerous battles,’ she said with a careless shrug. ‘Everyone has them; it’s life.’
