Ahotel? Stifling a half-hysterical laugh, Emily looked up to the ceiling. What a poor, gullible idiot she was. Had she honestly believed that Natasha bloody Jameson had been telling her the truth? Confiding in her? There she’d been, confronted by her husband, fleeing from him – only to bump into Emily on the drive. She would hardly have admitted she was cheating on Michael toher, the woman married to the man she was cheating on him with, would she? She hadn’t stayed at her mother’s house, clearly – if it even was her mother’s house Emily had dropped her off at. She’d gone to a hotel. Probably a pre-booked hotel. Did they think Emily was completely stupid?
‘She’s not safe at home,’ Jake went on, oblivious to her incredulous stare, her mounting anger, ‘but it appears you’re already aware of that. What letter were you discussing?’ he asked her. ‘You and Sally, when I came in?’
Emily ignored that. Her chest heaving, she stared hard at him, hardly able to believe that he was questioning her as if she were the one in the wrong. ‘Yes, and you know bloody wellwhyshe’s not safe in her home.’ She almost spat the words out. ‘Because of you, you bastard!’
Jake’s eyes darkened. ‘What are you talking about, Emily?’ he asked, his quiet tone belying his taut expression, the agitated tic playing at his cheek.
‘You know very well what,’ she seethed. ‘I amnotstupid, Jake. Or blind! I know all about yourextracurricular activities. I can read, in case it had escaped your notice.’
Jake sucked in a breath. ‘It hadn’t,’ he said tightly. ‘I don’t think you’re stupid, Emily, or blind. I do think, however, that you might be a little … over-tired. The symptoms you’ve been experiencing – lack of energy, shortness of breath, headaches and palpitations – could all be due to an iron deficiency, which you have. I got the results back this morning. But the broken sleep, this … bizarre behaviour … We should get you another blood test organised in case we’re missing—’
‘Bizarre behaviour?’ Emily stopped listening.Oh, nice move, Dr Merriden. Pop your caring professional hat on. That should ramp up the guilt a bit. ‘As in irrational?’ she asked, holding his gaze, challenging him to belittle her. How long would it be before he told her it was all in her mind?
‘That’s not what I said.’ Massaging his forehead, he dropped his gaze. ‘The thing is,’ he looked back at her, his expression now one of discernible agitation, ‘unless you tell me, I have no idea what the bloody hell you’retalkingabout!’
He’d lost his temper. Something he never did. Even when the kids tried his patience severely, even when it was obvious his father was grating on his nerves, he was restrained. Angry, but never outwardly aggressive. Why would he be now? Because she was in danger of stripping away his perfect persona, revealing him for what he was, a liar and a cheat? That would shatter his good-family-doctor image, wouldn’t it, she thought, her throat tightening.
‘You know that I know what you’re doing, don’t you?’ Biting the tears back, she kept her gaze fixed firmly on his.
‘For Christ’s sake.’ Jake raked a hand through his hair. ‘WhatamI doing? Will you please just tell me what’s going on, because Idon’tknow, Emily. I have no clue.’
‘No, nor did Michael,’ Emily pointed out, her heart catching as she recalled how furious Michael had been, how violent and then utterly devastated. ‘Until today, that is. It’s quite sad, isn’t it? That a man who worked his fingers to the bone building his business could have his life reduced to rubble by someone he’d placed his trust in. Someone everyone places their trust in, misguidedly.’
‘Emily, you need to stop this.’ Clearly shaken, Jake moved towards her. ‘You obviously think that somehow I’m involved with Natasha. You’re wrong, I promise you. We need to sit down and talk, calmly.’
Emily stiffened as he placed his hands on her shoulders. She couldn’t help herself. Having him so close, smelling his scent of crisp white cotton suffused with the citrus aftershave he wore – and what else? Undertones of a woman’s perfume? – was too painful.
‘Somehow involved?’ she repeated, an errant tear escaping her eyes despite her best efforts. ‘That’s the problem, Jake, I can imagine all the ways. Every position. Wouldn’t you, if it were me cheating on you?’
His eyes a whirlpool of confusion, he searched her face, his own deathly pale, and then dropped his hands away. ‘This is hopeless.’ He breathed out heavily. ‘You’ve got it all wrong, Emily. I have no idea why you would even think … Can we not just talk it through? Please?’
‘You went to see her in a hotel, Jake.There’s nothing to talk about as far as I can see, is there?’ she retorted flatly, and turned away.
‘She’s a bloody patient!’ he yelled after her as she walked towards the door. ‘What did you expect me to do?’
She spun back around. ‘Exactly what you did!’ she yelled back. ‘No, scratch that. I honestly expected more of you than this … predictable shit!’
‘I amnotcheating on you, Emily,’ Jake insisted furiously. ‘When in God’s name do you think I would have time?’
Emily laughed scornfully. ‘Um, now let me think …’ she said, arranging her face into a thoughtful frown. ‘When you disappear on your “call-outs” to visit your “patients”,possibly? When you’re sweating over the mountain of paperwork in your office?Supposedly.’
‘For crying outloud.’ Jake heaved in a breath. ‘This is madness, Emily! Bordering on paranoia. You need to let me run some tests. If you won’t let me do them, then I’ll organise a referral. Please just allow me to dosomething, will you? We can’t carry on like this.’
And there it was. Hardly able to believe her ears, Emily stared hard at him, stunned by his attempt to deflect his guilt, the consequences ofhisactions, by claiming she was insane. And he would be qualified to do so, wouldn’t he? ‘Donotdo this to me, Jake,’ she warned him. ‘It won’t work. I will fight you. While I have breath in my body, I swear to God I will.’ Sweeping a gaze filled with contempt over him, she whirled around and flew into the hall – and then froze.
Oh God, no.This was exactly what she’d been trying to avoid: her children being caught in the crossfire. They’d clearly overheard. Ben’s face said it all. Behind him, by the front door, Millie looked equally shocked. Her stomach flipping over, Emily found her voice. ‘Have you just arrived?’ she asked them, praying they hadn’t heard all of it.
‘Unfortunately.’ Ben shrugged, his gaze unimpressed.
‘And now I’m leaving,’ Millie said bluntly, her eyes shot through with something near hatred as she dragged them mutinously over her mother.
‘Millie …’ Emily’s heart leapt as her daughter turned to yank the front door open. ‘Where are you going?’
‘Anna’s. I’m staying over.’ She headed down the drive without looking back.
‘Millie, come back!’ Emily called desperately after her. ‘It’s late. You can’t—’
‘No way!’ Millie shouted. ‘Do you really think I want to listen to that crap?’
