‘Leo came to the house.’
‘When?’ She felt as if she were in a tennis match, having to return yet another volley.
‘The day after you came home.’ Becs caught her lower lip between her teeth and Anna was worried she might draw blood. ‘He came. Mum told him you weren’t there.’
‘Leo came to the house?’ Cold spread across Anna’s skin, as chilling as if she were standing in a draft with wet skin. ‘Why didn’t anyone tell me?’
With a wince, Becs clamped her lips again. Then she spoke. ‘Because we thought it was for the best.’
Anna thought she would choke on the saliva that pooled in her mouth.
Her cousin reached over and put her hand on Anna’s forearm. ‘You were still so young and … Mum didn’t want you to go through what she’d been through with Dad. She honestly thought she was doing the right thing. Dad’s calmed down, but apparently before we were born he was pretty bad. Mum was going to leave him but then she discovered she was pregnant with Tim and it was too late. She didn’t want you repeating her mistakes. In fact, she blamed herself for setting a bad example and worried that she’d normalised Dad’s behaviour. Another reason she … we all supported Steve so much. He might be a boring bastard but he’s a steady one.’
For some reason Anna could only see the funny side of that and started to giggle.
‘Hello! Anyone home?’
‘Up here, Michaela,’ Anna called back. ‘Our neighbour,’ she explained.
For once Michaela’s light tread was sedate and her face sombre when she came into the kitchen.
‘Do you know where Leo is!’ It wasn’t so much a question as an accusation.
Anna shook her head.
‘He’s with Zdenka.’ Michaela folded her arms, her eyes flashing with fury. ‘In her flat. What do you think of that?’
Anna thought that she knew exactly what it was like to receive a kick in the stomach. She crossed her arms over her middle as if to protect herself from more physical pain. Leo had gone there. Why?
‘Hi, I’m Rebecca. Anna’s cousin.’ Becs gave Michaela a sarcastic wave. ‘Do you think that’s helpful?’ She turned to Anna. ‘And who’s Zdenka?’
‘She’s a friend of Michaela and Jan’s.’
‘And Leo’s,’ Michaela butted in, not so helpfully. ‘You need to do something.’
‘I need to do something,’ Anna echoed, her voice rising in bewilderment.
‘Yes. Zdenka’s my friend but I know what’s she’s like. You have a saying in England. She’ll eat him for breakfast.’
Suddenly Anna began to laugh, properly this time, tears running down her face. Leo couldn’t have picked anyone more obvious. He might as well have shouted from a megaphone, ‘I’m going to prove you right.’
It took her a couple of minutes to get herself back under control, especially with the giddiness rushing through her, like air escaping from a balloon.
‘It’s my test,’ she said, blinking back a tear. A happy tear, because she’d been so blind and stupid up until now.
‘What?’ Becs and Michaela stared at her as if she’d lost her marbles, and then some.
‘Leo’s testing me. Pushing back, trying to prove me right, except I know he wouldn’t sleep with Zdenka. He wouldn’t do that to me. I’m such an idiot. I pushed him away so he went and did exactly what I told him to do.’
‘I have absolutely no idea what on earth you are on about, Cuz.’
‘I told Leo that I didn’t think he would stick around, that he would move on. He tells me he loves me … and then he goes to Zdenka’s. I don’t think so.’ Anna felt sparkly and lightheaded.
‘Er, hang on, you didn’t mention the “he loves you” bit before. I think I might have to slap you.’
Anna ignored her cousin’s outraged expression. ‘Leo is mad at me because I cast aspersions on his honour. Telling him that he wouldn’t stay with me. So he went out to make a point. It’s my turn to man up. I have to go and find him.’
Becs and Michaela were still staring at her.
