But my words did nothing to soothe him. If anything, I could see his hackles rise further. He was in the mood to find fault and I’d spoiled a promising opportunity with a perfectly reasonable traffic jam.
He glanced around the kitchen. I could tell he was scanning for an outlet for his frustration and I held my breath as he momentarily studied the flowers then moved on. Phew. Eventually, his gaze landed back on me. Cooking always made me hot, and I could see him taking in the wisps of hair that had started to curl in the heat, the slight sheen to my skin. ‘Do you have to wearthat?’
I flinched inwardly but took care not to let it show. ‘I’ll take the pinny off when I’m finished cooking.’ He hated that I wore one, but he hated it even more if I got drips and splashes on any of my beautiful clothes. But then I realised he wasn’t staring at my attire but at the little silver bee dangling just above the top of my apron.
‘I don’t even know why you hang onto it. It’s ugly. You have much nicer pieces.’
I suppose I did. All things he’d bought me. Apart from this pendant, nearly every other bit of jewellery I’d owned before we’d got married had gone.Justin had quite a thing about ownership.
‘I’m going to change before dinner anyway. I was thinking I’d wear the necklace you got me for Christmas,’ I said smoothly. ‘It’s stunning, and it’ll go well with the dress.’ White chiffon. Also new. Also picked by Justin.
He nodded, but his eyes remained trained on the silver necklace. ‘Who gave that to you?’ It wasn’t the first time he’d asked.
I glanced away. ‘I already told you. Lo gave it to me.’
‘Oh, Angel …’ His tone was light, almost teasing. He waited for me to look back at him. ‘I can always tell when you’re lying. It means something to you. You’d have disposed of it by now if it didn’t. And that can only mean one thing – another man gave it to you.’
I shook my head gently.
‘And not just any man, but a lover.’
I swallowed.
‘It was him, wasn’t it? That boy …’
I still couldn’t believe he was going on about my old next-door neighbour almost two years after our wedding. I hadn’t seen Sam, hadn’t eventhoughtabout him since that day, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. ‘No. Sam never gave me anything.’
I wasn’t going to admit there was another man in my past. It would only give him twice the amount of ammunition. But Justin was right about one thing – this pendant did mean something to me. And it wasn’t about the man who had given it to me. I’d kept it because it reminded me of who I’d once been, someone I seemed to have lost.
When we’d parted, Ben had said the charm would help me find my way back to him, but when I’d thought back to what he’d actually said about bees, I’d realised he’d said they could always find their way home, and I’d decided it meant I’d find my way back tome, the girl Justin had fallen in love with, the one who’d been full of potential and possibility.
I hadn’t picked up a violin since before our wedding and losing my music had meant more than losing a career. Who was Lili? I didn’t even know any more. So, on days when I felt my identity blurring around the edges, I slipped this necklace on as a tangible reminder that I had once been more than I was now.
‘It was a present from Lo,’ I repeated.
Justin shook his head. ‘I just told you I can tell when you’re not being honest with me.’ His hand shot out and closed around the pendant, tugging at it hard. ‘Do you think I’m going to let you laugh in my face like this! Take it off! Take it off now.’
The fine chain dug into the back of my neck as we struggled for possession. ‘Justin! You’re hurting me!’
‘You’re hurting yourself, Angel. If you’d just let go, this would all be over.’ And then, with one swift twist of his hand, he yanked and the skin at the back of my neck stung as the clasp dug in then gave way.
Justin backed away, the necklace in his hand, a triumphant expression on his face. ‘I’m putting this cheap tat where it belongs,’ he said, dropping the necklace inside the kitchen bin.
‘No!’ I shrieked, running forwards, but he moved to block my way.
‘Don’t even think about it.’
I froze, eyeing him carefully. I knew better than to ignore that smooth tone.
‘After this little display, I’m not so sure I believe you about going to the florist’s. Another lie, probably.’
‘But the flowers are right there. I—’
‘And you know what it means when you go out without permission …’
I stood there, shaking my head.Please, no,I begged silently as he turned and walked towards the front door.
‘Our dinner party is ruined,’ he said over his shoulder, ‘and I’m going out. I don’t even want to look at you at the moment. And while I’m gone, you can call our guests and tell them not to come.’
