Mac sat very still, hugging his knees, saying nothing.
‘The house was about to be repossessed,’ Stella told Alison. She seemed calmer suddenly, almost weary. ‘Terry stepped in. He bought Mac’s half of the business and gave the money to Lynne to bring the mortgage payments up to date and pay off the debts, but she couldn’t keep it up on her own after Mac left, so she sold the house and Terry put a roof over her head and took care of her and the children.Hischildren.’ She jerked a thumb in Mac’s direction. ‘More than he ever did. No wonder she fell in love with him.’
Mac gave a short laugh and rubbed his face but didn’t argue.
‘He drifted off, sleeping on the sofa at various friends’ houses, until their patience ran out, because even then he was gambling, weren’t you? They had people coming to their door – bailiffs. He’d racked up credit card bills he couldn’t pay. In the end he ran out of friends and was living in his car. How pathetic is that?’
She burst into tears. ‘But hey, no worries. Mother to the rescue. With a wave of her magic wand, she leaves him Watersmeet, and here he is, back on his feet, a beautiful house and now a woman to share it with – as if his wife and children never existed. As ifInever existed.’
Mac shook his head. ‘You weren’t left out of the will, Stella. You got plenty.’
‘I got control of you,’ she said scornfully. ‘That’s the thing, Alison. This so-called man is so pathetic, so untrustworthy, that our mother couldn’t be sure he’d even pay the bills here, or feed the animals, so although she left him enough money it was all tied up with conditions. I have to make sure that when he asks for cash, he really needs it. I have to check that it genuinely is for animal feed, or vet’s bills, or maintenance on the outbuildings and house. How pathetic is that? And yes, he even gets a monthly allowance, so he doesn’t have to worry about getting a job, but it’s only just enough to feed and clothe himself, so don’t get any grand illusions about living the life of Riley with him. If Mum had left him it all in one go it would have been gambled away by now, wouldn’t it, Mac dear?’
Mac said nothing.
Alison put her head in her hands, trying to process everything she’d just heard. The picture Stella had just painted sounded so unlike the Mac she knew and – yes – loved that she couldn’t believe it was true. And yet, Mac had made no attempt to deny it. Even now he was just sitting there, not even trying to defend himself.
Stella put her hand over her mouth. ‘I think I’m gonna be sick!’ she wailed.
Mac leapt to his feet and ushered her into the toilet off the hallway.
Alison hesitated, then she stood and let herself out of the back door, as quietly as possible. She made her way round to the front of the house, hurrying down the drive and along Weltringham Road. Stella’s car was nowhere in sight, so it was probable that she hadn’t driven after all. She shivered, remembering she’d left her coat hung up in the hall, but realised she wasn’t even cold. She just felt sick – sick to her stomach.
She’d really thought she could trust Mac, but it was clear he wasn’t the man she’d thought he was.
‘Alison!’
As she heard his voice she picked up speed. She didn’t want to talk to him. She just wanted to go home.
She heard footsteps as he ran up behind her and shuddered as he laid a hand on her shoulder. He removed it instantly, hurt in his eyes as he handed her the coat.
‘You forgot this. I didn’t want you to be cold,’ he said miserably.
‘And that’s it, is it?’ she asked. ‘That’s all you have to say? Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I was going to,’ he said. ‘I swear it. That’s what tonight was all about. I was going to cook dinner then sit down with you and explain everything to you properly.’
‘Twist the truth, you mean?’
‘No.’ He shook his head, denying the possibility. ‘I wouldn’t lie to you, Alison. I’m not that person any more. What Stella said?—’
‘Was it true?’
He flinched. ‘It’s not as straightforward as that. Stella only knows some of the story anyway.’
‘But?’
He sighed. ‘Iwasa gambler. Iama gambler. She’s right. I ran up debts and nearly lost the house. I sofa surfed for years. I was in a hostel. I lived in my car. I was in another hostel. It was a mess.Iwas a mess. I went to Gamblers Anonymous. I followed the programme – went to meetings every week. I turned my life around, Alison. I had a sponsor. Doug. He was brilliant. He helped me see things differently.’
He threw up his hands helplessly. ‘What else can I say? I was addicted. I still go to meetings sometimes. I’m always going to have to be careful. Mindful. But I’m not the same person as I was back then. I promise you. Please, just give me the chance to explain properly.’
‘I thought you just did,’ she said.
‘It wasn’t how Stella thought. Lynne and Terry – they were having an affair for years before I found out. When I did, I was devastated. It felt like everything I’d believed was a lie. I fell to pieces, and I was so, so low. Then I found a scratch card on the floor.’
He gave a bitter laugh. ‘One bloody scratch card. I won two hundred quid on it, and that’s all it took. There was this rush of excitement, and just for a moment I felt happy. And I wanted to feel that way again, so I bought another one, and then another. Before I knew it…’ He groaned. ‘You have no idea what it’s like. I’d bet on anything. I was in the casinos, I played cards with the blokes who worked for me, I’d be in the bookies. Then came the phone apps. I didn’t even have to leave the house to lose my money any more. I couldn’t stop. I just wanted the pain to end, and when I was gambling it did.’
‘So this is Lynne’s fault?’ Alison asked. ‘Hers and Terry’s?’
