A sound behind them stops Ivy mid-sentence. It’s Teddy. She’s reappeared with—
‘Oh my goodness,Tilly?’ Paula leaps out of her seat. ‘AndSeb? What on earth are you two doing here?’ Paula is flabbergasted to see her children standing before her in thisKnightsbridge penthouse apartment. Do they know what they were just talking about? Do they know about the debt? Do they know about . . . But how could they?
Seb gives her a grin. ‘Surprise, Mum.’
‘What is . . . What are you . . . I don’t understand. How did you find me?’ Paula asks in a strangled voice.
Tilly eyes are wide, taking in the huge expanse of greenery around her on the roof terrace. ‘I used Find My Phone,’ she answers in an awed voice. ‘It was already set up on your computer at home.’ She pauses, looking now at the stunning views and at the infinity pool. ‘Whatisthis place?’ She regards her mother in stunned silence. ‘You haven’t bought something else huge without telling me?’
Behind them, Teddy snorts. ‘Babe, your mom couldn’t afford this.’
Paula stands back, waving towards the gathered group of women. ‘Um, Tilly, Seb, this is Teddy. This is her home. And that’s Audrey and Ivy.’
Teddy nods, Ivy waves shyly, and – predictably – Audrey dives in for a group hug.
‘It’ssolovely to meet you, my darlings!’ she says, smooshing them into her bosoms. ‘I’ve heard so much about you, Tilly and Seb.’
Paula is aware this isn’t true and she feels ashamed. She should’ve talked about her children more but something inside her wanted to keep these two worlds separate. She wanted to protect her friends and her children from each other. But look how well she’s managed that. They’rehere.
‘Er . . .’ Tilly’s alarm is plain on her face, as she tries to extricate herself from the Audrey hug as politely as possible. ‘Nice to meet you, Audrey, was it?’ Audrey nods happily,releasing them both at last. Tilly’s brow is furrowed deep as she makes eye contact with her mother.
‘Mum, what is all this? Are you OK?’ She leans closer, speaking in a stage whisper. ‘Have these women . . . kidnapped you? Do we need to get you out of here?’
‘No!’ Paula answers in a strangled tone. ‘They haven’t kidnapped me! They’re my . . . friends.’
Tilly stares at her for a moment, taking this in. Then she turns to the group. ‘And . . . um, how do you all know my mum?’
Paula regards the others fearfully, as Audrey speaks up. ‘Your mum knew my husband,’ she lies smoothly. ‘She was his carer before he died a few months ago. And I got back in touch when your dad passed away.’ She reaches for Seb’s hand, squeezing it and looking with sympathy to Tilly. ‘I’m so sorry for your loss.’ The moment passes and she waves towards Teddy and Ivy. ‘Then I introduced her to my pals here.’
Tilly still looks baffled taking in the three women – their ages spanning more than half a century – but Paula notes her shoulders relaxing a little. She’s bought the story. Audrey is a very accomplished liar, Paula thinks, only slightly worried by the revelation.
‘Would you like something to drink?’ Teddy asks, as they all move inside to congregate in the ginormous kitchen. ‘Tea? Or something stronger?’ She finds mugs from a pink cupboard that appear from seemingly nowhere.
‘Er, sure,’ Tilly says, and Seb nods eagerly. ‘Tea, please,’ says Paula’s daughter as Seb simultaneously requests a beer. They gather together at the large kitchen island and Audrey makes conversation, firing questions at Tilly and Seb, as Teddy moves about the room, playing host.
‘And you’re married to Misha, is that right?’ she throws out to Tilly, barely waiting for an answer before moving on to Seb. ‘And you live in the shed, don’t you, my darling?’
He colours, shooting an embarrassed look at Ivy, the only other person in the room close to his age, before quickly offering, ‘Well, yes, I do right now. But I’ve actually been looking at places to rent. And I had a job interview the other day!’
This is all news to Paula and she blinks in surprise at her son. Is he finally growing up? Goodness, wouldn’t that be a revelation? Paula always felt he was capable of so much more than playing games in a shed. He was such a bright child, so intuitive. But when those teenage hormones swept in, he became subdued and uncommunicative. Fifteen years later and he hasn’t made much progress on that front. Until now, it would seem.
Tilly titters awkwardly. ‘It sounds like you know a lot more about us than we do about you . . .’ There is an edge to her tone and Paula jumps in.
‘So, Tills,’ she begins nervously, ‘what are you . . . Why is . . . Why were you looking for me?’
Her daughter takes a sip of tea. ‘I was worried. I turned up at the house to pick you up, and Seb didn’t know where you were. Again.’ She shoots him an angry look as her brother stares down at his drink. ‘That mad, flashy car you’ve bought wasn’t in the driveway, and I keep having this dream that someone sees it outside your house and realises you’re super rich. They decide to steal the car and kidnap you and—’ She stops suddenly, sounding a little choked up and Paula reaches for her.
‘I’m sorry, sweetheart,’ she murmurs into her daughter’s hair. She smells like fruity shampoo. It suddenly occurs to Paula that her daughter’s fears might not be so far off the mark. What if those loan shark men do come back and see the car? Maybe she’d better clear the garage and park it out of sight. Paula draws back, regarding her oldest. ‘I didn’t mean to frighten you. But pick me up? What were you picking me up for?’
Tilly cocks her head. ‘Our next session? We’re supposed to be at the grief counselling.’ She checks her watch. ‘Right now, actually. They’ll charge us for it.’
Paula gasps. ‘Oh my goodness, Tills, I’m so sorry! I completely forgot.’What with all the murder chat– she doesn’t add.
Her daughter huffs in response and it’s clear her concern has turned into irritation. Paula suddenly feels a little defensive.
Of course it’s not fair or right that she missed their appointment – she feels bad about that – but does Tilly really need to be kept in the loop about everything she’s doing? She wonders what her daughter would make of her mother and these new friends planning the murder of a man named Dominic Shipman. The idea makes Paula want to do it after all. What would Tilly think of that?
For that matter, what would the Paula of a few months ago have thought?
