‘So, Audrey,’ Teddy begins, ‘you said you’d kept the medication bottle your daughter used on Harold, right? The empty one? Just in case?’ She smiles around the group, leaving a dramatic pause. ‘I know we’ve worked our way through a lot of bad plans in the last couple of months. But if we can pull this one off, I really think it’s going to take care of everything . . .’
40
Pauline leads them all inside, relieved to finally escape the shed. Yes, it was lovely making up with her friends out there, but there are too many spiders. She’s glad Seb won’t need to be in there much longer.
She’s quiet as they sit down at the kitchen table.
‘This is nice!’ Audrey says, patting Pauline’s hand as she takes in the room. ‘It’s a bit more spacious than your outside . . . garden studio.’
Pauline laughs at the diplomacy. It’s not usually Audrey’s style, but she’s on her best behaviour. ‘It’s a shed! It’s my son Seb’s shed. There’s no point pretending otherwise.’ She pauses. ‘But at least there’s an outside toilet. I couldn’t bear to share a loo with my grown-up son.’
‘Having to share a loo with men at all is an abomination,’ Teddy mutters.
‘Seb is an absolute darling!’ Audrey’s eyes light up. ‘A doll and a total dreamboat.’
Ivy beams. ‘Personally, I thought the shed – and the outside loo! – were really sweet.’
Teddy slides into the seat beside Pauline, nudging her alittle. ‘Look, Pauline, I know it’s a lot – my plan – and if you don’t like the idea, or need more time . . .’
Audrey leans forward. ‘We’d understand if you’ve changed your mind about John altogether. Maybe he’s a different man now he’s back. Maybe—’
Pauline interrupts. ‘He’s not.’ She shakes her head. ‘He’s pretending to be better, but I keep seeing flashes of the real him. I know it’s only a matter of time. And I think he’ll be even worse once all the attention dies down.’
‘We don’t want it to die down just yet,’ Ivy points out. ‘It’s important to the plan.’
‘Right,’ Teddy nods slowly, ‘I just mean though, Pauline, you don’thaveto make a decision right now. Obviously, the idea hinges on you having to do a lot of being very brave, and I know the last few months have been really difficult for you. Especially these past couple of weeks. If you need a bit of time to think about it, we understand. We can figure something out.’
Pauline smiles at her friend, then round at Audrey and Ivy. ‘The worst part of John being back was not being able to speak to you three.’
They all smile at each other warmly. ‘Same, my darling,’ Audrey tells her.
Pauline makes a face. ‘But also my terrible husband coming back from the dead and taking my lovely Porsche away from me.’
‘We’ll get that Porsche back, you’ll see.’ Teddy nods with determination.
‘But I do need more time, I’m afraid,’ Pauline admits after a moment. ‘Not because I’m unsure of the plan or have anydoubt it will work.’ She looks to Teddy. ‘I think you’re ageniusby the way! And with the lot of you metaphorically holding my hand, I think I’m capable of all kinds of bravery.’ She grins, then pauses, glancing towards the rest of the house. ‘It’s just . . . I need a little bit of time because I have to talk to Tilly and Seb first. Before we do anything else, I need to be honest with my children. I owe them that. I owe them the truth. I’ve started the conversation with my son, but he needs to hear all of it.’ She takes a moment. ‘I’ve spent too long trying to protect them and I’m starting to realise that’s actually quite selfish of me. Honestly, I think hiding it was actually more about protecting myself, not them. I was protecting myself from their reactions, from their pain. But they’re not children anymore. They need to know the truth about their father.’
‘What do I need to know about Dad?’ Seb is suddenly at the kitchen door, looking worried.
Pauline turns to him. ‘Oh! Hi, Sebby,’ she says almost shyly. ‘Come in here for a minute.’
‘Tilly’s on her way over,’ he says quickly. ‘I came to warn you.’
Pauline doesn’t acknowledge this. ‘You remember everyone?’ She waves at the group, then pauses, recalling how he was responsible for bringing them all over here. ‘Of course you do.’ They all nod cheerily with familiarity. Pauline notes a lingering look between Seb and Ivy, wondering what it might mean.
He nods, ‘Hi, you lot. I’m glad you’ve made up. Mum’s been miserable without you.’
‘We’ll get out of your way,’ Teddy says, leaping up. ‘Give you a chance to talk.’
Audrey follows suit, stopping to cuddle Seb. ‘Your mother is a treasure,’ she tells him in a low voice. ‘I want you topromise me you’ll be there for her. I’m not going to tell you to look after her because she can look after herself, but you can help by being there for her, no matter what happens next. We’ll see you very soon, darling boy.’
He nods dumbly, as they all file out the back door. Ivy pauses to smile sweetly at Seb. ‘Thanks for helping reunite us,’ she says, and Seb stares at her with something like wonder.
‘You’re welcome,’ he replies at last.
Pauline considers how she feels about her son making puppy-dog eyes at her friend. Her friend who did, incidentally, murder her husband.
Good, she decides. She feels good. After all, there’s no denying Seb also has his flaws. Ivy might be a killer, but her son sleeps in a spider-infested shed in his mother’s back garden. Most people, Pauline decides, would probably take a spot of mariticide over that.
