Josie knew me so well that I could tell she knew I’d just rolled my eyes. “Aha. Annoying busybodies, are they?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “I’m pretty sure they’re only hanging around to see if I know anything. I think Denise suspects Jake.”
There was a pause.
“You can ask me if you want,” I said.
“Okay. But I’m only asking because I’m worried about you.”
“I don’t suspect him. I really don’t. I honestly don’t think he would even have the time. I know women say ‘but I knew him’ all the time, and I feel like that too, but practically, he just wouldn’t be able to do it.”
She let out a long sigh. “I get it. I think you’re right, too. Jake isn’t… like that. I’m sure of it.”
“Have you heard from Hugh?”
Josie paused. Then I heard the sound of a sob.
“Jo? Jo, what’s happened?”
Her voice came out strangled. She was crying—sobbing, in fact. “I didn’t want to tell you because of everything you’re going through, but I think Hugh’s left me.”
“What? Oh my God, Jo! When did this happen?”
“I tried to get hold of him to tell him about Aiden, but I couldn’t. He was supposed to be working with his brother in London for at least four weeks, which is normal for him. He used to come back and see me once a week but that fizzled out long ago. Nowadays, he doesn’t even call, and he’s a nightmare to get hold of. So I called his brother, and Steven told me that Hugh hadn’t even been at the office for a week.”
“What?”
“Hugh told Steven he was coming home for a few days, so Steven figured he was spending some time with me.”
“What do you think has happened, Jo?”
“He’s having an affair, I know it. I’ve known it for a long time. A friend of mine saw him with a woman in London. Bitch had blonde hair, apparently. Anyway, I checked our joint account and there’s hardly any money in it at all. I think about ten grand is gone.”
“Fuck.”
“I know,” she said. I heard her sniff and then take a deep breath. “I’ve got enough money in my personal account. I’ve been savvy, Emma, don’t worry. I would never let myself end up destitute. I can afford the mortgage, though I’d probably sell this fucking house. I never liked it.”
I knew that was a lie, but I didn’t point it out.
“I wish I could come over and see you. There are so many reporters around the house—”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Em. It’s fine. You stay with Aiden. Jesus, you’ve got enough to be going on with without getting involved in this shit with me and Hugh. Listen, he’s a waste of space, it isn’t even worth discussing. I hope he never does come home. He probably will, though. Steven will kill him if he fucks up the family business by clearing off with some tarty blonde.”
“Jo. Christ. I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say.”
“I know. Will you do me one huge favour?”
“Course, Em, anything.”
“No matter how shitty you feel, get up, get showered, and go to work. Don’t let that arsehole bring you down. God, I was such a mess after my parents died. Don’t end up like me.”
“Emma, I’m so sorry about back then. If I’d known you were struggling so much—”
“Hey, it’s not your fault.”
“I was working too hard. I got too involved in work and I forgot about my friends.”
