‘Hang on,’ said Zoe. ‘She hasn’t been to the hospital… Oh! You must mean three months ago, when she had her appendix out.’ The sound of a whooshing breath came through the phone. ‘It was a real worry at the time, but the hospital was amazing and dealt with things really quickly. She’s been fit as a fiddle ever since.’
‘You mean… she doesn’t have an undiagnosed illness? She’s not currently in hospital?’
‘Is that what he told you?’ said Zoe.
‘Yes.’ Kitty’s emotions hovered between relief that Rae was well, fury at James’s duplicity, and self-hatred for falling for his manipulative lies.
Zoe sighed. ‘I don’t blame you for believing him. He can be very persuasive. Trust me, Rae is completely fine. Yes, she misses you, and if we could arrange a time when she could call you, that would be brilliant.’ Zoe’s voice strengthened. ‘She isnotill, Catherine. You need to get James out of your life, out of yourhouse, and do it as fast as you can. I understand fully how hard that is, but please trust me, one day you’ll feel free again.’
‘Thanks,’ said Kitty, her voice choked by tears.
She hung up, replaced the phone in her pocket, and headed back to the cottage. She took her time, the first step of her rebellion. She had no idea what she was going to do. She only knew she couldn’t keep doing this.
Chapter 57
Kitty turned the corner to the cottage and gasped. Two men were fighting in the street outside her house. She sprinted up to them.
‘Nick! James! What on earth is going on here?’
Both ignored her. James ducked, threw another punch, and clipped Nick’s ear with a swift right hook. Kitty barged between them, rounding on James. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing? What’s going on?’
James fell back, panting, glaring at Nick, who stood massaging his ear. Blood ran down Nick’s face.
‘This idiot,’ James spluttered, ‘came round here accusing me of all sorts. I’m not having someone barging into my home making unfounded allegations.’
‘Yourhome?’ Kitty jumped on the phrase, eyes wide with shock. ‘Yourhome? This cottage has nothing to do with you. This ismyhome, remember?’
‘Oh, come off it, Kitty. We’re back together. What’s yours is mine, as the saying goes.’
Zoe’s words echoed in Kitty’s mind:You need to get James out of your life, out of your house. ‘No,’ said Kitty. ‘No.’ She said it more loudly and crossed her arms. ‘You barged in here and made me question myself like you always do. You fed me a pack of lies, and now you think you get to call this cottage your own?’
Kitty cut off James’s response by turning to Nick. ‘And as for you,’ she held out her hands in frustration, ‘what do you think you’re doing, coming round here to play the hero again? Haven’t I told you I don’t need saving?’
‘You could’ve fooled me,’ Nick growled, pointing to James. ‘He seems to have his feet firmly under the table, from what he’s been telling me. What was I to you?’ he asked, petulant. ‘A bit of entertainment? Honestly, Kitty, how could you go back to someone likethat? He told me you’ve given up on the play.’
Kitty spun around to James. ‘I’ve done nothing of the sort! Why would you tell him that?’ Her pulse thudded, her fury at being played like a fish on a line filling her chest.
‘I thought I’d made you see sense,’ said James, rubbing his bruised knuckles.
‘For a moment.’ Kitty spat out the words. ‘For a moment, youdidmake me question myself. And yes, perhaps Iwasconsidering pulling out. Now?’ She shook her head. ‘Forget it.’
‘Stop being ridiculous, Catherine.’ James reached for her hand, and she stepped swiftly out of his reach. ‘Come inside,’ he demanded.
‘No,’ said Kitty, not moving. ‘I want you to collect your things, and I want you to go.’
‘Catherine, don’t.’ A pleading note entered James’s voice. ‘Don’t do this. You’ll be making a huge mistake. What about Rae? She needs you. If you cut me out of your life, you’re cuttingherout too.’ He gazed at her with puppy eyes. ‘Would you be so unkind to a sick child?’
‘Asickchild?’ Kitty pulled out her phone and waved it in James’s face. ‘I’ve spoken to Zoe. She’s told me everything. There’s nothing wrong with Rae. The photo you showed me from the hospital was takenmonthsago.’ The fury bubbled up her throat. What kind of monster used their own child to get what they want? ‘You lied to me. You conned me like you always have.’ Kitty pointed to the door. ‘Get your things and get the hell out of here.’
‘Come on, Catherine. See sense…’
Nick pushed past Kitty and squared up to James. ‘You heard what she said. Get your bags. Andgo.’
‘Hold on a minute,’ said James, palms up to fend off Nick. ‘I can’t just leave. My car’s in the garage. I’ve got nowhere else to go.’
‘Do I care?’ said Kitty, and found she didn’t, not one jot. ‘Perhaps on the long walk to London, you’ll have time to think about your actions. Get your stuff. Now. If I have to ask again, I’m calling the police and telling them I’ve got an intruder.’
‘You wouldn’t,’ said James.
