CHAPTER FIFTY
Sarah waved Richard off on his fortnightly trip for business supplies. She quite liked it when he went out for long spells now and had planned on a pampering day by herself.
In the main house, she frowned when she heard the noise coming from upstairs. Bang, clatter, scrape. It was coming from Louisa and Richard’s bedroom. Curious to know what was happening, she went to see.
The door was ajar. Louisa was emptying a drawer of her clothes.
‘Go away,’ Louisa said when she saw her standing in the doorway.
‘What are you doing?’ Sarah asked.
‘What does it look like? I’m leaving, and I’m taking Daisy with me.’ Louisa’s voice was manic. ‘You! You want Richard for yourself, don’t you?’
‘No.’ She tried to show a little concern in her tone. ‘Of course I don’t.’
‘You’re playing me.’ Louisa pointed at her. ‘I saw you and Richard fucking in the studio. You can’t deny it when I saw it with my own eyes. Besides, he told me it was true.’
‘Oh, give over. Have you taken your medication?’
‘Don’t patronise me!’
‘Stop moaning then. All you do is whine and whinge and sit on your lazy arse and do nothing.’
Louisa looked at her, hurt etched on her face.
‘You know that Richard can’t stand you anymore? He gives you things to make you sleep. So he doesn’t have to spend time with you.’
Louisa’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t believe you.’
‘You should ask him some time.’
Sarah turned to leave but Louisa grabbed her arm. ‘Why would you let him do this to me? Don’t I mean anything to you?’
‘No, you don’t. You had no right to call me a sister when you left me to rot when I was fifteen. You didn’t care about anyone but yourself. You made that clear.’
‘It wasn’t like that!’ Louisa gasped. ‘I was young and trusting. I thought I had everything in Richard, but I didn’t realise he was so abusive, most of which I think he thought was fun. He wanted me to have a child so he had a hold on me. So that I wouldn’t leave. I don’t know why he wouldn’t let me because it’s been clear he doesn’t love me anymore.’
‘It’s all you, you, you!’ Sarah spat. ‘Have you any idea what happened to me when you left me alone in Derby?’
‘No, because you won’t tell me.’
‘You think I didn’t want all this that you have?’ Sarah went on regardless, running a hand around the room. ‘Well, I did. And I tried so hard, but it was all taken from me. I had a daughter too, but she died and…’
Louisa froze.
‘She was nine months old.’ Sarah took a breath. ‘I went a bit wild when you left, hooked up with Jessie and then I got pregnant. When I had Poppy, I moved in with Jessie and his mum.’
‘Jessie Davidson?’
‘Yes, and you were right. He was a layabout. I thought he’d change when Poppy came along but he didn’t. I had no choice but to go out to work and leave her with him. But I regret it every day of my life. Because he killed her! He murdered my little girl.’ Tears rolled down her cheek. ‘He left her in the bath and then he fell asleep. I came home to…to…He was supposed to have taken care of her. I left her. It was my fault.’
‘Oh, Sarah.’ Louisa didn’t know what to say.
‘She was beautiful. Daisy reminds me of her so much. I still can’t believe she’s gone. She was my life.’
‘If I’d known, I would?—’
‘You didn’t want to know, that’s the problem! All you were interested in was your precious Richard, and his house and getting away from us all.’
