‘You’d better come in,’ she said.
He followed her into the house, where Ada and Hallie were thrilled to see him and Ada quite forgot that she’d ever been ill at all.
Louis, kindly and patient, with a young daughter of his own, made a huge fuss of them and gave them sweets, which Jenna immediately took from them.
‘They’ve just had a lot to eat at The Ginger Cat Cafe,’ she explained. ‘So much cake that Ada was feeling sick not five minutes ago.’
‘Ah yes,’ he said with an understanding nod. ‘Your end-of-term tea.’
She smiled. ‘That’s right. I’ll put these in the cupboard for tomorrow, if you don’t mind?’
‘Of course. I should have asked you first anyway. Sorry.’
Ignoring the twins’ protests, Jenna took the sweets through to the kitchen, Louis following her while the girls argued over what to watch on the television.
‘So what brings you here, Louis?’ Jenna asked as she flicked the kettle on. She knew it was something to do with Joel. He wouldn’t be here otherwise, especially not at this time of day. He’d only just have finished work himself and he rarely came to the house anyway. Her hands shook as she reached for two mugs. ‘Tea? Coffee?’
He shook his head. ‘No thanks, Jenna. I can’t stay long.’ He sounded weary and worried, the jollity he’d displayed in front of Ada and Hallie vanished.
Jenna’s nausea returned with a vengeance, and she flicked the kettle off. She didn’t want a drink either.
‘So what it is?’ she asked quietly. ‘Have you spoken to him recently?’
Louis ran a hand through his hair. ‘Jenna, I’m so sorry. This is bloody awkward and I hate that he’s dragged me into it. He’s asked me to collect his things.’
Jenna stared at him, hardly able to believe what she was hearing. ‘His things? You mean his clothes?’
Louis nodded. ‘He asked me to ask you if you can pack a case for him. I’m sorry, I really am. He’s completely out of order and I feel terrible, but you know what he’s like once he gets an idea in his head. He goes on and on…’
Jenna sank into a chair, dazed. ‘He can’t even come back to pack a case?’
Louis sat next to her. ‘It’s disgusting behaviour. Sometimes I wonder why I’m even friends with him. To be honest, if Sandie had her way I don’t think I would be. She thinks he’s behaving shamefully.’
So even Louis’s wife knew what was going on. Jenna took a steadying breath.
‘Who is she, Louis?’
Louis, she knew, was a terrible liar. Sure enough, his face turned pink and his eyes widened as he stammered, ‘Wh-who is who?’
‘He’s seeing someone, isn’t he? This isn’t about needing space from me or time away. This has all the hallmarks I recognise from the last time he left.’
‘I… I don’t know what you mean.’
Jenna gazed at him levelly, even though adrenaline was surging through her body and she felt as if she was going to pass out at any moment. ‘Louis. Please.’
He slumped. ‘I’m sorry. I hate lying to you, but I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want to be the one to break it to you. It’s not right! Joel should have the decency to face you and tell you the truth.’
‘But we both know he hasn’t got the decency, Louis, so can you please just tell me what the hell’s going on because I think I’m going crazy here.’
Louis bit his lip and nodded. ‘I believe her name’s Nettie,’ he said.
Jenna frowned for a moment, then gave a slow nod as recognition dawned. ‘You mean his secretary, Annette?’
Louis nodded again. ‘Yeah. Cliché or what?’
‘She called me Jenna,’ Jenna murmured, remembering the phone call. Hadn’t she known that didn’t seem right? It had lodged in her brain. A little piece of the jigsaw that didn’t quite fit at the time but now slotted neatly into place. ‘Bloody hell. How long’s this been going on?’
She felt almost sorry for Louis as he squirmed uncomfortably. ‘Well, er, I can’t say for sure. I only found out a few days ago, honestly, although I’d suspected for a while. Well, Sandie did really. She said he was acting the way he always does when—’ He broke off, horrified. ‘I mean?—’
