‘Okay!’ She skips off to her room.
The door to Eva’s bedroom flies open. She’s dressed too. It’s a miracle how Sadie can get the girls to wash and dress without all the usual chivvying along that I have to do.
‘Morning, darling. How are you?’ I ask my eldest daughter, kissing her forehead.
‘Tired.’
‘Well, you had a late night. Shall I do your hair?’
‘Sadie’s doing Dutch braids today.’
My shoulders slump but I manage a weak smile. ‘Okay.’ I rest my hand on top of her head for a moment, contemplating how an easier life also comes with its downsides. This woman I hardly know is braiding the girls’ hair and getting them ready for school like she’s the one who’s their mother. I feel a stab of guilt mingled with fear. The girls are so relaxed around Sadie. I feel almost redundant. But whose fault is that?
‘Mu-um. I’ve got to go and brush my teeth.’ Eva ducks out from beneath my hand and slips into the bathroom. The lock slides across. I sigh and go back downstairs.
I’ve arranged to meet my sister-in-law at Marco’s for lunch. After what happened there with Cosgrove, I almost suggested somewhere different, but I’m not going to let that man put me off my favourite restaurant. I want to put the whole nasty episode behind me, even though I’m still contemplating taking action against him. I walk in to see Amelia already sitting at a window table, a glass of white wine in front of her. She stands to greet me and we hug and kiss. As always, she’s looking immaculate, in dark jeans, a cotton-knit Lurex top and vertiginous crocodile heels, her chestnut hair shot through with new caramel highlights.
‘Gemma, you’re looking gorge,’ she says.
‘Frazzled, more like. But you certainly are. Love the hair.’
‘Thanks. Just had it done this morning. And thank you for meeting up. I know how busy you are. But when I saw you at Diane’s, it reminded me how little we’ve seen of you guys recently.’
I hang my bag on the back of the chair, slip off my jacket and sit opposite her. ‘Totally my fault. Things have been so busy recently. And not just the usual brand of crazy, but a whole other level of madness.’ I catch the waiter’s eye and point to Amelia’s glass of wine and then to myself. He nods.
‘Sounds interesting,’ she says.
‘Give me boring any day.’ I roll my eyes.
The waiter comes over with my wine. I order the Caesar salad again – because I know I’ll enjoy it, and I can’t be bothered to look at the menu – and Amelia orders a salade niçoise.
‘So?’ Amelia prompts. ‘What’s been happening?’
I launch into the past few weeks’ dramas while Amelia stares, wide-eyed and disbelieving. I also tell her about my suspicions that Rebecca could be behind some of it. The only thing I don’t tell her is the Cosgrove incident, because I don’t want to relive that day, plus I haven’t told Robert.
Amelia leans back in her chair. ‘Your head must be spinning.’
‘To be honest, I’m trying to forget about it all. Move on. Surely that’s my quota of bad luck for a while.’
‘And you think this Rebecca woman is behind it?’ Amelia leans forward. ‘The computer virus and the spray paint?’
‘I really have no idea. But she’s the only person I can think of. She’s like this passive-aggressive earth mother who rules the playground.’
‘Sounds awful.’
‘I know!’ I give a little laugh. ‘Anyway, how are things with you?’
James and Amelia have been going through IVF but I don’t want to ask her about it specifically, in case she doesn’t want to talk about it. I’m wary of mentioning the children in front of her for the same reason, although she always loves seeing them and hearing about their latest antics.
‘Well, James and I are stopping the IVF for now. Hence the wine.’ She gives me a sad smile. ‘We’ll try again next year, but I think James needs a break from it. Plus it’s so expensive and the antiques business isn’t doing great at the moment. Too much online competition, you know how it is.’
I nod, wishing I could help them out in the quest to have a baby. I decide to have a word with Robert – see if he can speak to his brother. Perhaps there’s something we could do to help them out financially. ‘Maybe a break will be good,’ I say. ‘Give you a chance to relax for a bit.’
Amelia shrugs and looks out of the window at the sea beyond.
‘If there’s anything I can do…’ I say.
‘Oh, ignore me,’ she says, turning back to face me. ‘Shouldn’t be drinking wine at lunchtime on an empty stomach. It’s making me maudlin.’
