And I can’t believe she hasn’t worked out the truth.
Forty-Eight
Four months later
We pull up onto Diane’s vast driveway, which is already crammed with vehicles. Although it’s almost April, there was a hard frost this morning and the air still crackles with winter. The sky is a bright, arctic blue that looks solid enough to smash with a hammer. We get out of my Honda, pulling our coats tightly around our flimsy party clothes. I hope Diane has the central heating turned up high.
Life has settled down into a new pattern. Things are better than they’ve ever been. My relationship with Robert is flourishing. After his initial disappointment at Sadie’s departure, he seems happier than ever. Paying me more attention, buying me flowers and gifts. We train together two mornings a week and I almost feel like we’re returning to those passionate months when we first met.
‘It was lovely of your mum to do this,’ I say.
‘You know how much Mum enjoys hosting a party.’
‘I love parties too,’ Katie says. She’s wearing a frothy pink creation that Diane bought her especially for today. Eva chose a more demure dress – navy with white polka dots.
‘We’re so proud of you, Eva,’ I say, giving our eldest daughter another hug which she accepts with good grace. We found out last week that Eva passed the grammar-school test with an exceptionally high grade, and so Diane has arranged a party in her honour. It’s probably going to be mainly my mother-in-law’s friends, but that’s fine. Eva will be made a fuss of, and she deserves it after all her hard work.
Over the past few months, Eva has finally returned to being the sweet girl she used to be. I’ve had no more worrying calls from the school. At her latest parents’ evening, Mrs Slade said how kind and helpful Eva is being towards her fellow classmates. There was no mention made of last year’s awful behaviour.
‘Is Maya here yet?’ Eva asks.
I glance around Diane’s drive. ‘I can’t see their car, but maybe they walked.’
Eva no longer hangs around with Lauren and Emily, and instead has become best friends with Maya again, after they discovered a shared love of singing. Consequently, Suri has forgiven Eva (and me) for the bullying Maya was subjected to last year. Even better, both girls passed the test, which means they’ll be moving forward to senior school together.
Maya was the only friend Eva wanted to invite today and I’m looking forward to catching up with Suri this afternoon, away from the busyness of the school gates.
Robert doesn’t bother ringing Diane’s doorbell. The front door is on the latch so we just walk in. The entrance hall is already crowded with people. Multicoloured balloons are tied to the polished banisters and a sign has been strung out across the width of the hallway with ‘CONGRATULATIONS EVA’ written in colourful letters.
As the four of us walk in, all the guests cheer and shout ‘congratulations’ to our daughter. She presses herself close to my side, but her cheeks are pink and she smiles shyly. Maya rushes over and the girls hug.
‘Congratulations to you, too, Maya,’ I say.
‘Thank you,’ she says.
Suri, Steve and their eldest daughter Jade are here too. We all hug and congratulate one another on the achievements of our daughters, not caring about bragging today. After all, this is supposed to be a celebration for them.
‘Have you seen who’s here?’ Suri whispers to me.
My mind scrolls through possibilities. ‘Not Rebecca? That would be a bit awkward.’
‘No, don’t be daft.’ Suri gives me a look. ‘There’s no way she’d come. Not after Lauren failed the entrance test.’
Unfortunately, although Lauren hit the pass mark, she still didn’t make the cut as there were other children who managed to get higher grades. Rebecca is furious and is appealing to the admissions board, citing the unfairness of letting children who live outside the local area attend the school. I’m sure she’s also secretly mad at Eva for getting in despite only being tutored for a couple of months as opposed to the eighteen months of hard work Lauren put in. Not to mention the hundreds of pounds spent on her tutor’s fees.
‘Who are you talking about then?’ I ask.
Just then, Katie’s high voice cuts through the hubbub. ‘Look, Mum! It’s Sadie!’
My hackles rise. Suri puts a calming hand on my arm. Over the past few months, I’ve confided all my insecurities about our former to nanny to Suri, so she knows what my feelings are about the woman. Inviting her here today must be Diane’s doing.
‘Is she here?’ Eva gasps, her eyes bright. ‘Maya, you have to come and say hi to Sadie. She’s the best.’
‘Deep breaths,’ Suri says.
My heart is racing. I turn to my husband, who was chatting to Steve but is now glancing across the hallway to where Sadie is emerging from the kitchen. She is wearing a figure-hugging black pencil skirt and tight powder-pink blouse with a pussycat bow, her hair again caught up in an elegant chignon, which has the irritating effect of looking demure and vampish at the same time. ‘Did you know she was going to be here today?’ I hiss at Robert.
‘Who, Sadie? No, of course not.’
