‘Doesn’t make much sense though,’ Ed persists. ‘Why would she be asking me to ask you about the photos when it was you who asked the school?’
‘No idea.’ I shrug. ‘It must be a mix-up. I wouldn’t worry about it.’
‘You’re right.’ He shakes his head and shoves his phone back into his pocket.
‘The communication at school has always been useless,’ I add.
‘Didn’t we already have school photos this year?’ Ed asks.
Right this moment I’m cursing having such an involved husband. Why can’t he just shrug and move on? ‘This was about the sports day photos,’ I say, marvelling at my new-found ability to lie so easily.
Thankfully, Ed doesn’t question the message any further. We drink our tea and I listen to him talk about work, trying to latch on to his words and act interested. Trying to pretend that my mind isn’t in turmoil about who could be sending me disturbing photos and texting my husband. Are they trying to ruin my marriage? Is that it? How did they even get Ed’s mobile number? Maybe it’s someone we know. A friend, or someone he works with. Could it perhaps be another woman? Someone who wants Ed for herself. Maybe an ex-girlfriend?
Or perhaps it isn’t personal at all. Maybe it’s someone who wants to blackmail me? Good luck with that. I have no money to speak of. Ed and I live month to month. There are no savings, other than about twenty quid in our emergency-fund jar, and we have a mortgage with no equity in the house. But if they wanted to blackmail me, surely they would tell me what they want. My mind is leaping ahead to all kinds of conclusions. But I think the most likely is that it’s another woman trying to destroy my marriage. If I find out who it is, I’ll… Well, I don’t know what I’ll do. But I won’t let them get away with it, that’s for damn sure.
And then I remember that Ed used to go out withFiona. It was about nine years ago; right before Ed and I got together. Fiona and Ed were pretty serious for a while, and I’ve always had the feeling that she wishes it hadn’t ended. Not that she’s ever said anything, but she’s always far too friendly towards my husband, in a proprietorial, shared-history kind of way that gets my back up. Not that she and Nathan don’t seem happy. She’s always going on about how wonderful he is and how they’re soulmates. Only it’s never really rung true for me. It’s like they’re the image of how a perfect couple should be, yet something is missing.
Even though they’re just thoughts, I hate feeling so bitchy. I like Fiona, of course I do. We’ve known one another since we were kids. But there’s always going to be that distance between us because of Ed. Maybe she’s jealous of me. But would she really go as far as to try to ruin my marriage with a few photos?
I think back to the night in question, when we were at that club. It was Fiona’s birthday and Nathan was out of town on business, so she’d arranged a girls’ night out. It wasn’t really Kelly’s scene at all, but she agreed to it because Fiona pretty much forced her to go. I’m sure I was only invited because Kelly asked if I could come too – probably for moral support, because she’s not that comfortable around Fi’s clients and work buddies. Although the three of us are supposedly all best friends, I have the feeling that if it weren’t for Kelly, then Fiona and I wouldn’t be friends at all.
In the end, I remember having a pretty good night at the club – lots of dancing and laughing. Although Kelly and I spent a good chunk of the evening trying to avoid Creepy Barton, the local dentist. He kept dancing up against us in this really cheesy way and offering to buy us drinks. I wonder if it could have been him in the photos. Please, God, no. The very thought of it makes me nauseous. But I get the feeling it wasn’tmehe was interested in that night, it was Kelly. He was as subtle as a brick when he asked her how she was coping on her own with the kids. He said if she ever needed to talk he was a good listener. Which is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever heard, because there’s nothing Paul Barton likes more than the sound of his own voice.
Aside from Barton, Fiona was annoyingly judgemental that night, just because I decided to have a couple of drinks – okay, maybe more than a couple. She told me several times that I’d had enough, that I was making a show of myself, that I should calm down. I frown, remembering that we had a kind of mini argument. Yes, I remember it now – she said something about pitying Ed. Ugh, how dare she! Just because I know how to have fun. Fiona has never been able to let loose – she’s wound up tighter than one of Leo’s curls. But, then again, maybe she kind of had a point, because the end of the night is definitely a blur.
Seriously, could Fiona really have had something to do with the photos? She’s been behaving oddly recently. Only last week, I saw her in town and waved, but she acted like she hadn’t seen me and went into a shop. Ninety-nine per cent sure she did see me though.
I realise I’ve completely zoned out from Ed’s conversation. I tune back in to his story about a local TV presenter who was in the pub last night. I nod and make the appropriate listening noises until he finishes talking.
‘Why did Fiona end things with you?’ I ask.
‘Why didwhat?’ Ed jerks his head up. ‘What made you think about that?’
I shrug. ‘It just popped into my head. I don’t think you ever told me why it never worked out between you two.’
‘I don’t know. But it’s all ancient history now. Do we really have to go into it?’
‘No, course not. I’m curious, that’s all.’
‘It just didn’t work out. She was too stand-offish and cold. Our relationship never really got going in the first place.’
‘Butshefinished withyou, right?’
‘Way to make a guy feel good!’ Ed flicks my arm playfully.
‘Sorry!’ I manage a short laugh. ‘But she did, yeah?’
‘She said she cared about me, but she’d met someone else. I was relieved, to be honest. I’d been wanting to break it off, but I didn’t want to hurt her.’
I twirl a strand of hair around my finger. ‘That must have been when she met Nathan.’
‘Yeah, those two are perfect together. Both really ambitious and career-driven.’
‘You’re ambitious too!’
Ed leans forward to kiss me. ‘I love my job, but I wouldn’t say I’m ambitious. I’m more of a family man than a career man.’
I slide across to sit on his lap and wrap my arms around his broad back. ‘I love you, Mr Perry.’
