Page 102 of Villa of Secrets

Naomi’s self-control snapped. ‘What?! You expect me to do your ironing too! You’re taking advantage now. What do you do at home?’

‘I have an ironing lady. Please, Sis. I’m useless.’

‘No! I’m not your bloody servant, Rebecca! It was different when we were kids, but you’re an adult now. Do your own laundry. The ironing board’s in my wardrobe, okay?’

‘Right then. I will.’ Rebecca stuck her lip out and rushed upstairs.

While she finished washing the dishes, Naomi heard Rebecca clattering about above her. Suddenly aware of a long silence, she called up, ‘Did you find it? Are you all right?’ No answer. She hurried upstairs. A whimper came from the bedroom. ‘Rebecca, is everything okay?’

Rebecca’s head was buried in her hands. ‘I’m so sorry, Naomi. I can’t think straight. It’s as if I have to be horrible to block out whatever’s happening at home.’

Naomi sat beside her and slipped an arm around her sister’s shoulders. ‘And what exactly is going on at home? You used to tell me everything, Rebecca. What’s changed that’s making you so unhappy?’

‘It’s Fritz. I don’t know what’s going on. He’s deceiving me.’

‘What?! You mean there’s another woman?’ she said softly.

‘No. At least, I don’t think so. But I’m not sure about anything these days.’ She was silent for a moment. ‘Tell me: did you and Bubba send more than one letter?’

Naomi nodded. ‘Bubba wrote to you over and over again, but she never received a reply and I’m sure you’ll understand how much it hurt.’

‘That’s it, you see. I only ever got one letter. And now there are these Mondays.’

‘Mondays? Sorry, you’ve lost me.’

‘Every first Monday of the month, Fritz goes to the office before daybreak and doesn’t return until near ten in the evening.’ She wiped her eyes and faced Naomi. ‘Last month I called his office, which is something I don’t normally do. They told me he never works on the first Monday of the month. Where does he go, Naomi? I’m frantic, all sorts of things are going through my head.’

‘Did you call his mobile?’

Rebecca nodded. ‘Turned off.’

‘Why don’t you ask him about it? Talk it through.’

‘I’m afraid, Naomi. I’m such a coward. Every day for the past month I’ve thought about asking him, but he must have a reason for not wanting me to know. I couldn’t bear to lose him. What can be so important that he thinks he has to deceive me for so long? Now I find out about the letters. Fritz must have taken them; there’s no other explanation. To top it all off, I’m hopeless at confrontation. I keep fretting about it and also about the lives of our children growing inside me.’ She sighed. ‘No stress, it’s so easy to say.’

They sat in silence for a while, then Naomi said, ‘Do you want me to speak to him?’ This was the wrong thing to do. She shouldn’t interfere, but she couldn’t stand to see Rebecca in such a state.

‘Would you?’ She faced Naomi. ‘I can’t do it. Just can’t. Whatever’s going on, I suspect he might prefer to tell you instead of me and let you break it to me gently. I know Fritz. At least I think I do. He won’t tell me anything over the phone.’

Naomi chastised herself, she’d done it again. Rebecca should stand on her own two feet and take care of her own problems, yet it broke Naomi’s heart to see her so distressed. ‘Give me your phone and I’ll call him.’

Bubba looked up as Naomi came downstairs. ‘Is she all right?’

‘She wants her husband. Would you let Fritz come, Bubba?’

Bubba stared at the wall for the longest time and then finally nodded.

Naomi sat at the kitchen table, scrolled through Rebecca’s numbers, and called Fritz’s mobile.

‘Rebecca, darling,’ he said, his voice thick with emotion.

‘It’s Naomi, Fritz. I need to talk to you.’

‘She hasn’t. . . Rebecca and the babies, are they all right?’

‘Yes, fine. Don’t panic. It’s about Rebecca I’m calling. She’s upset, Fritz. She needs some explanations.’

‘Oh, Naomi.’ From his subdued voice, she understood he too was distressed. ‘I need to talk to her, but not over the phone. I’d like to come over? Some things have happened, and right now I probably need her as much as she needs me.’