Page 47 of The Best Friend
‘I know, I know. Just give me a few minutes and then we’ll play, okay?’
‘O-ka-a-ay.’
I hear our son thunder up the stairs. My stomach swoops and churns as Jared comes into the kitchen.
‘Something smells good,’ he says.
I grit my teeth and restrain myself from taking the pie out of the oven and throwing it at him.
‘So, you got Darcy to pick Joe up from school?’ I say.
‘I couldn’t get away, Lou. I’m sorry.’ He rubs at his temple. ‘She stopped by the office and she offered. I was so busy I said yes without thinking.’
‘After everything we talked about last night. You thought it would be okay for her to help you out. What was she doing at the office, anyway? Is she going to be there every day?’ As I speak I can hear how the words sound. I know how much of a cliché this is. The jealous wife accusing her husband. But I want him to see how his thoughtlessness makes me feel.
‘She was just dropping off some paperwork – something to do with the fire regs. I didn’t think you were coming home. You didn’t return any of my calls or messages—’
‘But, hey, it didn’t matter if I came home or not, did it. Because you could just ask Darcy to fill in and look after your son and cook your supper.’
‘That’s not fair. You know how important this week is for me at work. It’s our first proper working day atCreate. I should still be there now, but I came home early because I wanted to sort things out with us.’
‘I thought you said you didn’t think I was coming home?’
‘You know what I mean, Louisa.’
‘Do I?’
He shakes his head and scowls. ‘What do you want me to do?’
I sit down at the table and cover my face with my hands. I’m sick of all this anxiety and arguing. ‘You better go and see Joe. He’s waiting to play with you.’
‘Right,’ Jared says. ‘But then I’m coming back down and we’re going to sort this out. Whatever it is that’s making you upset, okay?’ I feel his hand on my shoulder.
‘Fine,’ I reply.
Half an hour later, I hear Jared coming back down the stairs. While he was playing with Joe, I tipped Darcy’s pie in the bin and made us both an omelette.
‘This looks great, Lou,’ he says, coming into the kitchen. ‘Shall I open a bottle of white? I think there’s one in the fridge.’
I nod and take out a couple of wine glasses from the cupboard, setting them next to our plates. ‘Is Joe in bed?’ I ask, sitting down at the table, my throat tight with anger and nerves.
‘Yep. All tucked up. I read him a chapter ofThe Faraway Tree.’ Jared pours the wine and puts the bottle back in the fridge. Then he sits opposite me and tries to catch my eye, but I won’t look at him. I chew my lip and cut into my omelette, even though I’m not at all hungry.
‘Are you going to tell me why you’re so upset?’ he asks. ‘You’ve been acting strange for weeks, Lou. I’m worried about you.’
I suppose this is where I should tell him everything, but I don’t know where to start.
‘We can’t sort this out if you won’t talk to me,’ he says.
He’s right, I guess. I set my knife and fork down and take a sip of wine. ‘You’re going to think I’m crazy.’
He doesn’t reply.
I sigh and look up at him. His forehead is creased and he has dark circles under his eyes. He isn’t touching his omelette or his wine. Guilt pricks at me. I shouldn’t be angry with him. He’s launching a new business and now he has a messed-up wife to contend with. ‘Okay,’ I say. ‘Well… I’m worried about Darcy. About her involvement in our lives.’
‘Go on.’
I tell him all my fears. Listing them out, one after another, like I did with Beth. This time, I also mention the fact that not only has Darcy taken my career, but now she’s also muscling in on my family.
