Page 58 of The Wife
‘No.’ She shakes her head vehemently. ‘It was nothing to do with that.’ Her eyes seem to be growing heavy again.
I take a few big gulps of my coffee before reaching into my bag for my phone and calling Nick’s mobile. It rings and rings before going to voicemail, so I try Toby instead. He answers almost immediately.
‘Zoe, where are you? I was just about to call you.’
‘I’m upstairs with Madeline. She’s had a bit too much to drink, so I’m getting her to drink some coffee.’
‘Oh.’ There’s a pause.
‘Toby, are you still there?’
‘Yes, sorry. Is she okay now? With you I mean? Did she tell you what’s been bugging her?’
‘Actually, yes. Yes she did, and it’s a bit strange. Can you come up here, please? And bring Nick. We’re in his and Madeline’s room.’
‘I…’ But he tails off.
I end the call, unsure whether to be anxious or angry at what’s been going on. But until I know how the rumour originated, I guess I’ll still be confused and in the dark.
Madeline’s eyes are closed now, and she’s slumped back in her chair, her mouth slightly open. I think about waking her up but decide against it. It’ll be easier to talk to Nick and Toby without Madeline adding in her low opinion of me.
As I wait, my stomach churns and I start to feel faintly queasy. Despite the strong coffee, I’m still not fully sober. There are too many conflicting questions in my head for me to make sense of anything – I need to question Nick and Toby before I start jumping to any conclusions.
Faint rumbles of music and laughter drift up to the room, an echo of the party below. It feels like days since I was down there dancing and having fun. By the time this mix-up is all sorted out, the night will be finished. I stand and walk over to the window, which looks out across the sweeping carriageway drive. Pressing my nose against the pane, I see wide beams of light from the hotel’s exterior lamps illuminating thick twirling flakes of snow that are beginning to settle on the driveway and flower beds.
I’m startled away from the view by the sound of the door opening. I turn to see Nick striding in while Toby follows behind, his face clouded with anger.
‘Nick, you need to calm down.’ Toby puts a hand on his brother’s shoulder, but Nick shakes him off, heading for Madeline.
‘Maddy, are you okay?’
‘She’s all right,’ I reply. ‘Just had a bit too much to drink and now she’s sleeping it off.’
Nick whirls around to look at me. Up close, he looks even worse than I previously thought. Granted, he’s obviously a bit pissed, but his eyes are bloodshot and sunken in their sockets, his skin is pallid, and the shoulders of his suit are powdered with dandruff.
‘Nick!’ Once again, Toby tries to pull him back.
‘No, Toby, enough is enough. Zoe needs to know the truth.’
‘For fuck’s sake.’ My husband swears under his breath and I’m starting to get really worried now. Something is very, very wrong, and I don’t think it’s anything to do with Madeline’s crazy story about an affair.
‘Is one of you going to tell me what’s going on?’ My voice sounds strange to my ears and I feel a little light-headed.
‘It’s fine.’ Toby turns to me with a forced smile. ‘Nick doesn’t know what he’s talking about.’
‘That development’s going ahead, Toby. And when it does it will all come out anyway.’
‘Nick, shut your mouth. You’re drunk.’ He turns back to me. ‘Zoe, why don’t you go back to our room and I’ll follow you there in a bit?’
‘No, that’s okay.’ I stare from one brother to the other. ‘I’d like to hear what Nick wants to tell me.’
‘Good,’ Nick slurs, ‘cos I’m sick of having to keep this secret.’
‘If this is about some imaginary affair that I’m supposed to have had, I can tell you right now, I never have and never will cheat on my husband.’ I turn to Toby and will him to hear the truth in my voice. ‘Did Cassie say something? Because you know you can’t trust a word that comes out of her mouth.’
‘Oh, we know you wouldn’t cheat, Zoe,’ Nick says, dismissively.
‘Then why have I just spent the last twenty minutes defending myself to your wife?’
