Page 83 of The Soulmate

‘I told you I’d destroy it,’ Max says to Gabe. ‘I also called Baz before I left home and told him I had resolved things between us. And I have no intention of speaking to the police. All I want is to know what happened to Amanda. She died suddenly, in very strange circumstances which I know almost nothing about. The only way I’ll ever find out what was going through her head in the lead-up to her death is if you tell me.’

‘Shejumped,’ Gabe says. ‘She was devastated. She said your relationship was based on trust and fidelity. Since you slept with Pippa, she didn’t feel obliged to keep our secrets any longer.’

Max’s eyes move to me. ‘Amanda believed I’dsleptwith Pippa?’

Max stares at me. I force myself to hold his gaze. It’s the very least I can do. The only thing I can offer him. But I feel like I might die from the shame. ‘I told Gabe that’s what happened. I’ll never forgive myself.’

Gabe turns to look at me. ‘You didn’t sleep with Max?’

I shake my head.

‘All right,’ Max says. ‘What happened then?’

‘Like I said, she jumped.’

Max isn’t convinced and the men argue for a moment, but I tune out, stuck on something Gabe said.

Since you slept with Pippa, she didn’t feel obliged to keep our secrets any longer.

‘What did you mean, Gabe?’ I say. ‘When you said Amanda didn’t need to “keep our secrets” anymore?’

Gabe frowns, shrugs. ‘Did I say that?’

‘Was Amanda going to reveal something about Max?’ Then I think of the word ‘our’. ‘Aboutyou?’

Gabe’s face colours. I stare at him as realisation dawns. I am an idiot. Amanda didn’t jump.Of courseshe didn’t! Kat was right. Gabe didn’t tell the police about his connection to the Camerons because he had something to hide. He wasn’t protecting me – he was protecting himself!

‘Tell him, Gabe,’ I say to my husband. ‘Tell him what happened to Amanda. The truth.’

Gabe looks uncomfortable. I see on his face he’s concerned, perhaps worried that Max is tricking him into something. Perhaps he is. But in that moment I can’t bring myself to care.

‘Tell him,’ I repeat, louder this time. And, finally, Gabe does.

83

AMANDA

BEFORE

I‘d only been standing at The Drop for a couple of minutes when Gabe came out. It was a miserable afternoon, windy, rainy, cold. The sun was preparing to set. The surge of adrenaline that had brought me this far was starting to ebb and I felt light-headed and exhausted. But I was determined. I wasn’t prepared to lie down, helpless, as my world collapsed around me, like my mother had. I was going to find out the truth. I wouldn’t let Max’s shame become mine.

‘Can I help you with anything?’ Gabe said.

I turned at the sound of his voice. I’d forgotten how handsome he was. Breathtakingly so. His voice was warm and friendly. It was little wonder people decided life was worth living after a few minutes with him. He approached me slowly, holding up his hands, as if to sayI come in peace, stopping several metres back from the edge.

‘I’m not going to jump, if that’s what you’re worried about,’ I said, realising this was the reason for his caution.

Gabe looked puzzled at this declaration. There was a short silence as he scrambled to understand. ‘I’m glad to hear it.’

‘You don’t recognise me, do you?’ I said. I wasn’t offended; why would he? We’d only met a couple of times. Besides, I wasn’t particularly memorable. Not in the way he was. Or Max.

He came a couple of steps closer, peering at my face.

‘Amanda Cameron,’ I said. ‘Max’s wife.’

Now he knew. Immediately he became wary, even took a small step back. ‘Of course! Amanda . . . What are you doing here?’

‘I read the article about you. That’s how I knew where to find you. But actually, I’m looking for your wife.’