Page 54 of Behind Closed Doors
For the next ten minutes, I watch her watching Jack, and I’m glad that in his efforts to destabilise me, he has overplayed his hand—not that anyone except Esther seems to have noticed. At one moment, she looks from Jack to the red box, a frown on her face. Suddenly, she turns her attention back to me.
‘I hope you don’t mind me asking, Grace,’ she says, ‘but are you sure you’re all right? You look very pale.’
‘I’m fine,’ I reassure her.
‘I’ve noticed it too.’ Diane nods. ‘And you’ve lost weight—you haven’t been dieting, have you?’
‘No, it’s just that I don’t seem to have much appetite at the moment.’
‘Maybe you should go and see your doctor.’
‘I will,’ I promise.
‘You really need to take more care of her, Jack.’ Esther looks at him appraisingly.
‘I intend to.’ Smiling, he slips his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket and draws out an envelope. ‘I didn’t see why Millie should be the only one to have a present today.’
‘Adam, please take note,’ Diane groans.
‘Here we are, darling,’ Jack hands me the envelope. ‘Open it.’
I do as he says and find myself looking at a pair of plane tickets.
‘Come on, Grace, don’t keep us in suspense,’ Diane implores. ‘Where’s Jack taking you?’
‘Thailand,’ I say slowly, horribly aware that everything I’ve managed to put in place since Millie gave me the pills will all have been for nothing if we go away.
‘What a lucky girl,’ says Moira, smiling at me.
‘I think you’re meant to say something, Grace,’ Esther prompts.
I raise my head quickly. ‘It’s just such a shock. I mean, it’s a lovely thought, Jack, but do we really have time to go away?’
‘You did say that you wanted one last holiday in Thailand before Millie comes to live with us,’ he reminds me, making it sound as if I think of Millie as some sort of burden.
‘But you said we wouldn’t be able to—didn’t you say that you had the Tomasin case coming up?’
‘Yes, but I’m working hard to make sure it’ll be over by then.’
‘When are you going?’ Giles asks.
‘I’ve booked tickets for the fifth of June.’
Adam looks at him in surprise. ‘Will the Tomasin case be finished so soon?’
‘I hope so—it’s going to court next week.’
‘Even so. I mean, it’s not so clear-cut this time, is it? From what the papers are saying, her husband is squeaky clean.’
Jack raises his eyebrows. ‘Don’t tell me you believe what you read in the papers.’
‘No, but the theory that it’s a set-up and that she’s out to frame her husband because she has a lover is an interesting one.’
‘It’s also total fabrication.’
‘So you’re confident of winning?’
‘Absolutely—I’ve never lost a case yet and I don’t intend to start now.’
