Page 87 of Our Secrets and Lies

‘I’ll see what I can do.’

Billy unlockedthe door into the shop and disappeared.

‘I’ll book Chez Marco – he likes it there and it’s got a family vibe. That suit you?’

Lucy spread some jam on her toast. ‘Sounds great. Will we say it to Sarah and Darren and the kids?’

‘Yeah.’ Jenny paused. ‘Does that mean Ollie too?’

Lucy smiled. ‘Maybe, but I’d say Sarah will probably leave him at home with a babysitter. Actually, Dad and Ollie havebecome quite the pals. Ollie has been calling into the shed and hanging out for hours making things out of wood. Dad’s great with him.’

‘That’s nice to hear, as long as Ollie doesn’t lose control of the nail gun and shoot Dad in the heart,’ Jenny said.

Lucy laughed. ‘I was a bit worried about all the tools in there. Dad did say there was a hairy moment the first night Ollie called in where henearly sawed Dad’s arm off.’

They cracked up laughing. ‘I hope Dad knows what he’s doing. Of all the places for a hyper accident-prone kid to hang out, a shed full of tools seems nuts,’ Jenny said. Her phone beeped. She read the message and gasped. ‘Oh, shit.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Frank’s wife found out he’s got another woman.’

‘Oh, God, Jenny.’

‘He said she’s gone totally ape-shit and brokenevery plate and glass in the house.’

‘Well, you can hardly be surprised that she’s upset.’

‘Damn it.’

‘What are you going to do?’

‘He said he’ll be in touch when things calm down.’

Lucy put down her mug of coffee. ‘I’m sorry, Jenny. I never approved, but I know you liked him.’

Jenny sighed. ‘If anyone can talk his way out of something, it’s Frank. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.’

Lucy was secretly glad. Maybe now Jenny could meet a nice man, single, devoted to her. She deserved it, and Lucy wanted only the best for her little sister.

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