Page 8 of The Good Girl
Instead, she said, ‘You’ll have Shane. And Mum. It’ll settle down once I’m gone because Mum can focus on their marriage, make things right.’ Molly knew that was a lie and the total opposite was probably on the cards, but it was all she had.
Dee frowned. ‘They don’t even speak, Molls. Half the time I feel like I’m the only one trying. It’s like they can’t stand each other and it’s only a matter of time.’
Molly’s throat tightened. ‘Just have faith, okay? Focus on school. You’ve got your mocks this year, haven’t you? And remember, no matter what happens, you’ll always have Mum. She’ll make sure you’re okay.’
Dee nodded. ‘I guess. But it’s hard to concentrate when you feel like everything’s about to blow up.’
Molly squeezed her hand. ‘I know. I’ve had to block their squabbles out while I did my exams and if I can do it, so can you.’ Molly cringed at how easily the bullshit was rolling off her tongue because in truth, in between studying she’d spent every moment she got with Shane. That thought made her feel so bad she swiped it away and changed tack.
‘And anyway, you’re the really clever one in the family and get this, once I’m gone Mum will zoom in on you and make you her next protégé. You’ll be the star attraction, you lucky thing.’ Molly tickled Dee’s ribs and was relieved when she broke into fits of giggles, whacking Molly’s hand away, begging her to stop.
Once the laughter had faded, Dee’s face became serious again as she asked, ‘Can I call you whenever I want, though, even do FaceTime every night if I need to? Then I can pretend you’re next door and not so far away.’
Scooting closer to her sister, Molly put her arms around Dee and hugged her tight, pecking her on the head before resting her cheek against her hair. ‘Of course you can. Message me, ring me, bug the hell out of me if it makes you feel better. I’ll be there for you, Dee, I promise.’
They sat like that for a while, holding on to each other tight, soaking up the quiet of the house and a few moments of calm before the storm. The one that despite their bravado and promises, Molly knew was coming.
Later that evening, as the sun dipped low over the garden bathing the lawns in a peachy glow, Molly found her mother pacing the terrace, phone pressed to her ear, expression taut.
‘I know, Nancy. It’s driving me mad, too but we have to be patient.’
A pause.
‘No. No, I don’t think he suspects. But he’s edgy. Watching me. I can feel it. I swear that man is psychic but then again things have never been this bad and I think he knows I’m biding my time now, waiting until Molly’s in the States.’
Molly backed up before her shadow gave her away. Her chest thumped. The edge in her mother’s voice wasn’t panic. It was steely resolve.
‘We’ve come this far so we just have to hang on, then once she’s gone he can do what he wants. And I’m so done withsecrets. If she finds out, so be it. Me and you can deal with it together and explain it all to her.’
Molly’s mind was racing as her ears strained so as not to miss a word.
‘Yes, yes I’ll keep in touch. I just wish he wasn’t coming to the party so I could enjoy it with Molly and Dee but there’s no way he’d miss it. He loves posing around and showing off. I wonder if whoever he’s seeing this time will be there, I mean, let’s face it, it could be any old tart. I’m starting to think he’s not fussy. God, I hate him so much, Nance.’
Julia paused by a topiary and plucked at the tiny leaves as she listened to whatever Nancy was saying, nodding and smiling every now and then. ‘I’m just so glad we’re solid again because I couldn’t do this without you, Nance. None of it. You know that, don’t you?’
The doorbell ringing interrupted the conversation. It almost gave Molly a heart attack and sent her racing through the kitchen and up the stairs, leaving her mum to take the Amazon parcel off the driver.
By the time Molly reached her room and closed the door behind her, she was panting for breath and trying to get her thoughts in order. Staggering over to the bed she threw herself on top, turning onto her back and staring at the ceiling, wondering what the hell her mum and Aunty Nancy were planning. Something drastic, clearly. A divorce? Kicking Shane out? And what was this big secret that they both had, definitely something to do with her. Did Shane know about it? She wasn’t sure but had a feeling he did.
After that, her thoughts spiralled. Her mum and Nancy had been keeping something from her and she needed to know what it was. There was no way she could keep this inside but she had to, at least until the party was over. Half of Little Bollington had been invited and it had cost a bomb so she couldn’t kick up a fussbeforehand. No, she would bide her time, play it smart and then, calmly, on Sunday after the party, sit her mum down and ask her straight out what was going on. And in the meantime she’d drop some hints to Shane, see if he knew anything.
When she finally drifted off, her dreams were confused and strange. Fireworks exploding over the golf course. Dee running through the house screaming. Shane standing in the swimming pool, fully clothed, watching her like always, with those unreadable, irresistible grey-blue eyes.
Chapter Seven
Wednesday was no better. Julia was up early as always, another flurry of lists and phone calls. The florist, the club manager, the band. She fired instructions down the phone and juggled work calls, fussed over the stupidest of things, and barely paused to eat. Molly hovered at the edge of it all, a reluctant star in a performance she now wanted no part in.
By late morning, Julia had finally calmed down enough to have a normal conversation, and they sat at the kitchen island with iced coffees. Pulling off her favourite cashmere cardigan and draping it over the back of the chair, she turned her attention to Molly.
‘Have you found some shoes to match your dress, yet?’
Molly shrugged. ‘I’ll wear the ones I bought at Christmas for the gala. And anyway, I’ll be dancing most of the night so I’ll probably not wear them much.’
‘Absolutely not. This is a milestone. You need to look the part. Go online if you’re too lazy to look in the shops… use my card, just find some. Order them today so they arrive in time. Why have you left it till the last minute?’
Molly sighed. ‘I’m not being awkward, Mum, I swear, but I don’t need new shoes or a big fuss. Just a night out with my friends and family.’
‘Well, you’re getting one. So you might as well choose something nice. It’s not every day my eldest child leaves home and one day when you look back on the photos, you’ll thank me.’
