Page 85 of One Step Behind
‘Sorry,’ Christie says. ‘I didn’t mean to scare you.’
‘It’s my fault, I was miles away. How are you?’ I ask, taking in Christie’s pale face and hollow eyes.
‘Er … actually, have you got time for a quick cuppa?’
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say no but there’s an urgency sparking in Christie’s gaze that makes me agree.
‘Did you have a nice time the other night?’ she asks as we walk the short distance to her house.
‘I think so. I feel a bit old for that place now. What about you?’
‘Yeah, it was nice to get out.’
We make small talk about the kids and the looming six weeks of summer holidays as we walk to Christie’s house.
The moment the front door is closed behind us, the atmosphere changes and Christie crumbles before my eyes. Fat tears roll down her cheeks and drop on to the doormat.
‘Hey, what’s happened?’ I guide her to the sofa, expecting her to tell me about a health scare she’s having that she wants my advice on. I’m gearing myself up to reassure her about a smear test with abnormal results or a lump in her breast. ‘You can tell me,’ I add, taking her hand.
Christie sniffs, pulling herself together. ‘It’s about the other night. The mums I was with, I like them, but … Rachel, she … The thing is, I don’t think they realized that I’m friends with you and when they started talking, well, I couldn’t just walk away.’ Her voice cracks and her shoulders start to shake. ‘I’m sorry,’ she sniffs. ‘I’m not sure whether to tell you this.’
‘Christie, it’s OK, just tell me.’
She nods. ‘Rachel … Lacey’s mum, do you know her?’
‘Not really.’ Despite everything that I’ve done this last week, I realize it’s true. I don’t know anything about Rachel or you.
‘She … she only moved to Westbury a year ago, and by the sounds of it her marriage is in a bit of trouble.’ Christie pauses then, watching my reaction like she’stold me some big secret. ‘Rachel got really drunk. We all did. Except, you know what I’m like. By ten p.m. I’m ready for a cup of tea and my pjs.’ She gives me a weak smile. ‘So I moved on to lemonade and the others kept drinking. Then this guy starts trying to chat Rachel up and we all had a laugh about it, but then she starts crying and telling us that she had an affair.’
‘I know,’ I reply, thinking of the photos on Matthew’s phone, the sense that Rachel was lying to me. It’s just as I suspected – they were sleeping together.
‘You do?’ She sits back and gawks at me. ‘And you’re OK about it?’
I shrug. ‘I only found out recently. I don’t know all the details. Did she tell you how they met or how long it went on for?’
‘Er … I think they met in the school playground,’ Christie offers, her eyes still staring at me with disbelief.
‘What? What was Matthew doing in the school playground?’
‘Who’s Matthew?’ Christie asks.
‘Matthew Dover. My stalker. The man Rachel had an affair with. I’ve been trying to speak to her, but she won’t talk to me.’
I wait for Christie to say something but she doesn’t for a long time. Fresh tears well in her eyes.
‘What is it?’ I ask.
‘Rachel didn’t say at first who it was with, but then one of the mums kept asking if it was someone we knew, and then another mum joked about how they wouldn’t kick Stuart out of bed in a hurry, and Rachel’s face, well, it was obvious. We all knew by then so she admitted it.’
A sour taste fills my mouth. ‘I don’t understandwhat you’re telling me. One of the mums fancies Stuart? What’s this got to do with Rachel and my stalker?’
She shakes her head. ‘I’m sorry, Jenna. I don’t know anything about your stalker. It was Stuart that Rachel admitted she had an affair with. She swears it’s over. She said she asked you to join the PTA as a way to talk to you. She was curious about what kind of person you were, but wishes she hadn’t now because she thinks you’ve guessed about the affair and you’re following her places, trying to scare her. She’s terrified you’re going to tell her husband.’
The world stops for a moment. A piercing noise whines in my ears. Stuart and Rachel had an affair. My husband, the father of my children, was sleeping with someone else right under my nose, at a time when I was trying to deal with one of the worst experiences of my life. At a time when I thought we were closer than we’ve ever been. It doesn’t make sense.
A year or two ago, maybe I’d have believed it, but not recently. We’ve been so close. This last week hasn’t been our best, but … My thoughts trail off as the reality of Christie’s words sinks in.
Stuart’s voice echoes in my thoughts.‘I’m doing everything I can to make this marriage work.’
