Page 105 of Lie For Me

Sophie took Lucy’s hands in hers and stared solemnly into her eyes.

‘You and Jack will work this out,’ she said. ‘You’re great together.’

Lucy squeezed Sophie’s fingers, and it was all she could do to make a mmhmm noise. Sophie squeezed her tight, and then they were in the car and off, pulling down the driveway, hands sticking out of the windows, still waving as the car disappeared around the corner.

Lucy waved back until the car disappeared around a bend, and then her arm dropped heavily to her side. Her whole body felt exhausted. She wondered if she could even move her legs anymore and lifted one leaden foot to check. She stood still, the sun beaming down on her.

Most wedding guests had gone now or were piling luggage and children into their cars. The marquee was being emptied of chairs. New guests were arriving. The bubble of the wedding weekend had well and truly burst. Lucy smoothed down her dress and tramped across the lawn towards her car.

Across the car park, she saw Suzy gliding down the steps on the arm of a handsome man. They were leaning into one another, deep in conversation. Lucy watched from a distance as he held the car door open for her, then leaned in to kiss her before closing the door. The wonderful Ben, she presumed. Lucy regretted all her hasty assumptions about Jack and Suzy, but it was too late now in any case.

Fishing in her pocket for car keys, she glanced up and saw Chris walking out of the hotel. She looked around for a handy tree to throw herself behind, but there was nothing in sight.

Spotting her, Chris paused on the steps. Lucy froze, her hand stuck in her pocket. Lifting his hand in greeting, he started walking across the gravel drive towards her, long legs making short work of the distance. Lucy dug the car keys into her palm. As he drew close, she could see his tousled blonde hair was still damp from the shower, his white linen shirt bright against his tanned skin. Lucy tried to pat down her hair and prayed her face wasn’t too blotchy from crying.

‘Hi,’ he said, stopping in front of her.

‘Hello.’

She squirmed on the spot and wished some other departing guest would interrupt to say goodbye and rescue her from mortification.

‘Ollie and Sophie seemed on good form today,’ he said, smiling down at her.

‘Yes,’ Lucy managed, digging her toes into the sharp gravel.

‘How are you?’

‘Erm…I’m fine, thanks…’ Lucy wished a sinkhole would open up and swallow her. ‘Um, how are you?’

In response, Chris offered his hand. Lucy reached out to take it, struggling to meet his gaze.

‘I was sorry to learn you had a boyfriend,’ Chris murmured, as he took her hand, his grip warm and firm. His mouth twisted into a wry grin. ‘Quite a way to find out…’

Lucy’s face flamed as she remembered the night before. What must Chris think of her, cosying up to him the moment her boyfriend stepped away.

‘I’m sorry, I….’

She faltered. Chris waited, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say. How would she begin?

The thing is Chris, it’s actually a funny story… Jack isn’t really my boyfriend and what you saw might have looked real but it was all a lie, even though there were moments it seemed very real. But hey ho, seems I am in fact a free agent so maybe a drink sometime?

Chris kissed her lightly on the cheek.

‘It was nice to meet you, Lucy Ollie’s sister.’

He smiled, dropped her hand and strolled back across the gravel driveway. She watched as he disappeared around a corner and out of sight.

34

Star-fished on the bed, Jack woke early, before the sun was fully up. He stared up at the ceiling in the half-light. He had arrived home late the night before, after dealing with taxis, bus replacement services and one train that was over an hour delayed after a cow got onto the tracks.

Rubbing his eyes he peered at the time on an old-fashioned alarm clock that had belonged to his father. He didn’t need to be up for over an hour, but this was decision day. He needed to sign the contract and proceed with the sale. Or not.

He picked up his phone and checked the lock screen. No messages.

He had been a coward to leave, he decided. They should have talked it out. He thought of Lucy’s face as he was leaving, of how her voice shook, how small she looked, standing by the door. And he had just left her like that, walked off. He threw an arm over his eyes to try to block the thoughts out.

He rolled himself out of bed and stood at the window, as the sun sheered over the far reaches of the Yorkshire hills. The fields were green-golden in these later days of summer. A soft dew spread across them, pricks of sunlight catching on the droplets and making the fields look like they were sprinkled with crystals. Jack stood and watched as the sun reared over the horizon, the angles of the light changing, long shadows now sending fingers of light and shade across the fields. A horse grazing in a field nearby flicked its tail and startled a rabbit, which sprang for the hedgerow.

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