Page 27 of The Psychopath Next Door

‘I didn’t think you’d care.’

‘What? Of course I care.’

‘Only about Lola getting attacked. You don’t care about me. You just want to control me.’

Emma stood up. ‘If this is how you’re going to talk to me after spending one day with Fiona, I’m not going to let it happen again.’

‘I’m not going to that club! I like Fiona!’ Then, when Emma didn’t back down, Rose immediately changed tactics. It was kind of fascinating to watch. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was scaredyou wouldn’t let me walk Lola anymore or that you’d make me stay indoors. Next time, I promise I’ll tell you.’

‘Hopefully, there won’t be a next time.’

‘There won’t,’ Rose said. ‘Can I go to my room?’

‘Fine.’ I spoke before Emma could argue. I wanted this quarrel to end.

As soon as we were alone, Emma let out a great sigh.

‘What is it?’ I asked.

‘What do you think? Not only is this woman next door minding our daughter for us while we go to work, but she’s fighting our kids’ battles for them. Battles we didn’t even know about. It should be me spending the summer with Rose, not thisstranger. It makes me feel like ...’

‘What?’

‘A bad mother.’

I reached for her hand. ‘Emma, you’ve got a career. We’re both here for our kids every morning, every evening. You’re a great role model for Rose. You’re a brilliant mother.’

‘Am I? Do you really think that? It wasn’t long ago you accused me of being a selfish bitch.’

I stared at her. ‘That was in the heat of an argument.’ I had been so angry that night; a fury like I’d never experienced before. Later, I had apologised for using the B-word, but she hadn’t forgotten. It was still there, festering.

‘I don’t even like my job anymore,’ she said. ‘I’m sick of it. I’d rather be here, with my kids, but we can’t afford for me to give up work now, can we? Not since you made us move here.’

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. ‘You know why we had to leave the old place. That was not my fault.’

‘Maybe you—’ She stopped herself.

‘Maybe I what? Overreacted? Is that what you were going to say?’

‘No, actually, I was going to say we didn’t have to buy somewhere so expensive. There was that other place ...’

‘It was a shithole, Emma.’

‘It was fine. And it might have allowed me to go part-time at least. But no, you insisted. You said this estate would be perfect for our fresh start, for our family. And now you don’t even like it here.’

‘What? Yes I do.’

‘You think the neighbours are morons. Oh, apart from Little Miss Perfect next door.’

‘So, what? You want to sell up? Move somewhere worse so you can quit your job, just because you’re weirdly jealous of someone who’s doing us a favour?’

I hated this. Hated that we were arguing again. I had to get out of there before my emotions completely took over and threw petrol on to the flames.

‘I’m going to take the dog out,’ I said. ‘I need to calm down. Where is she?’

I left the room to look for Lola – and bumped straight into Rose. She was standing in the hallway outside the dining room. She’d clearly heard every word we’d said.

‘Rose,’ I began, but before I could say any more she flung her arms around me.

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