Page 101 of The Day After Christmas
Felicity and Sophie gasped collectively, exchanging worried glances.
‘You can’t,’ said Sophie. ‘Not after that, surely. He was shagging someone a month ago. While you were engaged.’
‘He’s a rotter. There’s no two ways about it. You need to make a clean break, Bex.’
‘Like you did, you mean?’ Bex practically spat the words at Felicity and she recoiled.
‘That’s not fair,’ said Sophie. ‘It was Adam who wouldn’t leave Fliss alone if you remember.’
‘I remember,’ said Bex bitterly.
Felicity could feel tears prickling the back of her eyes. ‘The thing is,’ she said, trying to keep her voice level, ‘you don’t seem to really hold him responsible. I can’t understand it.’
‘It’s like my mum said, men will be men. This is just what they do, right?’
Sophie and Felicity exchanged another look. ‘You can’t seriously believe that,’ said Sophie.
Bex shrugged. ‘I don’t know what I believe anymore.’
‘Petunia is wrong about this, Bex,’ said Felicity firmly. ‘You have to know that. I’m sure she means well but she’s completely wrong about this.’
Sophie piped up. ‘Bex. Seriously. You used to be the biggest feminist of the lot. I just don’t understand what’s happened to you.’
They had no time to continue the conversation as just then, the doorbell went again. Felicity looked around the room, they were definitely already all here. So who could this be? And then she realised, her palms instantly prickling with sweat.
Sophie went to the bay window at the front of the huge room and peered out. ‘It’s Adam,’ she said needlessly.
Felicity stood up, feeling decidedly wobbly. She looked at Bex. ‘Want me to tell him to get lost?’ she said.
‘Let him in,’ said Bex, jaw clenched.
‘Okay. But if he causes any trouble at all, even a modicum of trouble, even a smidgeon, an inkling, the barest whisper of trouble, I’m kicking him out.’ Felicity didn’t even wait for a reply. She hated the idea of Adam coming into her lovely safe haven in Chancery Downs and she was secretly hoping he’d give her an excuse to send him away. ‘Brace yourselves, everyone,’ she said as she walked down the hallway.
And sure enough, there on the doorstep – her bloody doorstep – was Adam, her ex-boyfriend and one-time stalker. James was actually going to kill her if she let him in.
‘What can I do for you?’ said Felicity, trying to sound nonchalant.
To her surprise and no small delight, Adam looked almost as bad as Bex. His usually bright skin was sallow and he hadn’twashed his hair. He even had a breakout of spots on his skin, something Felicity had never seen before, not even when he was a teenager. He was still dressed to kill in chinos and a pale-green shirt but his twinkle, that Tom Cruise smile, was definitely dulled.
‘Is she here?’ he said, not bothering to sit on ceremony let alone stand.
‘What do you want, Adam?’
‘Is she here?’ he replied, like an automaton.
‘Yes, she’s here, but…’ Felicity tried to finish her sentence but Adam pushed straight past her and into the lounge.
‘Hey…’ said Felicity, following him through to where he had crouched down beside Bex, who was looking at him like he was a sight for sore eyes. ‘Adam, I’m not sure this is a good idea.’
‘Yes, maybe you should go,’ said Sophie, practically wringing her hands.
‘Just give us a minute please,’ said Adam through gritted teeth.
‘It’s not up to you I’m afraid. Bex, are you happy for him to be here?’
Bex looked up at her and smiled. ‘It’s good to see him, actually,’ she said quietly.
‘Okay,’ said Felicity, ‘but we’re not leaving the room.’
