Page 67 of Merrily Ever After
‘I’ve met someone. The kids don’t know yet – in fact, neither does Cole. It’s early days and we’re taking it slow, but I like him a lot. So there, now you can really relax about Cole and me.’
Tears of gratitude sprang to my eyes. Cole and Lydia had been divorced for ages before we met, so this shouldn’thave affected me at all. I wondered whether subconsciously I’d been waiting for him to wake up and realise he wanted her back. The fear of rejection ran deep with me; perhaps after growing up in care, it always would. ‘I’m really happy for you and I won’t say a word,’ I promised. ‘And thank you, Lydia. This means a lot.’
I ended the call and stared at myself in the mirror. A big smile slowly spread across my face. All that worrying for nothing. I clearly had a lot to learn about parenting. But, for now, my conscience was clear: I had Lydia’s blessing and Freya didn’t really want her parents to get back together, she wanted a kitten. Now there was a gift I’d have been happy to supply. I’d have loved a kitten for Christmas when I was her age.
Finally I left the ladies toilets and rejoined my friends.
‘Now then,’ I said, dancing back to our booth. ‘Who’s for another bottle of champagne? I’m ready to party!’
My friends whooped and cheered, and the waiter was summoned again.
‘All OK?’ Hester asked discreetly as I returned her phone.
I squeezed her hand and nodded. ‘All good.’
If anyone had told me that an unexpected conversation with Cole’s ex-wife during my hen party would prove to be the highlight of my night, I wouldn’t have believed them. But there you go, I thought, wedging on my gold crown, life was full of surprises.
Chapter Twenty-One
Emily
4 DECEMBER
Thank goodness it was Friday, Emily had been fidgety all week at school. She couldn’t stop thinking about her new relative. If there even was one, of course. All this talk of Ray having another daughter could be just that – talk. But somehow, she didn’t think so. His story seemed plausible and, of course, there was photographic evidence of a blonde baby girl, about two years older than her.
She looked at the clock for the umpteenth time: still another half an hour. She returned to her computer screen, proofreading an email to parents about the change to the school bus schedule on the last day of term. She’d just pressed send when she heard a low buzzing noise coming from her handbag on the floor beside her office chair.
She picked her phone up and read the screen: it was a text from Izzy. She let out a long breath – finally! Emily had tried calling and texting ever since leaving Springwood House on Tuesday, but her calls had gone to voicemail and the texts had remained unanswered. It had been torture not being able to talk to her best friend about what had happened.
She glanced through the glass panel in the headteacher’s office door and checked on the meeting. Alison was deep in conversation with her visitor and looked like she could be busy for a while.
SO SO SORRY I haven’t been in touch. I dropped my phone in the sea, waited in vain for it to dry out and ended up getting a new one … ANYWAY, what is the big news??? I know you’re at school and can’t make private calls, but ring me AS SOON as the bell goes. I’m free all day and will be standing by. Hope everything is OK, your voicemail was very mysterious last night. Love you xxx
Officially, Emily wasn’t allowed to make private calls unless it was an emergency. And although this wasn’t a life-or-death situation, how many times in your life did you find out you’d got a secret big sister? This had to warrant special dispensation, Emily thought. Sod it; if someone came out, she’d just have to cut the call, she thought, selecting Izzy’s number.
‘Hellooo!’ Izzy’s voice shouted down the line. Emily could hear wind in the background and the crashing of waves. ‘Hold on, Em, I’ll just find a sheltered spot.’
‘Sure, hurry up though,’ Emily replied as loudly as she dared. She felt a pang of longing, imagining Izzy on the beach near her home in Jersey.
‘That’s better!’ said Izzy. The wind had receded, and her voice sounded echoey. ‘Sorry about that. I was getting my ten thousand steps in on the beach. It’s cold, but the fresh air is glorious.’ She paused to blow her nose.
‘So jealous,’ Emily groaned. ‘My steps are up and down school corridors and the only thing fresh about it is some of the kids’ language.’
‘I’m glad you rang.’ Izzy’s voice was laced with worry. ‘I’ve been on tenterhooks since I got your messages. What’s up?’
‘Right.’ Emily took a deep breath. ‘Are you sitting down?’
‘Er, no, I’m in a cave on the beach and it’s wet.’ Izzy hesitated. ‘Bloody hell, Em. Hurry up and put me out of my misery.’
‘You know that old baby photograph?’
‘The one you sent me on WhatsApp of you and your dad? What about it?’
‘That’s the thing.’ Emily paused. ‘It’s not me, it turns out I have a sister.’
Izzy squealed so loud that Emily had to hold the phone away from her ear. ‘You are kidding me!’
‘I’ll tell you more tonight after work,’ Emily said, trying to keep her voice down. ‘But assuming Dad hasn’t just got confused and made it all up, he told me that before I was born, he had a fling with a woman called Sam who had his child. Which means that somewhere on the planet I have a half-sister called Merry.’
