Page 53 of Someone For Everyone

She obediently accepted the bottle and took a swig. ‘Sorry about this.’

‘That’s okay.’ He watched her take a deep breath. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

She hesitated. ‘Tristan’s been working. I know that doesn’t sound like a big deal, but he’s also been claiming welfare benefits.’ She pulled the sleeves of his jacket over her hands. ‘He pleaded insolvency to the courts, and told them he was skint and that his girlfriend wasn’t earning either, so they couldn’t afford to pay anything towards the debts… which is why the bailiffs came after me instead.’ Her head dropped against the headrest.

She looked so sad, he desperately wanted to reach across and hold her. Instead, he folded his arms, ensuring he didn’t do something he’d later regret.

It was a while before she spoke again. ‘A few weeks ago, Beth was on a hen do with some girlfriends in London, when she spotted Tristan working behind the bar at a nightclub. She didn’t say anything at the time in case it was a one-off. You know, a bit of cash-in-hand bar work, or something. But just to be sure, she asked the private investigator who works for her to carry out surveillance on him.’

‘Your cousin uses a private investigator?’

Kate nodded. ‘Mostly to follow cheating husbands prior to a divorce hearing, so the wife can dig up evidence for the courts and prove infidelity.’

‘Right.’ Calvin raised his eyebrows. ‘Cut-throat stuff.’

She gave a shrug. ‘Some people go to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying a settlement. Beth objects to that. You don’t want to cross her.’

‘Duly noted.’

She smiled, but it didn’t last long. ‘Anyway, the investigator has been following Tristan for the past two weeks and has discovered that not only is he doing bar work, he’s also setup another record distribution company and is trading under a false name.’

Calvin frowned. ‘So he’s not paying his debts because he can’t pay them, but because he’s deliberately cheating the system?’

‘Got it in one.’ A tear escaped and trickled down her cheek. ‘All this time he’s been letting me pay his debts, faking being skint, while he’s been earning money and claiming benefits, and taking me for a fool. I feel like such a mug.’

Calvin shifted in his seat. ‘Isn’t it illegal to falsely claim benefits?’

She nodded. ‘He’s not only a liar and a cheat, but he’s also disrespectful, with no social conscience. He’s a snake in the grass, who doesn’t even feel guilty or remorseful about what he’s done. That’s what gets me. There’s no shame in the way he’s behaved. He doesn’t care that he’s ruined my life. As long as he’s okay, that’s all that matters. How can anyone be so… cruel? And to someone they supposedly once loved. I don’t get it. I couldn’t treat a stranger like that, let alone someone I’d been married to.’

The tears fell more heavily, and Calvin felt around for the packet of tissues he kept in the door console. ‘Is there anything you can do about it?’ He ripped open the packet.

She freed her hands and took a tissue. ‘Report him, you mean? Honestly, I’d rather just clear the last remaining debt and be shot of him for good. I can’t bear the idea of dragging this out any longer. If I start disputing the arrangement and they instigate an investigation, it could be months before this mess is resolved. Years even, and I’ve had enough.’

‘Seems unfair that he gets away with it.’

‘Who said life was fair?’ She wiped her eyes. ‘Certainly not me.’ Her head dropped against the headrest. ‘Sorry, I’m being a right moody cow. You don’t need this. I’m just feeling aggrieved, I’ll get over it.’

‘You’ve nothing to apologise for.’

She rolled her head to face him. ‘Are you kidding me? I’ve had another meltdown and you just witnessed me beating the crap out of a tree.’

He tried for a smile. ‘At least you didn’t have a panic attack. That’s progress.’

‘Right. Instead of hyperventilating, I’ve switched to committing ABH on plant life.’ She rubbed her face. ‘Christ, you must be regretting the day you met me.’

He took a quick swig of water. ‘Actually, I envy you.’

Her expression turned incredulous. ‘How on earth could a man like you… all handsome and talented and amazing, possibly be envious of a pathetic mess like me?’

She thinks I’m amazing?She really wasn’t thinking straight.

‘Because at least you’re letting go of your frustration and anger. You’re not bottling it up inside and pretending everything’s okay, when it’s not.’ He rubbed condensation away from the window. ‘I’m sorry for how I reacted on Friday night when you tried to talk to me about it. You were right, I’m not okay. And I have no idea how to deal with that.’

A beat passed. ‘Well, I don’t recommend tree-bashing.’

He couldn’t help smiling. ‘No? It looked cathartic.’

‘It also leaves splinters.’ She held out her hand.

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