The Best of Friends by Alex Day (accelerated reader books .txt) 📕

and turning me in for drunk driving would have been in nobody’s interest. One, I didn’t crash so no harm done on the roads and two, I saved a man’s life getting him to hospital so quickly. So the hacks and journos haven’t been able to get their grubby mitts on that. Though even if they did, everyone would be on my side. There are occasions when breaching a taboo is necessary and correct – and this was one of them.

Likewise, no one seems to have picked up on the gambling so far. And Dan has already paid off my remaining debt in one fell swoop – £150K, more or less. Those terrible people have nothing over me now. That’s the power of money. A problem gone in the click of the fingers, a press of a button that transfers funds via Western Union to an anonymous recipient.

It’s been difficult to know what to tell the boys. For now, I’ve just said that rich and powerful men like Daddy make enemies because people are jealous and they don’t like the fact that he has more than they do. Those enemies sometimes do stupid, reckless, dangerous things and this is what has happened. But Daddy is stronger than all of them, he’s pulled through, and together, we’ll make sure that justice is done.

The boys seem to have fallen for that without too much awkward questioning. The only thing they’ve been really worried about is whether Dad is going to be all right. And me, of course. Which we are.

You’re the one who’s going to have to watch your back from now on. When I see you in the village, I can’t keep in my rage any longer.

Chapter 42

Susannah

‘Shame on you!’

The words, so clearly directed at me, induce an immediate rush of nausea. A hot flush suffuses my face. I want to remain cool, calm, and collected. But Charlotte’s fury is so great it cows me completely.

Resolutely, I put my head down and continue walking. I’m on my way back from the school pick-up so I have Luke in tow. I can’t bear for him to be involved. If I ignore her, she might go away.

Some hope.

‘Susannah, stop right now and look me in the eye,’ Charlotte demands, ‘and tell me since when it became OK to betray your best friend by sleeping with her husband.’

I didn’t know that she knew it was me. All the time since she’s been back from Corsica, there’s been no change in our relationship. That’s why I assumed it was Dan who returned the necklace – there were no signs that Charlotte knew. But she obviously does. It dawns on me that Dan must have told her. Unless she recognised it … in which case, she’s the best actress ever, not letting on in all this time.

She’s paused after the first onslaught, but now she opens her mouth again and what comes out is delivered in a dreadful, hideous high-pitched shriek like a banshee’s howl. ‘And then to try to kill us both with poison!’

The words hit me so hard it’s as if I’ve been winded. I gasp and struggle to breathe.

Luke tugs on my hand. ‘What’s she talking about Mum?’ he asks plaintively, pleadingly. I think I might vomit.

Thrusting my hand into my pocket, I pull out a £10 note. ‘Pop into the shop and get me some milk,’ I instruct, thinking on my feet. ‘And you can choose anything you want for yourself – a magazine, sweets, whatever.’

Too late I realise that this bribe will make Luke even more alarmed. The boys are never allowed magazines – too expensive – or sweets midweek. Looking scared and doubtful, he slips away towards the shop’s doorway.

‘So?’ demands Charlotte. ‘What have you got to say for yourself, you two-faced bitch.’

Her face is twisted into an expression as ugly as her language and she spits the words out as if they’re bullets.

I say nothing. Hot sweat suffuses my body and I can feel the stickiness of my armpits.

‘Susannah, you need to understand that Dan feels nothing for you, he never did, and he never will. Your cheap, underhand attempt to destroy my marriage was never going to work. And if you think you’re going to get away with trying to kill us both … how stupid are you? You’re nothing but a pathetic little worm who can’t keep hold of her own men so tries to steal other people’s. No wonder Justin left you, and Charlie. Anyone would walk out on such a worthless piece of shit as you.’

I muster all my courage and self-possession. ‘Charlotte, please let’s not do this now, in public, in front of a child.’ I flick my eyes towards the shop where Luke is presumably making his choice. ‘The fact of the matter is that Dan invited me back to your house where he proceeded to seduce me, all of his own free will. If you’re OK with that, and you’re able to convince yourself that it meant nothing, and to believe him when he says the same, well, good luck to you. And as for … for poisoning you both, if you think that you must be even crazier and more insane than you seem.’

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Luke emerge with a blue plastic bag dangling from his hand.

‘Now, this conversation is over and I’d appreciate it if you’d leave me alone.’

With that, I seize Luke’s free hand and march towards our house, tears pouring down my cheeks and despair plucking at my heart. I’m shaking and trembling with anger and misery and embarrassment, and when I look down, I see Luke’s little face, white with concern, gazing up at me.

‘It’s fine,’ I say, feigning a conviction I don’t feel, and even I can tell that I don’t sound convincing. But I can’t do anything more right now, not even to mollify my child. ‘Don’t worry.’ I have to stop there because my voice is