Tell Me No Lies. Lisa Hall

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СКАЧАТЬ sounds like a perfect horror.’ Lila laughs, as I come to the end of my story. ‘Don’t worry, Steph, Henry is a delightful little boy. He’ll make friends. It just takes a while at that age. She sounds like she’s just a bit enthusiastic, that’s all.’

      I bask in the glow of her reassurance, relieved we seem to be back on track and that she hasn’t taken offence at my turning her down the previous evening. I realise Lila is talking to me, and I’ve missed what she’s saying.

      ‘I’m sorry, what was that? I was in my own little world for a moment.’

      ‘I said I was just like Henry as a little girl. Quite insular, not the most popular girl in the class. I was shy and really struggled to make friends, and my family wasn’t exactly the most … well, never mind. Look at me now – totally different.’ She takes a sip of her wine. ‘I have a lovely house, a gorgeous boyfriend and I’m having a glorious lunch with a good friend. Winning at life, don’t you think?’ She grins at me and chinks her glass against mine.

      ‘Speaking of which, how is Joe?’ Despite the close friendship we have developed, I am still yet to meet Joe. He’s rarely there, spending even less time at home than Mark if that’s possible, and when he is there, he seems to leave the house and return at odd times, meaning I haven’t quite managed to spot him yet. I’m guessing that Mark has met him, after Lila’s reference to her and Joe talking to him in the garden, but the man remains a mystery to me.

      ‘Oh, he’s fine.’ Lila waves her fork around airily. ‘Busy, busy. You know. He’s working hard, as usual. I told you he’s a photographer, right? He goes away on location for shoots, kind of like Mark. That’s why he’s not around much. You’ll meet him next time he’s back, I’ll make sure of it.’ Another thing we have in common, although I didn’t realise Joe was a photographer. The conversation moves on to our respective other halves and how easy it is to seem to go for days without seeing them, they are so busy. We finish lunch and I realise that, for the first time in a long time, I have enjoyed myself. I don’t feel sick; I’ve laughed until my stomach hurt at Lila and her witticisms; and it’s been lovely not to feel so anxious about everything, just for a brief time. It’s like how things used to be between me and Tessa, when she still lived close by, and I realise how much I’ve missed having a close girlfriend. We split the bill and Lila surprises me by telling me she is going to come with me to pick Henry up from school.

      ‘Are you sure? You don’t have to, you know.’

      ‘I’m coming.’ Lila’s voice is firm as she winds a colourful scarf around her neck. ‘I want to see Henry, and this afternoon has been so lovely, why shouldn’t we string it out a bit longer?’

      ‘Why not, indeed?’ Smiling, I link my arm though hers, and as she pushes her hair behind her ears I notice she is wearing a pair of beautiful tiny diamond studs.

      ‘Beautiful earrings; I have a pair just like them,’ I say, smiling at her as a faint blush rises to her cheeks. One thing I have noticed about my new friend is that she is not very good at accepting compliments, and blushes like a fiend every time she receives one. It’s sweet, really.

      ‘They were my mother’s,’ she says. ‘They’re the last thing she gave me before she died. Now, come on, let’s go and get Henry.’ Lila gives one of her tinkly laughs, and we stride out of the restaurant, down the hill towards the school.

      Henry is delighted to see that Lila has come with me to fetch him and shows off on his scooter, doing little bunny hops and jumping on and off the kerb while she claps her hands in delight. He takes her over to meet his teacher, who seems utterly charmed by her, just like everybody else, and I can’t help but feel a little bit of pride that this shiny, beautiful, dazzling creature has chosen me – dowdy, permanently sick, tired me – to be her friend. As we leave through the front gate, I point out Jasmine Hale to Lila, discreetly of course, but Jasmine spots me and jogs over.

      ‘Steph – lovely to see you.’ She air kisses my cheeks on both sides. ‘Have you had any more thoughts about what we talked about this morning?’

      ‘Sorry, Jasmine, I haven’t had a chance. Let me wait until Mark gets home. I might be able to help then?’ I cross my fingers inside my coat pocket that I have said the right thing.

      ‘Oh, of course, I forgot that your husband isn’t around. Such a shame. Well, we can maybe speak about it then, if you have time, of course.’ She smiles sweetly, before jogging lightly back to her friends, while I am left wondering whether she meant it, or if sarcasm laces her reply. Lila shrugs at me, and we walk out together, her arm tucked through mine.

      At the bottom of the hill, Henry waits outside the little convenience store, chocolate smeared across his mouth.

      ‘Henry,’ I scold, ‘I told you not to scoot down the hill without us!’

      ‘It’s OK, Mrs Gordon, I kept an eye on him.’ Mrs Spencer, the lollipop lady, appears next to me, lollipop in hand. ‘He said you were just coming – got carried away, I expect.’ She gives a little chuckle before returning to her post on the opposite side of the road.

      ‘Henry, come here.’ I crouch down to his level, meeting him face to face. ‘That was naughty – you must never scoot away like that again.’ Tears fill his eyes, making me feel awful, so I pull him in tight for a hug. ‘Don’t cry – it’s done now, but you must never do it again. What’s that around your mouth? Chocolate? Did Mrs Spencer give it to you? You shouldn’t really take sweets from people, baby, even if you know them.’

      ‘It wasn’t Mrs Spencer, Mummy.’ Henry’s tears are forgotten now, and he takes his scooter back from where Lila stands, holding the handlebars in one hand. He starts to scoot slowly ahead of me, towards home. ‘It was Mr P. You know, the shop man.’ I turn back towards the window of the small convenience store, where the man who served me the other day, Mr P., stands watching us through the grubby glass.

CHAPTER NINE

      I am just getting ready to leave for my next appointment with Dr Bradshaw when the phone rings. I’m in two minds whether to answer it or not, seeing as I’m already well on my way to being late, but snatch up the receiver at the last minute in the hope that it’s Mark. I’ve barely spoken to him since he left, what with the time difference and the fact he has to use a satellite phone in the more remote areas he finds himself in. It means he quite often can’t get a signal, but we have emailed backwards and forwards when we can and I have managed to reassure him that, with Lila’s help, everything at home is running smoothly in his absence. I pick up the receiver quickly before it can ring out, but it’s not Mark’s voice on the end. Instead, the warm, honey-rich tones of my best friend come down the line, immediately bringing a smile to my face.

      ‘Tess! What time is it for you? It must be early … is everything OK?’ I tuck a stray curl behind my ear and put my door keys back in my bag. Depending on what’s going on with Tessa I’m probably not going to make it to my appointment. Too bad, but things are going really well and I am pretty sure that skipping this appointment won’t make too much of a difference in the grand scheme of things, as long as Dr Bradshaw doesn’t tell Mark.

      ‘Everything’s good, sweetie, really good. I just wanted to check in on you, what with Mark being away and all the rush up till Christmas. I know you hate doing all that stuff alone.’ Her voice has picked up a slight transatlantic twang after living in New York for the past two years, something that still surprises me every time I speak to her. I’m so used to hearing the South London accent I grew up with, it’s strange СКАЧАТЬ